PERM Processing Times
DOL Labor Certification for Employment-Based Green Cards
501 days
average processing time
Using DOL data scraped , the DOL is currently processing PERM applications filed in April 2025 for analyst review (approximately 15 months backlog). DOL reports an average processing time of 501 calendar days for the March 2026 average-processing month. Source: DOL FLAG.
Current Processing Queue
April 2025
Cases currently being adjudicated
November 2025
Audit cases being reviewed
January 2026
Appeals being processed
Average Processing Time
501 calendar days
DOL-reported average for analyst review decisions
Average-processing month: March 2026. Data scraped Jun 29, 2026.
That's approximately 16.5 months
Processing Time Trend
DOL average calendar days by weekly ImmigrationTimes snapshot.
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 501 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 Jun 29, 2026, the average PERM processing time is 501 calendar days (approximately 16.5 months). DOL reports this average for March 2026. The DOL is currently processing cases filed in April 2025 for analyst review.
The DOL PERM analyst review queue is currently processing cases filed in April 2025. Audit review cases are from November 2025. Reconsideration requests are from January 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 [email protected].
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 Jun 29, 2026). Retrieved Jun 29, 2026, from https://immigrationtimes.org/perm/
Related Forms
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification via FLAG. Data scraped Jun 29, 2026. Permanent link. Verify on FLAG.DOL.gov.