The Department of Labor (DOL) monitors the Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) process to prevent the displacement of U.S. workers. In the case of Microsoft, scrutiny typically focuses on prevailing wage determinations and the "business necessity" of specific job requirements. Auditors flag job descriptions that seem tailored to a specific foreign national, which violates the requirement for a "bona fide job opportunity."
These standards are not unique to one company. Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta encounter similar audit rates. The administration applies the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to ensure that foreign labor does not depress domestic wages. When executive priorities shift toward stricter H-1B oversight, the frequency of these audits tends to rise across the entire sector.
Consistency is often a matter of volume. Large tech firms file thousands of applications, making them statistically more likely to trigger random or targeted audits. While critics suggest political motives, the DOL frames these actions as routine enforcement of labor laws. The result is a slower path to green cards for many high-skilled engineers.
