PERM stands for Program Electronic Review Management. It is a labor certification process that U.S.-based sponsoring employers must go through before hiring an employment-based visa applicant. The process is complex and takes about two years to complete whereas the employer must test the labor market for qualified U.S. applicants. When none are found, the sponsoring employer must provide proof. If the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) can certify that there weren’t any qualified, willing, able, and available U.S. workers, and that employing the applicant would not negatively affect the wages (and working conditions) of other currently employed U.S. workers, the applicant may be granted their employment-based visa.