• Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)

• Embassies and Consulates
• Visa Bulletins

• PERM
• Foreign Labor Certification Online Wage Data

A foreign national may become a permanent resident of the United States through sponsorship by a US-based company or his/her professional qualifications. In most cases, a Labor Certification from the U.S. Department of Labor is required before applying for permanent residence through the Citizenship and Immigration Services bureau of the Department of Homeland Security.

The preference categories for persons seeking to immigrate based on employment are:

• Persons of Extraordinary Ability (no Labor Certification required) (1st preference category)
• Outstanding Professors and Researchers (no Labor Certification required) (1st preference category)
• Multinational Managers and Executive Transferees (no Labor Certification required) (1st preference category)
• Persons with Advanced Degrees (2nd preference category)
• Persons with Exceptional Ability (2nd preference category)
• Professionals and Skilled Workers (3rd preference category)
• Unskilled/Other Workers (3rd preference category)

In limited cases involving 2nd preference category applicants, the Labor Certification requirement may be waived if in the national interest of the United States.

Labor Certification is required of all other applicants, with limited exceptions. Beginning March 28, 2005, a Labor Certification application is filed electronically or by mail under the PERM (Program Review Electronic Management) system. This new system should reduce the time required to obtain a Labor Certification for qualified applicants.

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