The US Department of Labor (DOL) has released its latest processing‑time updates for PERM labor certification and Prevailing Wage Determinations (PWDs). As of March 5, 2026, both PERM and PWD queues continue to experience extended delays, reinforcing the importance of early planning for employers and foreign national workers.
PERM Processing Times (As of March 5, 2026)
According to the latest DOL update, current adjudication timelines are as follows:
- Analyst Review: DOL is reviewing PERM applications filed in October 2024 or earlier.
- Audit Review: DOL is reviewing audited cases filed in June 2025 or earlier.
- Reconsideration Requests (appeals): DOL is processing cases filed in September 2025 or earlier.
The DOL’s FLAG system confirms that PERM cases currently in the active adjudication queue are:
- Analyst Review: October 2024
- Audit Review: June 2025
- Reconsideration: September 2025
PWD Processing Times
DOL continues to move through wage requests slowly due to high volume across programs.
As of March 5, 2026, DOL is issuing PWDs for:
- H‑1B and PERM OEWS‑based requests: Filed in December 2025
- Non‑OEWS PWD requests: Filed in December 2025
FLAG confirms that the PWD queue shows the same December 2025 timeline for both OEWS and non‑OEWS PERM wage requests.
Redetermination timelines (appeals of wage determinations):
- H‑1B Redeterminations: November 2025
- PERM Redeterminations: November 2025
Center Director Review timelines:
- PERM CDR requests: December 2025
Summary of DOL Backlogs (March 2026)
Based on FLAG’s published queues:
- PERM backlogs: Over 10,700 cases from December 2025 filings alone remain pending.
- PWD backlogs: Across programs, hundreds of wage requests from late 2025 continue pending review.
These extended queues reflect sustained processing pressure at OFLC and highlight the need for employers to initiate labor market testing and wage requests as early as possible.
Impacts
Longer Hiring Timelines
- Employers filing PERM cases in late 2024 or later should prepare for significant lag time before DOL review begins (17+ months in many cases).
Slower Prevailing Wage Issuance
- Prevailing wage determinations remain 3–4 months behind, delaying the start of recruitment for both PERM and H‑1B dependent roles.
Recommendation: Start Early
- Employers may need to initiate PWD requests well ahead of anticipated hiring timelines to avoid additional downstream delays in PERM filing.
Monitor for Shifts
- DOL often completes filings earlier than posted months, but employers with PERM filings older than four months beyond the posted processing date may contact DOL for a case inquiry.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.