PERM processing time
How long the Department of Labor takes to decide PERM labor certifications, the first step of most employment-based green cards. DOL publishes only the current figure; we have recorded it every month since late 2020.
PERM average processing days since 2020
How far behind is the PERM queue?
Pending PERM prevailing wage requests
Before PERM, employers need a prevailing wage determination (PWD). DOL lists the PERM-related PWD requests still open by month of receipt:
| Received | Still pending |
|---|---|
| May 2026 | 12 |
| June 2026 | 30 |
| July 2026 | 1,346 |
| August 2026 | 14,925 |
| September 2026 | 14,400 |
| October 2026 | 13,179 |
Prevailing wage processing time →
Monthly PERM figures
| Month | Analyst review (days) | Audit review (days) |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 300 | — |
| August 2026 | 303 | — |
| June 2026 | 403 | 290 |
| March 2026 | 501 | 343 |
| February 2026 | 503 | — |
| January 2026 | 512 | — |
| December 2025 | 500 | — |
| November 2025 | 496 | — |
| August 2025 | 472 | — |
| July 2025 | 483 | — |
| June 2025 | 496 | — |
| May 2025 | 500 | — |
| April 2025 | 499 | — |
| March 2025 | 499 | — |
| February 2025 | 497 | — |
| January 2025 | 489 | — |
| December 2024 | 462 | — |
| November 2024 | 468 | 496 |
| October 2024 | 439 | 496 |
| September 2024 | 428 | 492 |
| August 2024 | 430 | 453 |
| June 2024 | 407 | 565 |
| March 2024 | 387 | 478 |
| February 2024 | 401 | 505 |
Frequently asked questions
How long does PERM take right now?
The Department of Labor reports an average of 300 days (about 9.9 months) for PERM applications decided by an analyst in the last 30 days (last 90 days: 315, last 180 days: 360), as of Oct 31, 2026. Before filing PERM, the prevailing wage determination and recruitment usually add several more months.
Is PERM getting faster?
Yes: a year earlier (November 2025) the average was 496 days. The slowest month in our history was January 2026 with 512 days; the fastest was August 2021 with 156 days.
Which PERM applications is DOL working on?
In its Oct 21, 2026 update, the DOL said analysts were reviewing PERM applications filed in January 2026; audited cases from August 2026. If your case was filed more than three months before the posted month, DOL suggests contacting the PERM help desk.
What happens after PERM is certified?
The employer files Form I-140. USCIS decided I-140s in a median of 3.9 months recently (premium processing is faster). When the priority date is current in the Visa Bulletin, the worker can file for the green card.
- U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Processing Times
- Internet Archive copies of flag.dol.gov/processingtimes (history)
Figures are copied from the official files without changes; derived numbers (changes, backlog estimates) are explained on the methodology page. Not legal advice.