For foreign nationals pursuing an employer-sponsored Green Card, the labor certification process is frequently the stage that sets the pace for everything that follows.
Understanding current PERM processing time data, what the numbers actually mean, which stages drive the longest waits, and what options exist when delays mount is essential for anyone trying to plan a realistic path to permanent residency.
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What The Current Data Shows
According to data published by the U.S. Department of Labor, the average PERM processing time as of June 2026 is approximately 501 days.
As of the DOL's June 8, 2026 update, the following processing windows apply by application type:
- Prevailing Wage Determinations under OEWS wage standards are currently processing requests received in approximately March to April 2026, depending on visa category
- Prevailing Wage Determinations under non-OEWS wage standards are processing requests received in approximately March to April 2026
- Analyst reviews are processing requests received in approximately March 2026
- Reconsideration requests are processing requests received in approximately January 2025, notably the furthest behind of any category
These figures are updated regularly and should be verified directly on the DOL FLAG system before drawing conclusions about a specific case, as processing windows shift from month to month.
Why The 501-Day Average Matters
The 501-day figure represents the average across all PERM application types, but it is worth understanding what that number actually encompasses.
PERM is not a single filing with a single wait. It is a multi-stage process, each component of which contributes to the overall timeline before an employer can even submit the formal application to the DOL.
The Prevailing Wage Determination must be obtained before recruitment begins. Recruitment has its own timing rules.
Most recruitment steps must be finished at least 30 days, but not more than 180 days, before the employer files the formal PERM application, Form ETA-9089.
Analyst review of that application then adds additional months. And if the DOL selects a filing for audit, the timeline extends further still.
The 501-day average reflects the cumulative weight of all of these stages, which is why PERM is frequently the longest single component of the employer-sponsored Green Card journey.
The Stages That Drive Delays
Several specific circumstances are frequently cited as causing processing times to extend beyond even the current average:
- Audit selection. When the DOL selects a PERM application for audit, the employer must respond to additional documentation requests before the application can be adjudicated. This can add months to an already lengthy process. Careful attention to recruitment documentation and eligibility requirements from the outset is one of the more effective ways to reduce audit risk.
- Incomplete or inaccurate applications. Errors or omissions in the Form ETA-9089 filing can result in delays or denials that require refiling, resetting the clock on both the DOL review and the priority date implications.
- High application volume. Periods of elevated filing activity create backlogs at the DOL that affect all applicants regardless of the strength of individual filings.
- Reconsideration request backlogs. When a filing is denied and the employer asks the DOL to reconsider, that adds more waiting time on top of the original review. As of mid-2026, reconsideration requests were processing cases received in about January 2026.
How Perm Delays Affect The Broader Green Card Timeline
Because PERM is the foundational first step in most employer-sponsored Green Card processes, delays here cascade through every stage that follows. An approved PERM certification is a prerequisite for filing Form I-140 with USCIS.
Approval of Form I-140 is a prerequisite for Form I-485 or consular processing. Each delay at the PERM stage extends the overall timeline accordingly.
For workers on time-limited nonimmigrant visas, particularly H-1B holders managing six-year cap limits and extension timelines, the compounding effect of PERM delays can create genuine urgency around status maintenance.
Dependent family members, including spouses and unmarried children under 21, experience corresponding delays in their own Green Card timelines whenever the principal applicant's process is extended.
What To Do When Perm Is Taking Longer Than Expected
The employer, not the worker, holds direct access to case status through the DOL FLAG system. Workers experiencing delays should stay in regular contact with their employer and HR team to receive timely updates.
If a PERM application has been pending well past the processing month the DOL has posted, the employer can send a status inquiry to the OFLC (Office of Foreign Labor Certification) help desk. Check the DOL's current guidance for the exact waiting period it requires before it will respond to an inquiry.
For workers whose overall Green Card timelines are being materially affected, exploring alternative pathways is a conversation worth having sooner rather than later.
The EB-1A and EB-2 National Interest Waiver categories both bypass the PERM process entirely, making them potentially viable options for workers with strong enough professional backgrounds, even if they are currently pursuing an employer-sponsored route in parallel.
Planning Ahead With Professional Guidance
The PERM process rewards early action and careful preparation. Filing the Prevailing Wage Determination request as early as possible, ensuring recruitment documentation is thorough and well-organized, and building buffer time into overall planning for potential audits or DOL delays are all practices consistently associated with more predictable outcomes.
For workers and employers navigating PERM in the current environment, where average processing times top 500 days and the main review stage is working on applications filed more than a year ago, working with experienced immigration counsel from the outset is a meaningful investment in keeping the overall Green Card timeline as efficient as possible.
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