DOL Reports 300-Day Average PERM Processing in November 2026

The U.S. Department of Labor’s latest processing update shows that PERM applications decided during the 30-day reporting period took an average of 300 calendar days in analyst review—approximately 10 months.

The data is current through October 31, 2026. It also shows the Department of Labor processing prevailing wage requests filed as recently as July or August 2026, depending on the wage source and immigration program. These timelines matter to F-1, OPT, and H-1B professionals whose employers are sponsoring them for employment-based permanent residence. (flag.dol.gov)

Latest PERM Processing Times

The Department of Labor now reports PERM analyst-review averages across three rolling periods:

These figures represent averages for completed determinations, not guaranteed decision times for pending applications. A case can take longer or shorter depending on its facts and whether additional review is required.

The latest FLAG page does not publish average processing times for audits or supervised recruitment because those queues represent a small percentage of the total PERM workload. It also no longer displays an analyst-review filing month in the same format used in earlier updates. Readers therefore should not use the 300-day average to calculate an exact decision date. (flag.dol.gov)

For comparison, Day1CPT.org’s October 2026 PERM processing report covered the earlier data format and a 336-day average for determinations completed in August.

Prevailing Wage Queues as of October 31

The latest prevailing wage determination, or PWD, queues are:

OEWS refers to Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The Department of Labor cautions that it may still be completing some requests filed before the month displayed. Withdrawn and voided requests are excluded from the pending totals, so those totals can also change between updates. (flag.dol.gov)

A Department of Labor-issued prevailing wage determination is required before an employer can file a PERM application. For H-1B cases, employers may request a determination from the National Prevailing Wage Center or use another permissible wage source when preparing the Labor Condition Application. (flag.dol.gov)

Why the Full Green Card Timeline Is Longer Than 300 Days

The 300-day figure covers only the Department of Labor’s PERM analyst-review stage. It does not include the earlier prevailing wage and recruitment stages or later immigration filings.

A typical PERM-based sponsorship process includes:

1. The employer requests and receives a prevailing wage determination.
2. The employer completes the required recruitment and notice process.
3. The employer submits Form ETA-9089 to the Department of Labor.
4. After certification, the employer generally files Form I-140 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

A certified PERM labor certification remains valid for 180 days and expires if it is not submitted to USCIS with the relevant immigrant petition during that period. (dol.gov)

Students and professionals who want a broader explanation of the immigration stages can review Day1CPT.org’s guide to moving from F-1 status to a green card.

What F-1, OPT, and H-1B Workers Should Understand

The November processing update does not change the rules for F-1 status, Curricular Practical Training, Optional Practical Training, STEM OPT, or H-1B employment.

A pending PERM application is part of an employer-sponsored permanent residence process. It does not automatically provide employment authorization or extend a worker’s current immigration status. Certain H-1B workers may qualify separately for extensions beyond the usual six-year limit under specific statutory requirements, but those extensions require an eligible H-1B filing and are not automatic merely because a PERM case is pending. (uscis.gov)

Workers should ask their employer or immigration team which stage the case has reached:

• Has the prevailing wage request been filed or issued?
• Has recruitment started or been completed?
• Has Form ETA-9089 been submitted?
• Is the case in standard analyst review or another queue?
• Does the worker need separate planning to maintain temporary status and work authorization?

Because the published numbers are agency-wide averages, case-specific questions should be directed to the sponsoring employer and its immigration counsel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the current PERM processing time 300 days?

The latest 30-day average is 300 calendar days for PERM applications receiving analyst-review determinations. It is not a guaranteed timeline for every pending case. The 90-day average is 315 days, while the 180-day average is 360 days.

Does the 300-day average include the prevailing wage process?

No. Prevailing wage processing occurs before the employer files the PERM application. Recruitment, preparation, USCIS processing, and visa availability can also make the complete employment-based green card timeline considerably longer.

Which PERM prevailing wage requests is DOL processing?

As of October 31, 2026, DOL reported processing August 2026 PERM prevailing wage requests using OEWS data and July 2026 requests using non-OEWS sources. The displayed month does not mean every request from an earlier month has been completed.

Does a pending PERM application extend OPT or F-1 status?

No. A pending PERM application does not independently extend F-1 status, OPT, or STEM OPT employment authorization. Students must continue meeting applicable F-1 requirements and should discuss status or employment questions with their designated school official and qualified immigration counsel.

How can an employer check a PERM case?

The Department of Labor’s FLAG Case Status Search accepts PERM case numbers and prevailing wage request numbers. Case-specific information may also be available through the employer’s FLAG account. (flag.dol.gov)

Sources:

• Department of Labor FLAG Processing Times
• Department of Labor Permanent Labor Certification Program
• Department of Labor Prevailing Wage Information
• Department of Labor Permanent Labor Certification Overview
• Department of Labor FLAG Case Status Search