- Who it's for
- Employees sponsored for EB-2 or EB-3 green cards
- Employer required
- Yes
- Government filing fee
- None at DOL; I-140 and I-485 fees apply later
- End-to-end timeline
- About 18–30 months to I-140 approval
- Who pays
- Employer must pay PERM attorney and recruitment costs
- Gale fee
- $4,000 PERM · $4,000 I-140 · $4,000 AOS
Who qualifies for the PERM
- A permanent, full-time job offer from a U.S. employer.
- The employee meets the role's minimum requirements as of hiring.
- The employer can pay the prevailing wage and shows no qualified, willing U.S. workers applied.
PERM timeline
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Job requirements and strategy | 1 week |
| Prevailing wage determination (DOL) | Several months (check DOL FLAG) |
| Recruitment and 30-day quiet period | About 2–3 months |
| PERM drafting and filing | 1–2 weeks |
| ETA-9089 adjudication (DOL) | Often 12–18 months |
| I-140 filing | 15 business days (premium) or 6–12 months |
PERM cost: Gale and government fees
Gale charges a flat fee (platform fee plus attorney legal fee) for the initial PERM filing, and RFE responses are usually included. Government fees are paid directly to the agency at cost. See the full fee schedule or estimate your total with the visa cost calculator.
| Filing | Gale price (platform + legal fee) |
|---|---|
| I-140 petition | $4,000 |
| AOS | $4,000 |
| PERM | $4,000 |
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prevailing wage and ETA-9089 | $0 | No DOL filing fees |
| Form I-140 | $715 | Plus the $600 Asylum Program Fee ($300 small employers, $0 nonprofits) |
| Premium processing for I-140 (optional) | $2,965 | |
| Form I-485 | $1,440 | Per applicant aged 14+ |
Documents you'll need
- Job description, minimum requirements and worksite
- Employee's degrees and experience letters showing requirements were met
- Recruitment advertisements and results report
- Employer financials showing ability to pay
How Gale handles the PERM
Gale's software handles intake, document collection, drafting and tracking. An experienced network attorney owns strategy, legal judgment and final sign-off on every petition.
- Intake on the Gale platformHR starts the case in minutes; the employee completes a guided questionnaire and uploads documents to a checklist built for the visa type.
- Attorney strategy reviewA network attorney writes minimum requirements that are defensible, the core of a successful PERM and audit avoidance.
- Petition preparationGale coordinates the recruitment calendar, ad placements and applicant tracking so nothing falls out of the regulatory windows.
- Attorney sign-off and filingThe attorney files the ETA-9089 and, on certification, the I-140 within the 180-day validity window.
- Tracking and responseGale tracks the USCIS receipt and status in one dashboard. If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence, the attorney prepares the response, usually included in the flat fee.
Related visa information pages
The H-1B lets U.S.
Read more EB-2 NIWNational Interest WaiverThe EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a self-petitioned green card for professionals with an advanced degree or exceptional ability whose work benefits the United States.
Read more EB-1CMultinational Manager or Executive Green CardThe EB-1C is an employer-sponsored green card for managers and executives of multinational companies, typically people already in the U.S.
Read moreReady to start a PERM case?
Talk with our team about timing, strategy and cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can the employee pay for PERM?
No. DOL rules require the employer to pay all PERM-related attorney and recruitment costs. I-140 and I-485 costs can legally be shared.
What's the difference between EB-2 and EB-3 PERM?
EB-2 requires a role that needs an advanced degree (or bachelor's plus five years' experience). EB-3 covers roles needing a bachelor's degree or two years' experience. Priority-date waits differ by category and country.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees and processing times change frequently. Confirm current details with USCIS or a licensed immigration attorney.