Identify employers who sponsor permanent residency through the PERM labor certification process.
For many international professionals, the ultimate goal is U.S. permanent residency — a green card. Employment-based green cards require employer sponsorship through the PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) labor certification process. Wisa tracks PERM filing data so you can identify companies that actively support their employees' paths to permanent residency.
The employer-sponsored green card process typically follows three steps:
Most employer-sponsored green cards fall into these employment-based (EB) categories:
The companies that sponsor the most green cards overlap significantly with top H-1B sponsors but are not identical. Some companies are known for actively supporting green card processes for their H-1B employees. Key indicators of a green card-friendly employer include:
Major technology companies, financial institutions, and healthcare systems are among the most active green card sponsors. Wisa's PERM filing data lets you see which employers have filed labor certifications and how recently.
The total timeline from H-1B to green card varies significantly by country of birth due to per-country visa caps:
When evaluating employers for long-term immigration goals, consider whether they initiate the green card process proactively or only when employees request it. Some companies start the PERM process within the first year of H-1B employment, while others wait until year 3-4. Ask about their typical green card timeline during the hiring process.
Search thousands of verified H-1B sponsors by company, industry, and location.
Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →The timeline depends heavily on your country of birth and the EB category. For most countries, the total process takes 2-4 years including PERM, I-140, and I-485 processing. For Indian-born applicants in EB-2/EB-3, the backlog can extend the wait to 10 years or more due to per-country visa caps.
No. You can begin the green card process from any valid work-authorized status, including H-1B, L-1, O-1, or even OPT. However, H-1B has the advantage of allowing dual intent, meaning USCIS won't question your intent to remain permanently while on the visa. Other nonimmigrant visas may complicate the process.
It depends on your stage. If your PERM is pending, you generally need to stay with the sponsoring employer. After your I-140 is approved and has been pending for 180+ days, you can port your priority date to a new employer under AC21 portability, provided the new job is in the same or similar occupational classification.
PERM is the process by which the Department of Labor certifies that there are no qualified U.S. workers available for the position being offered to a foreign worker. The employer must conduct recruitment efforts and demonstrate that the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage. PERM approval is required for most EB-2 and all EB-3 green card applications.