PERM Labor Certification Attorney in San Antonio, Texas
Employment Green Cards
PERM Labor Certification: The Foundation of Most Employment Green Cards
Most employment-based green cards in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories start in the same place: PERM labor certification. It is the Department of Labor process where an employer tests the local job market to confirm there are no able, willing, and qualified U.S. workers for the position before sponsoring a foreign employee. The rules are strict and unforgiving, and a single misstep can force the whole process to start over.
At Lozano Law Firm, PERM cases are managed under the direction of Alfredo Lozano, Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law. Our bilingual team guides employers in San Antonio, Eagle Pass, and San Angelo through an audit-ready process from start to finish. Start with a free consultation.
Real Clients, Real Testimonials
Gracias por el excelente trabajo y por la tranquilidad que me han dado durante este proceso. Sin duda los recomendaría a familiares y amigos que necesiten un abogado de inmigración.
How the PERM Process Works
PERM is a sequence of carefully regulated steps, and the order and timing matter as much as the substance. We manage each stage so the case can survive an audit.
The Prevailing Wage Determination
Before recruitment, the employer requests a prevailing wage determination from the Department of Labor for the specific job and location. The employer must be prepared to pay at least that wage, and getting the job requirements right at this stage shapes everything that follows.
Recruitment and the Labor Market Test
The employer then conducts a defined set of recruitment steps, such as job orders and advertisements, and reviews any U.S. applicants against the actual minimum requirements. The goal is a genuine test of the market, documented precisely, because this is where audits focus.
Filing the Application
If the recruitment shows no qualified, available U.S. worker, the employer files the labor certification application with the Department of Labor. A clean, consistent file is the best protection, since the government can select any case for audit.
From PERM to the Green Card
PERM is not the green card itself. Once certified, the employer files an immigrant petition on Form I-140, and the employee later completes the process through adjustment of status or consular processing when a visa is available.
How We Work With Employers on PERM
PERM is as much a project-management challenge as a legal one, and we treat it that way. We partner with human resources teams and hiring managers to run the recruitment steps correctly the first time, track every deadline, and keep a clean file in case the Department of Labor asks for one. For employees, we explain how the certification fits into the larger green card timeline so the wait is predictable rather than mysterious. Employers across Texas rely on us to keep the process moving without the missteps that force a costly restart.
Our Process
What to Expect
Free Case Evaluation
We start with a no-cost consultation to review your situation, explain your options, and identify the strongest path forward for your family.
Case Preparation
Our team assembles your petition with the documentation and evidence USCIS expects, prepared accurately the first time to avoid delays.
Filing & Follow-Through
We file, track deadlines, respond to USCIS, and prepare you for every interview until your case is resolved.
What to Expect and Where Cases Go Wrong
PERM timelines depend on Department of Labor processing and whether a case is audited, and both change over time. Because the priority date is set when the PERM is filed, starting early matters, especially in backlogged categories.
The most common problems we prevent are job requirements that do not match the prevailing wage level, recruitment steps that miss a technical requirement, and rejecting a U.S. applicant for the wrong reason. Each can sink a case or invite an audit. We build every PERM as though it will be audited, because that discipline is exactly what keeps it moving.
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Hire a Board-Certified Immigration Attorney
Attorney Alfredo Lozano is Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and since founding the firm in 2006 he has brought a Marine Corps veteran's discipline, more than 20 years of immigration experience, and a fully bilingual team to every case the firm handles.
Our approach combines personalized counsel with the documentation rigor these cases demand, so your petition is prepared correctly the first time. Board Certification means the state has independently verified his experience, tested his knowledge, and confirmed his standing among peers, which is the kind of assurance that matters when your family's future is on the line.
Meet
Our Team
Our team includes experienced attorneys, legal professionals, and client-care specialists who share a common commitment: making the immigration process as clear and manageable as possible for every family we serve.
Alfredo Lozano
Managing Attorney
Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law and a Marine Corps veteran who leads every case strategy.
Linda Hamilton
Attorney
Guides families and employers through petitions, waivers, and interviews with steady, detailed advocacy.
Minerva Gonzalez
Legal Assistant
Prepares documentation and keeps every case organized, accurate, and moving forward.
Mayra Juarez
Legal Administrator
Coordinates case management and client communication across our three Texas offices.
Download Our Free E-Book
How to Obtain Residency If You Are in the U.S. Illegally
Entering the country without inspection does not always close the door to a green card. Our free guide walks through the options that may apply, from Section 245(i) and Military Parole in Place to the I-601A provisional waiver, in plain language.
Download the guide to understand the paths that could be available to your family, then contact us for advice on your specific situation.
PERM Help for Texas Employers
We guide employers across South and West Texas through labor certification, in English and Spanish, from the prevailing wage request through certification. Whether you are sponsoring one key employee or building a longer hiring strategy, we keep the process audit-ready and connected to the green card that follows. Every engagement begins with a free consultation.
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Request Your Free Consultation
Tell us about your family's situation and our bilingual team will reach out to schedule your free case evaluation.
PERM Labor Certification FAQs
What is PERM labor certification?
PERM is the Department of Labor process an employer uses to show there are no able, willing, and qualified U.S. workers available for a position before sponsoring a foreign worker for a green card. It is the first step for most EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based cases.
How long does the PERM process take?
It depends on Department of Labor processing times and whether the case is selected for audit, both of which change. Because the process includes a required waiting period during recruitment and government review afterward, employers should plan for a matter of months, and longer if audited.
What is a prevailing wage?
The prevailing wage is the wage level the Department of Labor sets for a specific job in a specific area. The employer must be prepared to pay at least that wage, and the wage level is tied to the job requirements, which is why defining the position correctly at the start is so important.
Can the employee change jobs during PERM?
PERM is tied to a specific employer, position, and location, so changes can affect the case. There are portability rules later in the green card process, once the I-140 is approved and the case has been pending long enough, but during PERM itself changes must be handled carefully.
What happens after PERM is certified?
Certification is not the green card. The employer next files an immigrant petition on Form I-140, and once a visa is available the employee completes the process through adjustment of status or consular processing. We manage each of these steps in turn.
Lozano Law Firm
Cases We Do Not Handle
Lozano Law Firm focuses exclusively on the practice areas listed above. We do not handle asylum or criminal immigration cases. When clients come to us with needs outside our scope, we refer them to trusted colleagues who specialize in those areas. Our referral network includes attorneys who handle asylum claims and criminal immigration consequences, so every person who contacts us receives direction toward the right help.
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Start Your Journey Today
Immigration goals should not wait. Whether you are exploring your options for the first time or ready to move forward with a case, our team is here to help. Contact Lozano Law Firm for a free case evaluation and let us put our Board-Certified expertise to work for you.
Schedule your free case evaluation today.
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