PERM Labor Certification: What Texas Employers Need to Know in 2026
If you own or operate a mid-size company in Texas — manufacturing, construction, healthcare, technology, or energy — and you have employees on temporary work visas, PERM labor certification is likely part of your future. Understanding it now costs nothing. Understanding it later, after a crisis, costs significantly more.
What PERM Is and Why It Matters
PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) is the Department of Labor's process for certifying that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect U.S. workers. It is the first step in most employer-sponsored green card processes.
For employers, PERM means:
- Prevailing wage determination. The DOL determines the minimum salary you must offer for the position.
- Recruitment. You must demonstrate that no qualified, willing, and available U.S. workers exist for the position through a structured recruitment process.
- Documentation and filing. The ETA-9089 application with supporting documentation is filed electronically.
- Potential audit. The DOL may audit your application, requiring additional documentation of the recruitment process.
The Timeline
PERM typically takes 8-14 months from prevailing wage request to certification. The recruitment phase alone requires 30 days of advertising plus a 30-day waiting period. Add prevailing wage determination (currently running 6-8 months at some DOL processing centers) and you are looking at a significant lead time.
This is why proactive filing matters. If you wait until an employee's visa is expiring, the PERM timeline may not fit.
What It Costs
BBA communicates the full cost of the PERM process before engagement begins. No surprises mid-process. The total typically includes attorney fees, recruitment advertising costs, and DOL filing fees.
Industries We Serve
BBA handles PERM cases for Texas employers in manufacturing, construction, healthcare, technology, energy, and professional services. Partners Diego Bustillos and Adriana Bello are involved in every employer file.
Request a Consultation. We will review your workforce situation and tell you exactly what the PERM process looks like for your company.
Related: Employer Immigration Services | PERM Labor Certification | H-1B Visa
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