PERM processing time today
The Department of Labor publishes the filing month its analysts are currently deciding and the average number of days recent cases took. The table below shows today's figures, updated within 24 hours of each DOL change. Count the months between your filing month and DOL's month to see roughly how far back in line you are, or use the estimator for a date.
| 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 dateWhat the DOL processing month means
DOL works through PERM applications roughly in the order they arrive. The month on its processing page is the filing month of the cases analysts are deciding now. If your employer filed in that month or earlier, your case is on an analyst's desk or has already been decided. If it was filed later, count the months between your filing month and DOL's month. That's roughly how far back in line you are.
The average-days figure looks backward. It tells you how long cases decided in the most recent month took from filing to decision. When the queue speeds up or slows down, that number follows a month or two later.
How long does PERM take in total?
The DOL decision is the last part of PERM. Before your employer can file Form ETA-9089, it needs a prevailing wage determination and a recruitment campaign:
- Prevailing wage determination (Form ETA-9141). DOL works these in order of filing too; the table above shows the month it is on.
- Recruitment. For professional jobs: a 30-day job order with the state workforce agency, two Sunday newspaper ads, three additional recruitment steps and a notice posted at the worksite. The employer must wait at least 30 days after the last recruitment step before filing, and file within 180 days of the first.
- DOL review of the ETA-9089. The wait shown above, plus several months if the case is audited.
See the full PERM timeline for how the steps fit together.
What if my case gets audited?
DOL selects some cases for audit, at random or because something in the application needs a closer look. Your employer then has 30 days to send recruitment records and other documents. Audited cases are reviewed in their own queue, shown in the table above, and usually take several months longer than cases without an audit.
How to check your PERM status
DOL's public Case Status Search accepts up to 30 case numbers at once, without logging in. It shows whether a case is pending, certified, denied or withdrawn. Your attorney or employer has your case number, which looks like G-100-26075-482913. Read how to check your PERM case status for each status and what it means.
Can I pay to speed up PERM?
No. DOL has no premium processing for PERM. Premium processing becomes available later, for the I-140 at USCIS.
Can I change jobs while PERM is pending?
PERM belongs to the employer and the specific job. If you leave before your I-140 is approved, a new employer usually has to start PERM again. Once an I-140 has been approved for 180 days, you generally keep its priority date. Talk to an attorney before you move.
Will my H-1B run out while I wait?
H-1B extensions beyond six years are generally available once a PERM or I-140 has been pending for at least 365 days, or once an I-140 is approved and your priority date isn't current. Your attorney can tell you which route applies.
How often does DOL update PERM processing times?
About once a month, at the end of the first work week. PermTimes checks DOL every six hours and updates this page within 24 hours of a change.
How long is a PERM certification valid?
180 days. Your employer must file the I-140 with USCIS within that window.
This page explains public information and is not legal advice.