PERM, prevailing wage processing updates

The Labor Department has posted processing times current as of March 31 for permanent labor certification (PERM) applications and prevailing wage determination (PWD) requests.

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

Average PERM processing times in March:

• Adjudication – 150 days.
• Audit review – 279 days.

PWD Processing: The National Prevailing Wage Center was processing PWD requests filed in December and earlier for H-1B cases and for PERM cases. Redeterminations were being considered on appeals filed in February and earlier for H-1B cases and for PERM cases. Center director reviews are pending for those filed in February and earlier for H-1B or PERM cases.

Average times for issuance of prevailing wage determinations in March:

• H-1B – 112 days (OES), 130 days (non-OES).
• PERM – 111 days (OES), 112 days (non-OES).

The Labor Department reports PERM and PWD processing time frames on its iCERT page.

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 November and earlier, and is seeing PWDs for requests filed in December and earlier for H-1B cases 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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