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

PERM Processing: As of Oct. 31, the department was adjudicating applications filed in June and earlier, conducting audit reviews on applications filed in January and earlier, and reviewing appeals for reconsideration filed in June and earlier.

Average PERM processing times:

  • Adjudication – 159 days.
  • Audit review – 316 days.

PWD Processing: As of Oct. 31, the National Prevailing Wage Center was processing PWD requests filed in February and earlier for H-1B and PERM cases, according to the Labor Department. Redeterminations were being considered on appeals filed October and earlier for H-1B and September and earlier for PERM cases. Center director reviews were being conducted for PERM cases filed in September and earlier.

Average times for issuance of PWDs:

  • H-1B – 167 days (OES).
  • PERM – 167 days (OES), 235 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 June and earlier and is starting to see PWDs for requests filed in February and earlier for H-1B and 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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