Visa & Green Card
DOL Processing Times 2026
PERM, PWD, and audit review queues in one place — updated monthly from the official DOL FLAG dashboard.
- Updated monthly
- Official DOL source
- For Indian applicants
Educational estimate only. Not legal, tax, immigration, or financial advice. Full disclaimer below.
PERM / PWD Processing Time Estimate by Stage
Planning ranges for the DOL portion of the green card path. The live current queue (which month DOL is processing) is in the official panel below — it changes monthly.
Prevailing Wage (PWD)
- Estimated time
- 5–7 months
- What to check
- DOL FLAG PWD queue
- Notes
- Filed with DOL before recruitment; timing varies by wage source.
Recruitment + quiet period
- Estimated time
- 2–3 months
- What to check
- Ad run dates + 30-day quiet period
- Notes
- Employer-run; includes the mandatory 30-day wait after ads.
PERM analyst review
- Estimated time
- 12–16 months
- What to check
- DOL FLAG analyst-review queue
- Notes
- Depends on the DOL queue; no premium processing for PERM.
PERM audit (if selected)
- Estimated time
- +6–12+ months
- What to check
- Audit notice + response deadline
- Notes
- Only if audited; adds substantial time on top of analyst review.
Total to PERM approval — no audit
- Estimated time
- ~20–26 months
- Notes
- PWD + recruitment + analyst review, planning range.
Total to PERM approval — with audit
- Estimated time
- ~26–36+ months
- Notes
- When the case is audited.
I-140 after PERM
- Estimated time
- Premium 15 business days; regular ~4–8 months
- What to check
- USCIS Processing Times / I-907
- Notes
- Premium processing may be available depending on category.
General planning ranges only — the official current queue is on DOL FLAG and changes monthly. PERM has no premium processing. Not legal advice; verify with official sources before relying on any date.
Current DOL PERM processing times
Last updated: Pending first monthly update — pull from DOL FLAG- PWD for PERM — OEWS wage source
- Update from DOL FLAG
- PWD for PERM — non-OEWS wage source
- Update from DOL FLAG
- PERM analyst review queue
- Update from DOL FLAG
- PERM audit review queue
- Update from DOL FLAG
- PERM reconsideration queue
- Update from DOL FLAG
- Average PERM analyst review
- Update from DOL FLAG
- Average PERM audit review
- Update from DOL FLAG
DOL processing times change monthly. We update this page based on the official FLAG processing times page. Data source: U.S. Department of Labor FLAG Processing Times. Processing dates can change monthly and may not reflect every individual case.
Current DOL processing times summary
The U.S. Department of Labor processes employment-based green card cases in two stages: the prevailing wage determination (PWD) and the PERM labor certification. Each has its own queue, published monthly on the DOL FLAG dashboard. Below is what each queue means and how to read it.
PERM analyst review
The standard queue. DOL analysts review filed PERM applications in roughly filing-date order and certify, deny, or audit. This is the number most applicants watch — compare it to your own PERM filing date to gauge how far you are from a decision.
PERM audit review
A separate, slower queue for cases DOL selected for audit. An audit is not a denial, but it can add many months. If your case was audited, this is the queue that governs your wait.
PWD processing times for PERM
The prevailing wage determination queue, split by wage source (OEWS vs non-OEWS). PWD must be issued before PERM can be filed, so this queue sits at the very front of your timeline.
What “priority date” means on the DOL processing page
On the FLAG dashboard, the priority date is the filing month DOL is currently working on — not your personal green card priority date in the Visa Bulletin. For PERM they happen to be the same filing date, but the DOL queue tells you how far back DOL is currently processing, while the Visa Bulletin tells you when a visa number becomes available.
What to do if your case is older than the current DOL queue
- → Confirm your exact filing date against the current published queue.
- → Ask your employer’s attorney whether a DOL case-status inquiry is appropriate.
- → Remember PERM has no premium processing — you cannot pay to expedite.
- → Keep your H-1B status and any approved I-140 valid while you wait.
Related immigration timeline tools
PERM Processing Time Calculator
Estimate your full PWD → PERM → I-140 timeline
PWD Processing Time
Prevailing wage timeline before PERM
PERM Timeline
Step-by-step green card process after H-1B
H-1B PERM Max-Out Calculator
Six-year limit & extension risk
EB2 / EB3 India Priority Date
Where your India priority date stands
I-485 Processing Time
Adjustment-of-status timeline after your date is current
NVC Case Status
Consular processing stage after USCIS approval
Prevailing Wage Calculator
Estimate your DOL wage level & check an offer
I-140 Processing Time
Standard vs premium decision estimate
Priority Date Checker
Compare your date to the current bulletin
Green Card Wait Tracker
How many are ahead of you in line
Visa Bulletin Guide
How the monthly bulletin works for Indians
Immigration Tracker
Bulletin, backlog & lottery in one place
H-1B Layoff Guide
Grace period, options and next steps
Green Card Guide
PERM, I-140, I-485 — the full process
Frequently asked questions
Where can I check official DOL processing times?
The official source is the DOL FLAG processing-times dashboard at flag.dol.gov/processingtimes. It shows the current PWD, PERM analyst review, and audit review queues. This page summarizes that data, but the dashboard is authoritative.
How often does DOL update PERM processing times?
DOL refreshes the FLAG processing-times dashboard monthly. Queues can move forward or backward month to month depending on filing volume and staffing, so always check the current month.
What is PERM analyst review?
It is the standard DOL adjudication step where an analyst reviews a filed PERM application and either certifies it, denies it, or issues an audit. DOL publishes the filing month (priority date) it is currently reviewing.
What is PERM audit review?
When DOL audits a PERM, it requests the full recruitment file and supporting evidence before deciding. Audited cases go into a separate, slower queue, which DOL reports with its own priority date on the dashboard.
Why is my PERM still pending?
Most likely your filing month is still behind the current analyst review queue, or your case was selected for audit. Compare your PERM filing date to the current queue on the FLAG dashboard. If your case is far older than the queue, ask your attorney whether an inquiry is appropriate.
What does the DOL priority date mean?
On the FLAG dashboard, the 'priority date' is the filing month DOL is currently processing — for example, DOL might be reviewing cases filed in a given month. It is different from the green card priority date used in the Visa Bulletin, though for PERM they share the same filing date.
Can I contact DOL if my PERM is delayed?
Employers (through their attorney) can submit a case-status inquiry to DOL if a case is significantly older than the published queue. There is no premium processing for PERM. Individual applicants generally cannot expedite; your employer's attorney handles any inquiry.
Are DOL processing times guaranteed?
No. Published queues are estimates of where DOL is working, not guarantees. Your individual case can move faster or slower, especially if audited or if additional review is required.
How do PWD processing times affect PERM?
PWD comes first: PERM cannot be filed until the prevailing wage determination is issued. A slow PWD queue pushes back your recruitment and PERM filing, which delays the whole timeline. See our PWD processing time page for details.
Should I use a PERM calculator or the official DOL page?
Use both. The official DOL FLAG dashboard gives the authoritative current queues; our PERM calculator combines those with your own dates to estimate your personal timeline. Neither is legal advice — confirm with your attorney.
Written / reviewed by Deepak Middha · CA, Series 65
Last updated: July 4, 2026
Disclaimer, assumptions & sources
This tool is for general education and planning only. It does not replace advice from a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, USCIS, IRS, State Department, or other official source. Rules, limits, forms, fees, dates, and government processing information may change. Always verify before filing, investing, or making immigration, tax, or financial decisions.
- For educational use only — not legal advice.
- Not tax advice.
- Not financial advice.
- Not immigration advice.
- Numbers, forms, fees, dates, rules, and limits may change at any time.
- Always verify with official sources before acting.
- Consult a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, or the relevant official agency (USCIS, IRS, State Department) when it matters to your situation.
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