Google told employees it will be “ramping up” PERM applications in 2026 for eligible employees, a crucial step to securing a green card.
The company told staff in a December newsletter that employees eligible for PERM would hear from its outside lawyers in Q1, according to a copy of the memo seen by Business Insider.
PERM allows employees to move from working on a visa to securing a green card. Tech companies commonly use it to transition staff from H-1 B status to a green card, which allows them to live and work permanently in the US.
Tech employees on work visas have faced increased uncertainty this year due to policy changes, such as the increase in H-1B visa fees. Google’s lawyers recently advised employees with work visas, such as the H-1B, to avoid international travel due to “significant” delays, Business Insider reported.
According to the memo about PERM, only those who meet certain criteria will be eligible for the application. One requirement is that employees must work in a role that requires a degree and prior work experience.
The memo also said that staff must work from a Google office to be considered.
“Remote Googlers must agree to transfer to an office to be PERM eligible,” the memo read.
A Google spokesperson declined to comment.
The PERM process is designed to ensure that hiring foreign workers doesn’t harm the job opportunities or working conditions of US workers. As such, the company sponsoring the worker must prove that there are no available qualified US citizens who can fill the role.
Google paused PERM applications in January 2023, the same month it laid off 12,000 employees, Business Insider previously reported. Amazon, Meta, and other tech companies similarly put the brakes on PERM as a wave of job cuts made it harder to justify hiring outside the US, as per the program’s terms.
The sweeping layoffs meant the market was flooded with people looking for work, making it harder for employers to hire foreign workers.
Google applied for PERM for a small handful of employees throughout this year, according to a person familiar with the matter. The announcement about 2026 marks a scaling up of the program, the person said.
Google told staff in the memo that there is a bar to clear for PERM applications. Employees who are at Level 3 roles or below will be less likely to meet the requirements, the memo said.
It also said that Google employees would not be considered for PERM if they are “not in good standing” with the company.
“Googlers must have a MI rating or higher to be eligible for PERM,” it read. MI means “moderate impact” — a rating Googlers can be given in their yearly performance reviews.
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