How to Obtain a Copy of your PERM application (Form 9089)

If you are a foreign national being sponsored for a green card through the PERM labor certification process, then your employer 'should' provide you with a copy of the PERM application form (Form 9089).

If the employer refuses, there is no way to obtain a copy of the PERM application form from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) directly; however, importantly, if the employer has filed an I-140 immigrant visa petition for you, and the I-140 is approved, then you can obtain a copy of the I-140 petition filing - which WILL include a complete copy of the 9089 PERM approval.

USCIS provides a straightforward way to obtain a copy of the I-140 petition filing, in compliance with FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act). You can do this on your own without an attorney. You can find instructions here:

If you are from India or China, in particular, because of long wait times for green cards, it is in your interest to obtain a copy of the PERM application form (Form 9089) filed for you.

It is unfortunate that some employers - and some immigration lawyers - refuse to provide these documents to people. They have no good reason for this. If you work for a company that has this practice, you should complain to management. The lawyers will back down if the company management tells them to release the 9089s.