PERM labor certification processing times have improved significantly during 2026.
On September 12, 2026, our office received certification of a PERM application filed on November 14, 2025. The case was certified in just under 10 months without an audit.
This represents a substantial improvement from the processing times we were seeing earlier this year.
A Clear Downward Trend
Based on recent PERM certifications received by our office, processing times for cases not selected for audit have declined steadily:
- March 2026: Approximately 17–18 months
- April 2026: Approximately 14–15 months
- May 2026: A little over 14 months
- June 2026: Approximately 13½ months
- July 2026: Approximately 12 months
- August 2026: Approximately 11½ months
- September 2026: Just under 10 months in one recent case
For comparison, in our Fall 2025 PERM processing-time update, we reported that recent cases were generally taking approximately 14½ to 15 months, while some earlier cases had approached 17 months.
The recent results therefore reflect meaningful improvement over both the beginning of 2026 and the same period last year.
DOL Data Also Shows Improvement
The Department of Labor’s official data generally supports this trend.
As of August 31, 2026, DOL reported an average of 336 calendar days—approximately 11 months—for PERM applications completed through analyst review. DOL also reported that it was conducting analyst review of cases filed in November 2025.
DOL updates its official PERM processing information monthly. The posted queue month does not mean every case from that month will be decided at the same time. DOL expressly notes that actual processing times may vary based on the facts and circumstances of each application.
What This Means for Employers and Employees
The recent improvement is encouraging, particularly because PERM processing delays can affect the timing of an employer’s subsequent Form I-140 petition and an employee’s broader permanent-residence strategy.
Nevertheless, employers should continue to begin the PERM process as early as reasonably possible. The approximately 10-month example discussed here measures only the period from filing the PERM application to certification. It does not include the time required to obtain a prevailing wage determination, complete recruitment, prepare the application, or proceed with the I-140 and immigrant-visa or adjustment-of-status stages.
Cases selected for audit may also take considerably longer than cases that proceed through standard analyst review.
Processing times can change again depending on filing volume, agency staffing, policy changes, government operations, and the circumstances of an individual case. Recent improvements should therefore be treated as a positive trend rather than a guaranteed timeline.