Labor Department posts PERM, prevailing wage processing updates

The Labor Department has posted updated processing times for permanent labor certification (PERM) applications and prevailing wage determination (PWD) requests.

PERM Processing: As of Sept. 30, the department was adjudicating applications filed in May and earlier, conducting audit reviews on applications filed in November and earlier, and reviewing appeals for reconsideration filed in May and earlier.

Average PERM processing times:

• Adjudication – 153 days.
• Audit review – 322 days.

PWD Processing: As of Sept. 30, the National Prevailing Wage Center was processing PWD requests filed in March and earlier for H-1B cases and February and earlier for PERM cases, according to the Labor Department. Redeterminations were being considered on appeals filed August and earlier for H-1B and PERM cases. Center director reviews were being conducted for PERM cases filed in September and earlier.

Average times for issuance of PWDs:

• H-1B – 158 days (OES), 224 days (non-OES).
• PERM – 157 days (OES), 219 days (non-OES).

BAL Analysis: BAL’s internal case tracking is consistent with the Labor Department’s published processing times. BAL is seeing approvals for PERM applications filed in May and earlier and is starting to see PWDs for requests filed in March and earlier for H-1B cases and February and earlier for PERM cases.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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