PERM, Traditional (TR) and Reduction in Recruitment (RIR) are all types of labor certification which have been utilized by DOL. The end result has always been the same, however the manner in which the programs were carried out have varied. TR and RIR no longer exist as these programs have been phased out by DOL. The current and only process available for filing labor certifications is PERM.

PERM (Program Electronic Review Management System) was implemented by the DOL on March 28, 2005. Under PERM, the DOL has specified specific requirements that the employer must meet before filing the labor certification application. After the employer has set the minimum requirements for the position, requested a prevailing wage, and recruited for the position, it will only be eligible to file the labor certification if it was unsuccessful in finding any able, willing, qualified and available U.S. workers for the position. If the employer is not able to fill the position with an able, willing, qualified and available U.S. worker, then it will be eligible to file a labor certification electronically pursuant to PERM. Prior to the implementation of PERM, labor certifications were filed pursuant to traditional (TR) or reduction in recruitment (RIR) guidelines. All the pending TR and RIR cases were sent to one of two backlog elimination centers and the DOL has already eliminated those backlogs.