New Congressional Bill Aims to Fast-Track Foreign Talent Hiring in 30 Days
Washington, Monday, 24 August 2026.
A new bipartisan U.S. bill proposes an optional $1,200 fee to slash foreign worker labor certification waits from 372 days to just 30, speeding up hiring at zero taxpayer cost.
Legislative Overview and Processing Delays
On August 6, 2026, Representatives Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and Lou Correa (D-CA) introduced H.R. 10051, known as the PERM Backlog Reduction Act of 2026, to the U.S. House of Representatives [1]. This bipartisan legislation seeks to establish an optional premium processing service for PERM labor certifications, aiming to reduce the Department of Labor’s average processing time significantly [1]. As of July 2026, the Department of Labor reported an average processing time of 372 calendar days for PERM Analyst Review determinations, creating substantial bottlenecks for employers [1]. The proposed law mandates a 30-calendar-day processing track for Form ETA-9089 if the optional fee is paid, representing a potential processing time reduction of -91.935 percent compared to standard timelines [1].
Financial Mechanics and Fee Structure
To fund this expedited service, H.R. 10051 stipulates a $1,200 fee for premium processing, which is designed to cover administration, staffing, and system upgrades without using taxpayer dollars [1]. The legislation requires that these funds be deposited into a dedicated DOL PERM Premium Processing Fee Account to ensure resources are directed specifically toward adjudication improvements [1]. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the $1,200 fee is scheduled to be adjusted annually for inflation starting in fiscal year 2028 [1]. Importantly, the legislation includes a safeguard mandating that the new premium program must not negatively impact the processing times of standard ETA-9089 or ETA-9141 applications [1].
Industry Response and Legislative Status
On August 23, 2026, New York-based industry group EB3.Work reaffirmed support for the bill, with CEO John E. Dorer stating that the reform would help modernize the DOL and bring greater certainty to the employment-based immigration process [1]. Despite this endorsement, H.R. 10051 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and remains a proposal that has not yet been enacted into law [1]. Employers and applicants are currently advised to continue standard procedures as the premium processing option is not yet available [1]. The bill does not alter existing recruitment requirements, permanent labor certification standards, I-140 filing requirements, visa limits, or the Visa Bulletin, being strictly limited to DOL processing stages [1].