PERM Processing Time Calculator 2026

PERM processing time is how long the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) takes to decide a PERM labor certification after it is filed. It does not include the earlier prevailing wage (PWD) and recruitment steps. DOL publishes the current queue monthly on its FLAG processing-times dashboard, and times change from month to month.

The total PERM stage — prevailing wage determination, recruitment, filing, and DOL analyst review — commonly spans well over a year end to end, and longer if the case is audited. Exact current queues change monthly; always check the DOL FLAG dashboard and confirm your own timeline with your employer's immigration attorney.

Technically no. Prevailing wage determination (PWD) is a separate DOL step that must finish before PERM is filed. Many people casually include PWD, recruitment, and DOL review when they say 'PERM timeline,' but the official PERM processing queue only covers the review after the ETA-9089 is filed.

PWD (prevailing wage determination) is the first DOL step: DOL sets the minimum wage your employer must offer for the role. PERM (labor certification) comes later, after recruitment, and is DOL's certification that no qualified U.S. worker is available. PWD must be completed before PERM can be filed.

As a planning range, a prevailing wage determination (PWD) commonly takes about 5–7 months, and it has no premium processing. PWD is a separate DOL step that must finish before PERM is filed, so it is not counted in the official PERM review queue. Times change monthly — check the DOL FLAG processing-times dashboard for the current PWD queue.

After recruitment ends, the employer must wait at least 30 days (the quiet period) before filing PERM. Once filed, DOL analyst review currently takes many months — see the current queue on the DOL FLAG dashboard. An audit adds significant additional time.

Yes. If DOL selects your PERM for audit, it moves to a separate, slower review queue and can add roughly 6–12+ months as a planning range. An audit is not a denial — your attorney responds with the recruitment file and documentation — but you should plan for a longer total timeline. Check the DOL audit queue and confirm timing with your attorney.

DOL analyst review is the standard adjudication: an analyst reviews the filed ETA-9089 and recruitment record and either certifies, denies, or issues an audit. DOL publishes the priority date (filing month) it is currently reviewing on the FLAG dashboard.

An audit means DOL asks for the full recruitment file and supporting documentation before deciding. It is not a denial, but it substantially lengthens processing because audited cases go into a separate, slower review queue. Your attorney responds to the audit on the employer's behalf.

No. PERM labor certification cannot be premium processed. There is no way to pay to expedite a PERM decision. Premium processing is only available for certain I-140 immigrant petitions, which come after PERM.

After PERM is certified, the employer files Form I-140 (the immigrant petition) with USCIS. Once I-140 is approved and your priority date is current in the Visa Bulletin, you can file I-485 (or pursue consular processing) for the green card.

Premium processing decides most EB-2/EB-3 I-140 petitions in about 15 business days, and EB-1C/EB-2 NIW in about 45 business days. Standard (non-premium) I-140 adjudication is a general planning range of several months. Confirm current availability with your attorney.

Not by itself. PERM approval lets the employer file I-140. You can generally only file I-485 (adjustment of status) once your priority date is current in the Visa Bulletin. For India EB-2/EB-3, that can be a multi-year wait after I-140 approval.

For India EB-2 and EB-3, visa numbers are heavily backlogged. The Visa Bulletin's Final Action Date and Date for Filing determine when you can file I-485 and when the green card can be approved — often the biggest factor in the total timeline after PERM and I-140.

Yes, indirectly. A PERM (or I-140) pending 365+ days before your six-year H-1B limit generally supports one-year extensions under AC21 §106(a). An approved I-140 generally supports three-year extensions. Rules are case-specific — confirm with your attorney.

This is a timing risk. Whether you can extend depends on how far along your green card case is (PERM/I-140 filing and approval dates) and recapture of time spent outside the U.S. Speak to your employer's immigration attorney immediately; this tool only gives an educational estimate.

No. This calculator is for educational planning only and is not legal advice. Always confirm your case with your employer's immigration attorney. Processing estimates are based on general planning ranges and the DOL FLAG dashboard, which changes monthly.

DOL updates its FLAG processing-times dashboard monthly, so check it at least once a month while your case is pending. We refresh the numbers on this page from that official source, but always verify the current figures directly at flag.dol.gov/processingtimes.