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Google to Resume Green Card Sponsorship for Eligible Employees in 2026

Google

Business Honor
29 December, 2025

PERM applications to restart in Q1 2026 with strict performance, role, and location eligibility rules.

Google will resume the proceedings for green cards for eligible members of its workforce starting in 2026, with strict criteria attached to the process. Google, the Mountain View-based tech company, will revive the Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) process in the first quarter of 2026, according to reports. When an employer provides sponsorship, the PERM process initiates the permanent residence process.

According to an internal memo issued to employees last December, as sourced by Business Insider, Google has already informed its employees that those who qualify will soon be contacted by external lawyers who specialize in immigration to start the process. The PERM is usually sponsored by tech companies to help employees who are already hired as employees on an H-1B visa to permanently live and work within the US as green card holders.

But Google has since clarified that not all employees will qualify to have a PERM sponsorship from Google. Only those who meet the necessary standards will qualify to be hired. They must be on an H-1B visa or an equivalent valid visa to work and have attained at least a “Moderate Impact” level rating to qualify. It is likely that those at level 3 and below will not qualify.

Location serves as an additional criterion in the process. The candidates ought to work in a Google office. For those who work remotely, relocating to an office location becomes a requirement. Other jobs require candidates to meet U.S. Department of Labor standards. This involves having a degree and relevant work experience.

Lastly, the workers must also continue to be in good standing with Google, meaning that they should have neither any disciplinary issues nor violations nor negative employment status. It has also been reported that Google has been filing a limited number of PERM applications this year and intends to continue to do so in 2026 based on the above-stated eligibility criteria.