PERM Backlog Reduction Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a way for businesses to speed up the hiring of foreign workers. If an employer pays a $1,200 fee, the Department of Labor must finish their paperwork within 30 days. This is much faster than the current wait times, which can take many months.
• The money from these fees will be kept in a special account. The government will use it to hire more staff, upgrade computer systems, and provide better training. This is meant to help the agency handle more applications without needing extra taxpayer money.
• To keep things fair, the bill says that the fast-track program cannot slow down the normal process. People who choose not to pay the extra fee should still see their applications handled in a reasonable amount of time. The goal is to reduce the overall backlog for everyone.
• The cost of the fast-track fee will not stay at $1,200 forever. Starting in 2028, the price will go up slightly every year to keep up with inflation. This ensures the program always has enough money to pay for the staff and technology it needs to stay fast.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.