With PERM processing now averaging 512+ days, companies that file H-1B and begin the PERM green card process on day one give international workers a 2-3 year head start on permanent residency. Here's which companies do it, why it matters, and how to ask.
The PERM labor certification process — the first step in most employer-sponsored green cards — now takes 512+ days on average, up from 180 days in 2019. Combined with H-1B's 6-year maximum stay, this creates a ticking clock that makes early PERM filing critical. This guide identifies companies with this practice, explains why timing matters, and provides scripts for asking your employer.
Quick Answer: Companies like Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon (for some roles), Microsoft, and several finance firms start the PERM green card process within the first year of H-1B employment. With PERM processing at 512+ days, starting early is the difference between getting your green card before H-1B expires and facing the 6-year wall. Ask about green card timeline during your offer negotiation — it's the most important question most H-1B workers forget to ask.
| Company | Total H-1B Filings | PERM Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 | Varies by team — 6-18 months after start |
| Microsoft | 34,626 | Typically within 12 months |
| 33,416 | Often within 6 months — aggressive filing | |
| Infosys | 32,840 | Only on request, varies widely |
| Tata Consultancy | 28,950 | Rarely files early — typically 3+ years |
| Cognizant | 26,700 | Varies — improved recently |
| Deloitte | 18,200 | After 1-2 years for senior roles |
| Apple | 15,800 | Within 6-12 months — proactive |
| Meta | 14,900 | Within 3-6 months — fastest major sponsor |
| JPMorgan Chase | 12,400 | Within 12-18 months for tech roles |
The math is stark. An H-1B worker has a maximum of 6 years on H-1B status. The green card process through PERM requires: prevailing wage determination (3-6 months), PERM recruitment and filing (4-6 months preparation + 512+ days DOL processing), I-140 petition (4-12 months), and I-485 adjustment of status (6-18 months). Total: 3-5+ years minimum. If your employer waits 2-3 years to start PERM, you may hit the H-1B 6-year wall.
The critical legal detail: under AC21 §106(a), your H-1B can be extended beyond 6 years in 1-year increments if your PERM was filed at least 365 days before the H-1B expiration. This makes the filing date of PERM — not the approval date — the key milestone.
For Indian and Chinese nationals facing multi-year visa bulletin backlogs, early PERM filing is even more critical. The priority date is locked in from the PERM filing date — every year of delay in filing is a year added to an already decades-long wait.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →Yes, and you absolutely should. Asking about green card timeline is standard for international workers. The best time to ask is after you receive an offer but before you accept it. Frame it as: 'What is the typical timeline for starting the green card/PERM process for H-1B employees?'
Because of the H-1B 6-year limit and the AC21 §106(a) rule. If your employer starts PERM late, you risk a gap where your H-1B expires before you qualify for extensions beyond 6 years, forcing you to leave the country. Companies that file PERM early eliminate this risk entirely.
Generally no. Large IT consulting companies historically delay PERM filing, often 3-5 years into employment. Reasons include high employee turnover, client-based staffing model, and cost ($15,000-$25,000 per filing). If early green card sponsorship is critical to you, Big Tech and finance companies are generally better options.
This is a red flag. Options: (1) negotiate a written commitment in your offer letter; (2) check the company's PERM filing history on DOL data; (3) ask current H-1B employees about their experience; (4) consider whether the company's H-1B sponsorship is actually just a retention tool with no real green card intent.