Processing Times for PERM in 2025

Emily McIntosh
Dec 13, 2024
3 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

What is PERM?

PERM stands for "Program Electronic Review Management." It is the first step when filing a Green Card or an employment-based immigrant visa for a foreign national employee. During this process, the employer:

Files a Prevailing Wage Request to the Department of Labor (DOL) via its FLAG website. The DOL uses this request to determine and issue the employer a prevailing wage determination (PWD). The PWD dictates the wage for the position based on the worksite location and the experience level required for the job.
Initiates Recruitment to ensure no willing and qualified U.S. domestic worker applies for the job. Mandatory recruitment activities include:
- An advertisement with the state workforce agency for 30 days.
- An advertisement in a major regional newspaper on two different Sundays.
- A job notice at the worksite for ten (10) consecutive days.
- Any three additional recruitment activities, such as participating in a job fair, placing TV or radio ads, or on-campus recruiting.
Files ETA Form 9089 after the 30-day mandatory period has passed, provided no qualified U.S. domestic worker was found for the job. This form is filed online via the DOL’s website.

PERM Processing Time in 2025

The total time for the PERM process continues to vary significantly based on the different steps involved. Based on data released by the Department of Labor (DOL) in September 2025, the total end-to-end timeline for a non-audited case now averages 22 to 26 months or more.

Prevailing Wage Determination

PWD Case Type	Date Currently Being Processed (as of 09/01/2025)	Average Processing Time Estimate
OEWS (DOL Data)	Requests filed in May 2025	Approx. 4 to 5 months
Non-OEWS (Private Survey)	Requests filed in March 2025	Approx. 6 to 7 months

Note: Some cases may require additional review by DOL’s expert analysts after the prevailing wage is determined. This step can take over 12 months, with the analysts currently reviewing cases from January 2024.

Recruitment Efforts

Recruitment generally begins after the PWD is issued and can take between 60 to 90 days.

ETA Form 9089 Processing

Once the recruitment period is completed, employers file ETA Form 9089. As of September 2025, DOL is taking an average of 472 (down from 496) days to adjudicate PERM applications (Analyst Review [Standard]). Currently, applications submitted in June 2024 are under review.

Possible Outcomes of a PERM Filing

PERM Approval
PERM Denial
PERM Audit – If the DOL selects an application for an audit, audit Review cases would take an additional 6-12+ months on top of the standard case time.

Pending PERM Applications by Receipt Month:

The table below outlines the number of PERM applications pending as of Sep 1, 2025, categorized by their receipt month: flag.dol.gov

PWD Receipt Month (as of 09/01/2025)	Remaining Requests (PWD)
January 2025	6
February 2025	77
March 2025	1,690
April 2025	1,770
May 2025	5,960
June 2025	14,325
July 2025	14,198
August 2025	13,232

Employers and applicants should anticipate longer processing times due to the current backlog. It is advisable to plan accordingly and consider these timelines when preparing and submitting PERM applications.

How to check PERM Status?

Check the DOL’s PERM Processing time - you can use this link to check the processing time for the applications under review each month.
Check Filing Date - if your attorney has filed Form 9089 online, you can check the status using the DOL’s Permanent Case Management System.

What’s next?

Once the PERM is approved, the employer can proceed to file an I-140 petition on behalf of the foreign national employee, which is the next step in the employment-based Green Card process.

Content in this publication is not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. For additional information on the issues discussed, consult a WayLit-affiliated attorney or another qualified professional.