Google to Resume Green Card Sponsorship in 2026 with New Eligibility Rules
▼ Summary
– Google announced it will increase PERM applications in 2026, a key process for eligible employees to transition from a work visa to a green card.
– Eligibility for PERM requires employees to work in a role needing a degree and prior experience, and they must work from a Google office, not remotely.
– The PERM process requires companies to prove no qualified U.S. workers are available, and Google had paused applications in 2023 following major layoffs.
– Employees must have a performance rating of “moderate impact” or higher and be in good standing to be considered for the PERM program.
– This ramp-up follows a period of uncertainty for visa holders due to policy changes and travel advisories from Google’s lawyers.
Google has announced plans to significantly increase its sponsorship of green card applications for eligible employees starting in 2026, marking a notable shift in its immigration support strategy. The company communicated this update to staff in a December newsletter, indicating that those who qualify for the PERM labor certification process will be contacted by its external legal team early next year. This process is a fundamental step for foreign workers on visas, such as the H-1B, to obtain permanent residency in the United States.
The decision comes after a period of heightened uncertainty for tech professionals relying on work visas, driven by factors like increased government fees and processing delays. Google had previously advised employees on certain visas to reconsider international travel due to these administrative hold-ups. The resumption of PERM sponsorship signals a renewed commitment to supporting long-term employment for its international workforce, albeit under revised and more stringent eligibility rules.
Not all employees will qualify for this sponsorship opportunity. According to the internal memo, eligibility is contingent on several specific criteria. A primary requirement is that the employee’s role must necessitate both a university degree and relevant prior work experience. Furthermore, the policy explicitly excludes fully remote workers. Staff working remotely must agree to transfer to a physical Google office to be considered for the PERM process, aligning with the program’s emphasis on localized employment.
The PERM system itself is designed to protect the U.S. labor market. Employers must demonstrate through a rigorous testing process that there are no qualified and available American workers able to fill the position before sponsoring a foreign national. Google had halted new PERM applications in early 2023, coinciding with a major round of layoffs that affected 12,000 employees. This pause was part of a broader trend across major tech firms, including Amazon and Meta, where widespread job cuts made it difficult to justify hiring from abroad under the program’s strict regulations.
The landscape of abundant available talent following industry-wide reductions made the PERM justification particularly challenging. Throughout the pause, the company only processed applications for a very limited number of cases. The planned ramp-up in 2026 therefore represents a strategic return to more active sponsorship, reflecting both internal planning and potentially shifting labor market conditions.
Additional filters will apply to determine which employees can proceed. The memo indicated that individuals in roles at Level 3 or below are less likely to meet the necessary standards. Performance is also a critical factor; employees must receive a performance rating of “Moderate Impact” (MI) or higher in their annual reviews to be eligible. Those not in good standing with the company will not be considered, underscoring that sponsorship is reserved for high-performing contributors in specific, office-based roles.
(Source: Business Insider)
