Tech giant Google (GOOGL) is planning to restart its green card process in 2026 for eligible employees, according to Business Insider. In a company newsletter, the firm said that those who qualify will hear from an external legal team sometime in the first quarter. This step, known as the PERM process, is how workers on visas like H-1B can eventually become permanent U.S. residents. Tech companies often use it to help visa holders secure green cards.
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The update comes after months of uncertainty. Indeed, rising H-1B visa fees and travel delays have made it risky for international workers to leave the U.S., so Google’s lawyers are now advising them to stay put. Additionally, according to the memo, only certain roles qualify for PERM, typically the ones that require a degree and prior experience. Staff must also work from a physical Google office, and remote workers must relocate to an office location to be eligible.
Notably, Google had paused most PERM filings in January 2023 after laying off 12,000 employees, as a tight job market made it harder to justify hiring foreign workers under the program’s rules. And while a small number of applications were submitted in 2024, the 2026 plan is a bigger restart. However, eligibility still comes with conditions. For instance, employees in lower-level roles or those not rated as “moderate impact” or higher in performance reviews will likely not qualify, and anyone not in good standing with the company will be excluded.
Is GOOGL Stock a Good Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on GOOGL stock based on 28 Buys and seven Holds assigned in the past three months. Furthermore, the average GOOGL price target of $326.41 per share implies 4.4% upside potential.
