The road to an employment-based US green card could soon get tougher for foreign professionals.
The US Department of Labor is planning a major overhaul of the labour market test that employers must complete before sponsoring foreign workers for green cards, according to Bloomberg Law.
The proposed changes are part of the Trump administration’s wider immigration crackdown and will target the Permanent Labor Certification, or PERM, process — a key step in many employment-based green card cases.
The system has not seen a major update since 2004.
Employers May Face Tougher Hiring Checks
The Labor Department says recruitment methods have changed dramatically because of technology, online job platforms and modern hiring tools.
Now, the government wants to change how PERM applications are reviewed.
A major focus will be on whether employers made serious efforts to recruit qualified American workers before offering permanent sponsorship to a foreign national.
In simple terms, companies may have to prove more clearly that they genuinely tried to hire US workers first.
Layoffs Could Bring More Scrutiny
Another sensitive area is layoffs.
The proposed reforms are expected to introduce stronger safeguards for American workers who lose jobs while companies continue sponsoring foreign professionals.
That could mean tougher scrutiny of employers, recruitment records and green card filings, particularly in sectors hit by job cuts.
H-1B Crackdown Already Underway
The PERM plan comes as the Trump administration tightens its grip on employment-based immigration.
According to Bloomberg Law, the administration has already revamped the annual H-1B visa selection system and issued draft rules that could sharply increase wage requirements for H-1B workers.
The latest PERM reforms are also aimed at tackling what the administration sees as misuse of the H-1B programme.
For Indian professionals, this is a significant development because many workers move from H-1B status into long employment-based green card queues.
More Trouble For Employers And Immigrants?
The proposed changes are not final yet.
But if implemented, employers may face more paperwork, tougher recruitment requirements and greater scrutiny before sponsoring foreign workers.
For immigrants already stuck in years-long green card backlogs, any added layer of compliance could create fresh uncertainty.
The Labor Department is also planning several non-immigration workplace rules, including changes related to independent contractors, heat-safety standards, mine safety, teenage work hours, tipped employees and domestic service workers.
But for skilled foreign professionals, especially Indians, the biggest concern is clear: Will the new PERM rules make the already difficult US green card journey even harder?
