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

PERM Processing: As of Feb. 28, the department was adjudicating applications filed in July and earlier, conducting audit reviews on applications filed in March and earlier, and reviewing appeals for reconsideration filed in October and earlier.

Average PERM processing times:

  • Adjudication – 219 days.
  • Audit review – 341 days.

PWD Processing: As of Feb. 28, the National Prevailing Wage Center was processing PWD requests filed in September and earlier for H-1B cases and August and earlier PERM cases, according to the Labor Department. Redeterminations were being considered on appeals filed in January and earlier for H-1B and PERM cases. Center director reviews were being conducted on PERM cases filed in February and earlier. There were no center director reviews pending for H-1B cases.

Average times for issuance of PWDs:

  • H-1B – 147 days (OES), 129 days (non-OES).
  • PERM – 144 days (OES), 117 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 July and earlier and is starting to see PWDs for requests filed in September and earlier.

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

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