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Why Amazon and Google have suspended green card applications and what that means

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Amazon and Google have reportedly withdrawn their green card applications as the process has become more difficult. Both tech giants, which reportedly shut down PERM applications in 2023, may not resume those operations anytime soon, according to a report from Business Insider.

According to the report, the Alphabet-owned company and Amazon stopped the certification process last year. Citing a current employee with direct knowledge of the matter, Google employees were told the company will not restart the PERM process until the first quarter of 2025 at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Amazon also told employees that it would continue to pause all new PERM filings through 2024, the report said, citing an internal announcement. According to the memo, the e-commerce giant paused PERM applications in 2023 and decided to proceed after reviewing “labor market conditions and immigration requirements.”

What is PERM and what does it mean for foreign job seekers?
PERM is a permanent labor certification issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) that allows a U.S.-based company to hire a foreign worker to work permanently in the country. This is often referred to as the first step to obtaining a green card – which allows the holder to live and work in the United States permanently.

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The halt to PERM applications means foreign candidates looking for U.S. tech jobs may have to look beyond traditional hubs like Silicon Valley and New York City. Additionally, existing foreign technicians at these companies could face challenges in extending their U.S. work permits.

While Amazon and Google have stopped PERM applications, Facebook’s parent company Meta is reportedly continuing green card sponsorship, although the process has become significantly slower and, according to a current employee, has taken “a year or more.”

Why the process has become difficult
Massive layoffs at Google, Amazon, Meta and other tech companies have complicated the process, according to the report. Companies now have to prove that laid-off employees are not qualified for the positions they want to fill with foreign workers. Additionally, they must disclose any recent layoffs (within the last six months) before submitting PERM applications for foreign employees.

Google asks the US government for changes
Recently, Google wrote to the US government that immigration rules on green cards and hiring needed to be updated as the company sought both experts and engineers in AI technology.

“We expect our need for AI engineer roles, including software engineer, research engineer and research scientist, to increase significantly in the coming years. AI advances are incredibly promising, but the shortage of skilled professionals threatens to prevent it from reaching its full potential,” Google wrote in the letter.

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