RIR Labor Certification Granted — What It Means and What to Do Next

Congratulations—your Reduction in Recruitment (RIR) labor certification has been approved. RIR was the pre-PERM pathway that allowed employers to recruit before filing and then prove to the Department of Labor (DOL) that qualified U.S. workers were not available for the offered, full-time, permanent job at or above the prevailing wage. An approval confirms DOL agrees the role and recruitment met the program’s regulatory standards.

Why this is a big deal

• You now have a priority date tied to the labor certification. This date controls when you can finalize permanent residence if your employment category is visa-backlogged.
• The certification anchors the next step: an I-140 Immigrant Petition from the sponsoring employer in the appropriate category (typically EB-2 or EB-3).

Timing & validity

• Most modern certifications (PERM) expire 180 days after issuance. Legacy RIR approvals had different validity rules. To avoid any risk, file the I-140 immediately and confirm the certificate’s validity window with counsel.

I-140 filing checklist

• Ability to pay the proffered wage from the priority date onward (tax returns, annual reports, or audited financials; ongoing W-2/payroll can help).
• Beneficiary qualifications exactly as listed in the certification (degrees, transcripts, evaluations, experience letters on letterhead detailing duties, dates, hours, and tools/technologies).
• The original labor certification (or ETA-certified copy) with consistent job title, duties, and wage.

After I-140 approval

• If your priority date is current, file I-485 Adjustment of Status (or pursue consular processing abroad).
• Dependents (spouse and unmarried children under 21) may file as derivatives.
• If you file I-485 and it remains pending 180+ days, you may change to a same or similar occupation under portability rules, preserving the case.
• An approved I-140 can support H-1B extensions beyond the 6-year limit (and 3-year extensions if visa numbers are backlogged).

Status hygiene
Keep nonimmigrant status valid until you can adjust; avoid role changes that diverge from certified duties/requirements without legal review. Align job location and wage with what DOL certified, and document any corporate reorganizations carefully.

Bottom line: Your RIR approval unlocks the immigrant petition stage. Move quickly, file a decision-ready I-140, and leverage your priority date to reach permanent residence efficiently.