PERM timeline: every step from prevailing wage to green card
An employment-based green card through PERM passes through six queues: the prevailing wage determination, recruitment, DOL's PERM review, the I-140 at USCIS, waiting for your priority date in the visa bulletin, and the I-485 or consular interview. The first three make up PERM itself; the DOL table below shows how far behind each DOL queue is today.
1. Prevailing wage determination (DOL)
Your employer files Form ETA-9141 and DOL sets the minimum wage for the job. DOL works these in order of filing.
2. Recruitment (employer)
For professional jobs: a 30-day job order with the state workforce agency, two Sunday newspaper ads, three more recruitment steps and a notice posted for 10 business days. After the last step there is a 30-day waiting period, and PERM must be filed within 180 days of the first step.
3. PERM review (DOL)
Your employer files Form ETA-9089. DOL reviews it, sometimes with an audit. There is no premium processing.
| DOL queue | Working on cases filed in | Last update |
|---|---|---|
| PERM analyst review | January 2026 | January 2026 |
| PERM audit review | December 2025 | December 2025 |
| Reconsideration requests | May 2026 | May 2026 |
| Prevailing wage (PERM) | June 2026 | June 2026 |
| Average days to decide (August 2026) | 303 | 336 |
Want this for your own case? Enter your filing month or case number and we'll estimate your decision date.
Estimate my PERM date4. I-140 (USCIS)
Within 180 days of certification, your employer files the I-140 immigrant petition. Premium processing is available. See I-140 processing time.
5. Priority date (State Department)
Your priority date is usually your PERM filing date. You can take the final step only when it is earlier than the date in the monthly visa bulletin for your category and country of birth. For India and China this wait can be many years. See the visa bulletin explained.
6. I-485 or consular processing
Inside the US you file Form I-485 to adjust status, usually with a work permit and travel document application. See I-485 processing time.
This page explains public information and is not legal advice.