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 Aug. 31, the department was adjudicating applications filed in January and earlier, conducting audit reviews on applications filed in November and earlier, and reviewing appeals for reconsideration filed in April and earlier.

Average PERM processing times:

• Adjudication – 234 days.
• Audit review – 319 days.

PWD Processing: As of Aug. 31, the National Prevailing Wage Center was processing PWD requests filed in January and earlier for H-1B (OES and non-OES) and PERM (OES) cases and December and earlier for PERM (non-OES) cases, according to the Labor Department. Redeterminations were being considered on appeals filed April and earlier for H-1B cases and PERM cases. Center director reviews were being conducted for PERM cases filed in July and earlier.

BAL Analysis: BAL’s internal case tracking mostly consistent with the Labor Department’s published processing times. BAL is seeing slightly faster PWD issuance for in some PERM (OES) cases. BAL is seeing approvals for PERM applications filed in January and earlier and is starting to see PWDs for requests filed in January and earlier for H-1B (OES and non-OES), March and earlier for PERM (OES) cases and December and earlier for PERM (non-OES) 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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