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PERM, I-140, I-9

Employer sponsorship

Employers sponsoring foreign workers need accurate filings and predictable timelines. We support human resources teams through the Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) labor certification process, immigrant petitions and employment eligibility compliance, with one attorney accountable for each matter.

Your attorney

Assigned at booking

Last reviewed September 2026

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Who this is for

  • Employers sponsoring employees for green cards
  • Human resources teams managing H-1B, L-1 and O-1 workers
  • Companies reviewing Form I-9 and E-Verify practices

How we help

PERM labor certification
We manage the prevailing wage request, the recruitment process and the labor certification filing with the Department of Labor.
Immigrant petitions
We prepare the Form I-140 and plan the employee's adjustment of status.
Compliance
We review Form I-9 practices and help employers respond to audits and site visits.
Program management
We track deadlines across the workforce and give HR a clear status view.

Forms involved

  • ETA-9089Application for Permanent Employment Certification
  • I-140Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
  • I-9Employment Eligibility Verification

Government filing fees are listed on our filing fees page.

Timeline

PERM cases include a prevailing wage determination, a recruitment period and Department of Labor review, and together these steps commonly take more than a year. Current Department of Labor processing times are published by its Office of Foreign Labor Certification.

Document checklist

A starting list. We send a checklist for your case after the consultation.

  • Job description and minimum requirements
  • Employee's resume, degrees and experience letters
  • Company information and ability-to-pay evidence
  • Recruitment records, once the process begins
“We moved our sponsorship work to RT for one point of contact. Filings go out on schedule, and our employees get answers directly from the attorney.”
HR Director, software company, NationwideEmployer sponsorship

These reviews are illustrative examples while client reviews are being collected.

Questions clients ask

What is PERM?
PERM is the Department of Labor process that tests the U.S. labor market. The employer shows no qualified U.S. worker is available for the role at the prevailing wage.
Who pays PERM costs?
Department of Labor rules require the employer to pay the costs of the labor certification, including attorney fees for that step.
What is the Asylum Program Fee?
A fee added to Form I-140 and many Form I-129 petitions. The current schedule lists $600 for most employers, $300 for small employers and $0 for nonprofits.
Can an employee change jobs during the green card process?
In some situations, once the I-485 has been pending 180 days, the portability rules allow a move to a same or similar job.
Do you handle I-9 audits?
Yes. We review records, correct errors where allowed and represent employers in Immigration and Customs Enforcement inspections.
Can you work with our existing HR systems?
Yes. We agree a reporting format at the start so HR always knows where each case stands.

Ready to talk it through?

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