To sponsor a foreign employee to work in the United States, an employer must submit a PERM application first before applying for an employment-based immigrant visa for those who will be hired.
Since it is a multi-step process, it may take an uncertain amount of time until the employee can really get their green card, also called a lawful permanent residence. Sure, the employer finds it hard to know when their PERM application will be processed. Plus, USCIS does not provide a way for applicants to check the progress of their PERM application.
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But today, there’s an online tracker called “Trackitt” that you can take advantage of to track the progress of any immigration applications, including PERM. Okay, let’s figure out everything about Trackitt below!
What is Trackitt?
Trackitt actually allows immigration applicants to share and discuss what they are experiencing regarding the progress of their application. You can post a thread to ask questions of others or even inform other applicants about your case information.
To make it easier for users to find related information, Trackitt classifies cases into several types, so they can easily use the tracker based on their case. If many users share information about their case, it can give others an idea of the uncertainty in the progress of their application, so they can estimate when theirs will be processed.
How Does Trackitt Work?
On Trackitt, you can add your case to the trackers based on the type of immigration application you’ve submitted to USCIS. You can discuss the cases of others that have been added to the tracker. If your case is being discussed, you’ll get a notification for every comment added to your entry. So, you can respond their comments and answer to their questions if you know.
To know the positions in your case, you can sort and filter dates in the trackers. You can also analyze application processing trends in the last 1-2 years, so you can learn about them when the opportunity arises.
From the tracker, you can also find out whether or not your application processing time exceeds the average processing time of others.
If your application is completely processed, you can update the progress of your case on the tracker to inform others of the success of your case. However, your feedback is very important to help make the tracker more useful for everyone.
How to Know the Estimated Processing Time of Your PERM with Trackitt
You can start adding your case to Trackitt if you want to figure out when your PERM application is making progress on USCIS. Other users may comment on your case, and you can start a discussion with those who have the same issues regarding the progress of the PERM application.
Here’s a step-by-step guide you can follow!
1. Create Your Account on Trackitt
First, you must sign up for Trackitt here. https://www.trackitt.com/signup
On the registration page, you can enter your username, email address, password, nationality, ZIP code, and profession. Don’t forget to check the terms and services box.
Once you click “Sign Up,” you must check your email to verify your account.
2. Add Your PERM Case
After your account is verified, you can go to the “Tracker” menu and look for the type of tracker based on your case. Sure, you should find a PERM tracker.
On the tracker, click “Add My Case.”
Now, you can fill out the available fields and click “Submit.”
Then, your case will be added to the list of PERM cases. You’ll be notified for every comment that other applicants left on your entry.
3. Start Discussing
After you’ve added your case to the tracker, it’s best for you to see other applicants’ PERM cases. Sure, you may find the same cases on the list.
You can click on the subject of the case to see the comments, so you may know more information about the case. You can also leave a comment on the case’s entry.
To start a discussion, you can select the “Forums” menu at the homepage of Trackitt. Click “USA Employment-Based Forums.”
Then, find PERM, and you can click “Discuss.”
Now, you can describe what you are facing regarding your PERM application.
4. Post a Thread
On the PERM tracker, you can also make a thread to ask about your PERM case. By posting a thread, other applicants may see yours and comment on your entry, so you can get information regarding your case.
To post one, you simply click “Start New Thread,” which you can find on the PERM tracker.
5. Predict Your PERM Processing Times
On Trackitt, you can expect to hear when your PERM application is completely processed. It’s important to note that it’s just an estimation, not an accurate of USCIS processing times.
To start, you can go to the “Prediction” menu.
On the next page, you can select categories and chargeability. Then, enter your priority date. Click “Estimate My Processing Date.”
The following page will bring up your expected processing date for your PERM application.
Additionally, you can also learn the processing trend for other applications through the graphs for the past 1-2 years.
6. Update Your Case
This is the last important step you shouldn’t miss. After USCIS has completely settled your PERM case, you can give information to other applicants regarding your progress. So, they can get bright hope about their case.
Well, that’s how to use Trackitt to find out the processing times of your PERM cases to be completed.
About PERM
Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) is an initial step that employers have to go through when they want to bring in employees from outside the United States to live and work in.
It can generally be done for any type of job for which there are no US workers willing, able, and qualified to fill the position. This labor market testing is supervised directly by the Department of Labor. Even though not all jobs require a PERM application, the majority do.
Through the PERM process, foreigners can obtain employment-based immigrant visas. To be approved, the employer must be actively involved in the process starting with the petition, provide proof that they are able to pay government approved wages, and pay all costs associated with the PERM application.
Basically, employers are responsible for submitting applications and making payments on related financing. And this aims to ensure that foreign workers working in the United States will not have adverse impacts on their employment opportunities, wages, health and safety.
When Will a Foreign Worker Get a Green Card?
It may take about 2–3 years for foreign workers to get an employment-based green card through the PERM process. For those who were born in India and China, it could be much longer.
In order to file a Form I-140 Immigrant Visa Petition with USCIS, the employers must first receive a labor certification approved and issued by the Department of Labor’s (DOL).
After your PERM application is completed, the employees may undertake the Consular Process to conduct a visa interview abroad or an adjustment of status from within the US. The employees will undergo a background check, including a security check, a medical examination, a visa history check, and a criminal background check.
How Much Does the PERM Process Cost?
When it comes to the cost of the PERM process to administer a green card for foreign workers, it can vary depending on whether you hire a private attorney or get free legal assistance.
But the range is between $2,500 for form fees, advertising, and background checks to $20,000, which includes premium proceeding and paying private attorney payments. Sure, the employer is responsible for making payments for all fees.
Conclusion
The processing times of your PERM application can be tracked through Trackitt. But the tool doesn’t provide accurate times; instead, it shows you the prediction when your PERM case is completely settled by USCIS.
