PERM Processing Freeze: What Employers Are Telling Workers
WASHINGTON — The federal freeze on PERM labor certification processing has left thousands of employment-based green card cases in limbo, and employers are now sending guidance to affected workers on what to expect — and what not to do.
PERM is the first step in most employment-based green card processes, requiring employers to test the U.S. labor market before sponsoring a foreign worker. With processing halted, new filings cannot move forward, and cases already in the pipeline face uncertain timelines.
Tech industry leaders have publicly called the freeze "ironic," noting that it landed just as the administration honored immigrant technologists — including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella — with national medals. Microsoft President Brad Smith's remarks on the timing drew wide attention in the Telugu tech community, where many workers are directly affected.
For workers, attorneys say the most important thing is to stay in valid status. Those on H-1B should keep their extensions on track and avoid letting status lapse while waiting for PERM to resume. Workers whose employers had planned to start the green card process should ask for written confirmation of the company's intent to file once processing restarts.
Companies are responding in different ways. Some large employers have told workers they will hold PERM-ready cases and file immediately when the freeze lifts; others are reviewing whether alternative green card categories apply. Immigration lawyers advise workers to document everything, keep copies of all filings, and not make major life decisions — like international travel with advance parole pending — without legal advice during the uncertainty.