Labor Certification (PERM)

What is Labor Certification?

Labor certification is a process which the law requires to be completed before most employment-based green card applications may be filed to ensure that U.S. workers are not displaced by the employment of a foreign worker and that the foreign worker’s wages are not depressed relative to those of U.S. citizens. A new labor certification program called Program Electronic Review Management (or “PERM”) went into effect on March 28, 2005. Unlike the previous labor certification process, PERM applications are filed directly with the Department of Labor over the Internet, and are processed very quickly. The state agencies supply the prevailing wage, but have no other involvement in the PERM process.

RECRUITMENT
The recruitment stage of the labor certification process is how an employer must demonstrate that no U.S. workers are available for the position being offered to the foreign worker. Before filing an application, the employer must conduct specified recruitment activities, which must include the following:

> Two Sunday newspaper ads (or one Sunday newspaper ad and a professional journal where appropriate)
> A job order placed through the state workforce agency
> For professionals, at least three other forms of recruitment, which can include a commercial Internet ad; an ad on the employer’s Web site; an internal incentive program; participation in a job fair; on-campus recruiting or use of a campus placement office; local or ethnic newspapers; a trade or professional journal; a radio or TV ad; and the use of headhunter agencies.

THE JOB TITLE AND DESCRIPTION
Before obtaining a prevailing wage and beginning the recruitment process, it is critical that we choose the most appropriate job title and description of the requirements and duties of the position. The job opportunity must not have too many restrictive requirements, but at the same time should have all degrees, skills and experience justifiably required by the position so that potential applicants can be rejected if they do not meet the minimum requirements. Foreign languages or requirements that seem tailored to the alien’s personal background will be scrutinized by the Department of Labor, and will increase the chances of an audit. It is the employer’s burden to prove a bona fide business necessity for any qualifications that do not fit the normal descriptions of the occupation.

WHICH APPLICANTS MAY BE REJECTED?
Applicants for the offered position may be rejected if, after reviewing their resumé and/or conducting an interview, any of the following apply:

> The applicant is not a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident (this includes other aliens on valid visas);
> The applicant is not willing to work for the offered salary (no bargaining is required);
> The applicant does not meet the minimum requirements for the position, including any required degree, experience, skills or other credentials;
> The applicant is not available or willing to work the required days and hours required by the position;

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOUR SPONSOR?
It is important that your employer know that the Law Offices of Mark Urbanski will take care of all the paperwork involved in the labor certification process, and that all they have to do is cooperate with us in conducting the recruitment described above, including reviewing applications and possibly interviewing certain candidates, and then to sign several forms that I will prepare on their behalf. The employer will also need to complete a brief on-line registration on the PERM website to allow us to file labor certifications on their behalf. Finally, sponsors must maintain copies of the ads, resumes, and other documents showing that the recruitment actually occurred as reported. The DOL will audit selected cases and applicants must then produce all supporting documents within thirty days. The sponsor does not need to pay anything if they do not wish to do so. All costs involved in the labor certification process can be paid by the foreign worker.

TIMEFRAME
The total time required to obtain the labor certification will be between 4 and 8 months, with 2-4 months for recruitment and 2-4 months for processing by the Department of Labor, although individual cases may vary. Once the labor certification has been approved, we will be able to apply for adjustment of status and a work permit for you, your spouse and children. Your work permit will arrive in 30-90 days after application. It would then be another 12 to 18 months before your adjustment applications would be approved and your green cards issued. Please note that your eligibility for adjustment of status will depend on your visa status or admissibility at the time of application.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
The first documents we will need from you are your current resumé and a copy of your visa(s), I-94 card, passport and DS-2019 or I-20 forms (if applicable). After we begin the labor certification, we will also need experience letters to document your prior experience related to the position being offered to you, and any licenses, diplomas, certifications and other documents that may be required by the position being offered to you. We will also forward to you a data sheet to collect the biographic information about you and your family members, and another data sheet to collect the necessary information about your sponsor. Your sponsor should also be prepared to provide us with their tax return for the year in which the labor certification is filed, and possibly bank account statements and other financial records.

GETTING STARTED
We will be happy to speak with your potential sponsor about this process in more detail and to answer any questions they may have. We will also be happy to talk to you further by telephone or to answer any of your questions by e-mail. Once you and your employer are prepared to go forward with the labor certification process, we will forward to you the retainer agreement and data sheets to begin the process. You will need to sign and return the retainer agreement with your initial payment, and you may fax the data sheets to our office to provide us with the basic information we need about you and your employer to begin crafting your labor certification case. We look forward to hearing back from you, and to representing you in this matter.