A FinTech company in the U.S. has reportedly hit the brakes on the green card process for one of its H1B employees. Why? Because over 400 people threw their hats in the ring for a job that was supposed to be part of the PERM labor market test.
The position in question was for a “Data Scientist II.” The employer didn’t even bother to interview any of the applicants, but they were worried that such a massive influx could trigger a government audit.
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The H1B employee, who holds a Master’s in Computer Science and boasts more than five years of experience in AI and machine learning, was recently promoted to AI/ML Engineer III. Now, the company is suggesting they scrap the old application and start anew with the updated title.
However, this brings its own set of hurdles. Nowadays, job listings—especially in tech—are inundated with applications. Many of these candidates aren’t even close to being qualified, which complicates the task of demonstrating a real shortage of local talent.
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This trend is becoming all too common across various companies. An overwhelming number of irrelevant or fake applicants can stall or even derail the PERM process, even when there’s a genuine need for skilled workers.
In these situations, using a more precise job title, highlighting niche skills (like experience with large language models or FinTech platforms), and even mandating a Master’s degree can help filter the applicant pool.
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But the fallout is already evident. Individuals who have put in the effort, studied in the U.S., and earned promotions are now caught in a web of paperwork—because the system struggles to differentiate between serious candidates and those just trying to clog the pipeline.
As companies reassess their hiring and immigration strategies, the dream of obtaining a green card is shifting from being about talent to navigating a flawed system.
