How much is the initial consultation?

The initial strategy session is a paid consultation: $200 for 20 minutes. If you retain the firm, that fee is credited toward your matter. The session lets us assess the position, the prevailing wage level, the right EB-2 or EB-3 category, and whether an H-1B bridge or Schedule A applies before you commit to a process. Call (305) 315-3425 or email fitenkolaw@gmail.com to schedule.

Who pays for the PERM process, the employer or the worker?

By Department of Labor regulation, the employer must pay the costs of the PERM labor certification process, including the required advertising and the attorney fees associated with the labor certification stage. The worker cannot be required to bear these costs. This rule exists to keep the labor-market test honest. Costs at later stages, such as certain I-140 and adjustment-of-status fees, are allocated differently and should be discussed case by case.

How long does PERM take for a Jacksonville employer?

Timelines vary and are not guaranteed. The prevailing wage determination, the mandatory recruitment steps (which span roughly 60 days at minimum plus a quiet period), and Department of Labor processing each add time, and an audit extends it further. After PERM certification, the I-140 and the priority-date wait follow. Realistic planning measures the full journey to a green card in many months to years, depending heavily on the worker's category and country of birth.

What is the difference between EB-2 and EB-3?

EB-2 is for positions that genuinely require an advanced degree or a bachelor's plus five years of progressive experience, or for workers of exceptional ability. EB-3 covers professionals with a bachelor's, skilled workers with at least two years of training or experience, and other (unskilled) workers. The category is set by the real minimum requirements of the job, not by the worker's personal credentials. The visa backlog also differs between them.

Can a worker stay in the U.S. while PERM is pending?

Usually through a separate nonimmigrant visa, most often the H-1B specialty occupation visa. PERM and the green card are immigrant processes that do not, by themselves, grant status to live and work here. Employers typically maintain the worker on H-1B (or another applicable status) during PERM. Filing PERM or the I-140 at the right time can also unlock H-1B extensions beyond the usual six-year limit, which is why sequencing matters.

Does every employer-sponsored case require full PERM recruitment?

No. Schedule A occupations — most notably professional nurses and physical therapists, plus certain workers of exceptional ability — are pre-certified by the Department of Labor, allowing the employer to skip the prevailing-wage-to-recruitment sequence and file the I-140 with the labor certification attached. This is valuable in Jacksonville's healthcare market. The wage obligation and notice requirement still apply, and clinical credentialing remains necessary, so have counsel confirm eligibility first.

The 2026 Guide to PERM Green Cards & Work Visas for Jacksonville Employers and Professionals

PERM labor certification, EB-2/EB-3 and H-1B for Jacksonville employers. Russian/Ukrainian-speaking counsel. Call (305) 315-3425 for a paid strategy session.

Fitenko Law PLLC, 600 Three Islands Blvd, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. Phone: (305) 315-3425. Email: fitenkolaw@gmail.com