H.R. 10051 · Introduced August 6, 2026
The PERM Backlog Reduction Act of 2026: Premium Processing for PERM.
A bipartisan bill (H.R. 10051) introduced in Congress that would create an optional, employer-funded premium processing track for the PERM labor certification, cutting a
process that currently runs over a year down to 30 days.
About the PERM Backlog Reduction Act
The PERM Backlog Reduction Act (H.R. 10051) is a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on August 6, 2026 by Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA).
The bill targets one of the most frustrating chokepoints in the EB-3 process: the Department of Labor’s PERM system, which employers must clear before they can even file the immigrant petition.
Right now, employers and workers can wait well over a year just for DOL to process the ETA-9089 labor certification form, the document that confirms no qualified American worker was available for the position.
This bill would let employers pay an optional fee to move their case onto a fast, predictable timeline, while directing those same fees toward modernizing the system for everyone.
Because the program is opt-in and self-funded, it does not require new taxpayer spending.
It also comes with bipartisan backing and support from industry groups, which improves its odds of moving through Congress.
Bill Facts
Bill Number: H.R. 10051
Name: PERM Backlog Reduction Act
Date Introduced: August 6, 2026
Status: Introduced in the House of Representatives
Primary Sponsors:
- Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI)
- Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA)
Focus: An optional, self-funded premium processing program for the PERM labor certification (Form ETA-9089), aimed at reducing DOL processing delays.
“A bipartisan plan to modernize the immigration system and reduce EB-3 visa backlogs.”
What the Bill Actually Does
Employers could opt into a premium processing track for Form ETA-9089 by paying a fee.
DOL would be required to process those forms within 30 calendar days.
If DOL requests more information from the employer, it would have 15 calendar days to finish processing once the employer responds.
The fee is set at $1,200 per form, adjusted every year for inflation starting in fiscal year 2028.
All fees go into a new dedicated Treasury account and can only be used for running the program, staffing, training, case adjudication, system upgrades, and fraud detection.
The bill requires DOL to make sure the new premium track does not slow down standard processing for employers who do not opt in, for either the ETA-9089 or the ETA-9141 prevailing wage form.
Fees collected must also be enough to support timely processing of the ETA-9141 prevailing wage determination, not just the premium track.
Key Links
Step 1
We’re excited to provide you with an easy way to message your House and Senate Representatives, and the White House, requesting their support for legislation that would significantly speed up PERM labor certification processing times.
The PERM Backlog Reduction Act has bipartisan sponsorship and support from industry groups, and your voice can help keep the momentum going.
Contact Your Representatives
Contact Your Representatives (by state)Draft Emails
Category: Labor and Workforce
Email Subject: Support the PERM Backlog Reduction Act (H.R. 10051) to Reduce Green Card Processing Delays
Dear [Senator/Representative] [Last Name],
As someone going through the EB-3 process, I am writing to respectfully ask for your support of the PERM Backlog Reduction Act (H.R. 10051). The PERM labor certification step, which my employer must complete before I can move forward with my green card case, currently takes far longer than it should, creating months or years of uncertainty for workers like me.
This bipartisan legislation would give employers the option to pay for faster PERM processing, while directing those same fees toward modernizing the system that handles every case, including ones outside the premium track. That means real relief for backlogged cases without asking taxpayers to foot the bill.
I urge you to co-sponsor and support this practical, self-funded solution. It is a meaningful step toward a system that works better for workers, employers, and the American economy alike.
Thank you for your leadership and for considering my request.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Country of Origin]
Category: Labor and Workforce
Email Subject: Support the PERM Backlog Reduction Act (H.R. 10051) to Reduce Labor Certification Delays
Dear [Senator/Representative] [Last Name],
As an employer who relies on the PERM process to hire and retain foreign national workers, I am writing to ask for your support of the PERM Backlog Reduction Act (H.R. 10051). Processing times for the ETA-9089 labor certification have grown significantly, making it harder to plan our workforce and fill critical positions.
This bipartisan bill would create an optional, self-funded premium processing track, guaranteeing a 30-day turnaround for employers who choose to use it, while the fees collected help modernize the system for everyone, including standard processing and the prevailing wage determination step.
I urge you to co-sponsor and support this legislation. It offers a practical, no-cost-to-taxpayers path to cutting the delays that are holding back American businesses and the workers they depend on.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Company Name]
Step 2: Call the White House
White House Comment Line:
202-456-1111
Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET
Step 3: Share on Social Media
Help spread the word. Encourage others to support the PERM Backlog Reduction Act by sharing on LinkedIn or X/Twitter.
For Employers For ApplicantsBenefits of the PERM Backlog Reduction Act
Four Ways the Bill Will Help EB-3 Employers
1. A Predictable, Fast Track for PERM
- Employers who opt in get a guaranteed 30-day processing window for the ETA-9089.
- If DOL requests more information, the case still gets resolved within 15 days of the employer’s response.
- This turns a process that can currently take well over a year into something employers can actually plan around.
2. No New Cost to Taxpayers
- The program is fully funded by the $1,200 fee paid by participating employers, adjusted for inflation starting in 2028.
- Fees go into a dedicated Treasury account used only for running and improving the program.
- Employers get faster service without a broader system overhaul funded by public money.
3. System-Wide Modernization, Not Just a Fast Lane
- Fees collected also have to be enough to support timely processing of the ETA-9141 prevailing wage form.
- The bill requires DOL to keep standard processing times stable for employers who do not use the premium track.
- That means the investment in staffing, training, and technology benefits the whole PERM pipeline, not just paying customers.
4. Workforce Planning You Can Count On
- A firm 30-day timeline lets employers commit to start dates, onboarding, and staffing plans with real confidence.
- Less time spent guessing when a case will clear means fewer vacant positions and less lost productivity.
- This is especially valuable for industries facing chronic labor shortages.
Four Ways the Bill Could Help EB-3 Applicants
1. A Faster Path Once Your Employer Opts In
- If your employer chooses the premium track, your ETA-9089 gets a guaranteed 30-day decision instead of an open-ended wait.
- That is often the single slowest step standing between you and moving forward with your green card case.
2. Investment in the System You Rely On, Even Outside the Fast Track
- The bill requires that fees also fund timely processing of the prevailing wage determination, a step every applicant depends on regardless of whether their employer pays for premium processing.
- The bill also requires DOL to protect standard processing times, so the new program is not supposed to come at the expense of applicants whose employers do not opt in.
3. More Predictability for Your Own Planning
- Knowing that a 30-day and 15-day clock exists, even if it only applies when your employer chooses it, gives you a clearer sense of what a faster outcome could look like.
- That predictability matters when you are making decisions about your career, your family, and your future in the U.S.
4. A Modernized DOL Over Time
- The fees collected are earmarked for system upgrades, staffing, training, and fraud detection.
- Over time, that investment is intended to help the entire PERM system move faster, not just the cases inside the premium program.
Note: This bill does not change visa caps. Its benefit is tied to PERM processing speed and improving DOL resources.
Introduction of the PERM Backlog Reduction Act
Congressmen Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and Lou Correa (D-CA) introduced the PERM Backlog Reduction Act on August 6, 2026, aimed at reducing costly delays in the Department of Labor’s PERM system, which employers use to obtain the permanent labor certifications required for many employment-based green card cases.
The bill is endorsed by the Critical Labor Coalition, EB3.work, and the Coalition of Franchisee Associations. Congressman Grothman has described it as a practical, self-funded way to cut bureaucratic delay for employers who have already met the requirements to hire a foreign worker, without cost to taxpayers.
Congressman Correa has framed it as a way to give DOL the resources it needs to modernize the PERM process for employers, workers, and the broader economy. Industry endorsers have pointed to the bill as relief for businesses facing hiring delays and vacancy pressure, particularly small business franchisees.
(Full press release: https://grothman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5342)
FAQ
No. It was introduced on August 6, 2026, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It has not passed committee, the House, the Senate, or been signed into law.
No. It creates an optional premium processing track for employers who choose to pay the fee. It does not eliminate the backlog for standard processing, though it does require DOL to keep standard processing times stable and to use collected fees to support prevailing wage processing as well.
No. This bill is specific to the PERM labor certification step at the Department of Labor. It does not change how green cards are allocated or how family members count toward visa quotas.
The bill establishes the fee as something employers choose to pay for the optional premium program. It does not require workers to pay.
Indirectly, potentially. The bill requires DOL to protect standard processing times and to use fee revenue to help fund timely prevailing wage determination processing, which applies system-wide. But the guaranteed 30-day and 15-day timelines apply specifically to cases filed through the premium program.
