PERM Processing Times
DOL Labor Certification for Employment-Based Green Cards
336 days
average processing time
Using DOL data scraped , the DOL is currently processing PERM applications filed in November 2025 for analyst review (approximately 10 months backlog). DOL reports an average processing time of 336 calendar days for the August 2026 average-processing month. Source: DOL FLAG.
Current Processing Queue
November 2025
Cases currently being adjudicated
December 2025
Audit cases being reviewed
April 2026
Appeals being processed
Average Processing Time
336 calendar days
DOL-reported average for analyst review decisions
Average-processing month: August 2026. Data scraped Sep 15, 2026.
That's approximately 11.0 months
Processing Time Trend
DOL-reported average calendar days, plotted against the average-processing month each figure describes.
Horizontal spacing reflects elapsed calendar time between DOL average-processing months. We never observed a DOL figure for April 2026 and May 2026, so those months render as a break in the line and are never interpolated.
89 ImmigrationTimes snapshots between Mar 28, 2026 and Sep 15, 2026 recorded 5 distinct DOL averages; each is plotted once, at the month it measures.
Vertical scale starts at 300 calendar days and tops at 550; points are DOL-reported average processing days.
What is PERM?
PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) is the DOL labor certification process that employers must complete before sponsoring a foreign worker for an employment-based green card. It applies to EB-2 and EB-3 categories.
The employer must demonstrate that there are no qualified, willing, and available U.S. workers for the position, and that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers.
After PERM certification, the employer files Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) with USCIS. View current I-140 processing times.
PERM Processing Steps
Prevailing Wage Determination
Employer requests a prevailing wage from the National Prevailing Wage Center (NPWC).
Recruitment
Employer conducts recruitment activities to test the U.S. labor market.
PERM Application (ETA-9089)
Employer files the PERM application via the DOL FLAG system. DOL reports an average of 336 calendar days from submission to analyst review decision.
DOL Decision
Certified, denied, or selected for audit. After certification, employer files I-140 with USCIS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Using DOL data scraped Sep 15, 2026, the average PERM processing time is 336 calendar days (approximately 11.0 months). DOL reports this average for August 2026. The DOL is currently processing cases filed in November 2025 for analyst review.
The DOL PERM analyst review queue is currently processing cases filed in November 2025. Audit review cases are from December 2025. Reconsideration requests are from April 2026.
You can check your PERM case status at flag.dol.gov/case-status-search. If your application was filed more than three months before the current queue date, contact the OFLC PERM Helpdesk at oflc.plc@dol.gov.
After PERM certification, the employer files Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) with USCIS. Once the I-140 is approved and a visa number is available, the beneficiary can file Form I-485 to adjust status to permanent resident.
Cite This Data
Citation
ImmigrationTimes.org. (2026). PERM Processing Times (data as of Sep 15, 2026). Retrieved Sep 16, 2026, from https://immigrationtimes.org/perm/
Related Forms
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification via FLAG. Data scraped Sep 15, 2026. Permanent link. Verify on FLAG.DOL.gov.