If your employer has started the PERM labor certification process, you probably want to know where your case stands. PERM processing status describes what is happening with one specific filing. PERM processing time describes how long the Department of Labor (DOL) is taking across all cases. The two are related, but they are not the same, and confusing them is a common source of anxiety.
This guide explains how employers and their representatives can check a case and how to read DOL’s published dates. It also covers what can slow a filing down and what comes after certification.
How Do You Check PERM Processing Status?
Employers or their authorized attorneys check PERM application status through DOL’s Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG), using the case number assigned to the ETA-9089 filing. FLAG also has a Case Status Search tool that accepts a full case number.
For general expectations, DOL’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) publishes a Processing Times page. It lists which filing months DOL is currently reviewing and an average number of days to decide cases.
That page is not a live, individualized tracker. It is a workload snapshot. It cannot tell you where your application sits in line or when it will be decided. The employee named on the form generally does not have their own login, so the practical route is to ask the sponsoring employer or attorney to check the case record.
What Is PERM Labor Certification?
PERM stands for Program Electronic Review Management. It is the process an employer uses to ask DOL to certify that hiring a foreign worker for a permanent position will not harm the wages or working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.
The employer drives this process. It generally obtains a prevailing wage determination, runs required recruitment to test the U.S. labor market, and files Form ETA-9089 with DOL. DOL then reviews the filing and decides whether to certify it.
For many employment-based green card categories, certification comes before the employer files Form I-140, the immigrant petition filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Some categories do not require PERM at all.
A certified PERM labor certification is not a green card, and it does not make anyone a lawful permanent resident. It is one step in a longer process.
PERM Processing Time: Latest DOL Updates
As of DOL’s October 5, 2026 update, OFLC reported that it was adjudicating analyst-review cases filed in January 2026 and audit-review cases filed in December 2025. Here is what the official page posted:
| Item | DOL-posted figure |
| Analyst Review, filing month being adjudicated | January 2026 |
| Audit Review, filing month being adjudicated | December 2025 |
| Reconsideration Request to the Certifying Officer, month appealed | May 2026 |
| Average analyst review time (August 2026 decisions) | 336 calendar days |
| Average audit review time (August 2026) | N/A |
Here is how to read these DOL PERM processing dates:
- The dates are snapshots. They show the filing months DOL is working through, not a promise for any particular case. DOL notes it may complete some applications filed before the posted month.
- The average is backward-looking. The 336-day figure is the average for cases decided in a recent month, not a forecast. The posted filing month and the average days measure different things, so they will not always line up.
- Audit data may be missing. DOL listed “N/A” for the audit average for August 2026, so no figure can be cited.
DOL also says that if an application was filed more than three months before the posted month, the employer may contact the OFLC PERM Helpdesk for a status update. This is the most reliable way to read PERM labor certification processing time. Always check the official page before relying on any date here. DOL updates it around the end of the first work week of each month.
How to Check PERM Application Status Step by Step
A PERM case status check is usually done by the employer or its attorney. Here is how it typically works.
- Find the ETA-9089 filing confirmation. It should show the filing date and the case number, which DOL assigns when the application is accepted.
- Search by the full case number. Enter it, including dashes, in FLAG’s public Case Status Search. Depending on the stage of the case, the public result may be limited.
- Use the employer’s FLAG account. The employer, or the attorney or agent it designated, can open the full case record. This is where detailed status and any DOL correspondence appear.
- Compare the filing date with DOL’s posted dates. See whether your filing month is near the month DOL is currently adjudicating.
- Save the paper trail. Keep the filing confirmation, case number, prevailing wage determination, recruitment records, and all DOL correspondence in one place.
If you are the beneficiary and do not have access to these records, ask your HR contact or immigration attorney for the case number and filing date. Do not assume you can look up a pending case independently. Many third-party “trackers” only reflect public data on decided cases and may be out of date.
PERM Approval Timeline: What Happens at Each Stage?
The PERM approval timeline has distinct phases. Only one of them is DOL’s post-filing review.
| Stage | Who acts | Notes |
| 1. Prevailing wage determination (PWD) | Employer requests; DOL decides | The wage DOL sets for the job. DOL’s page posted PERM-related PWD requests from June 2026 as being processed as of September 30, 2026. |
| 2. Recruitment | Employer | Required recruitment steps, including a notice of filing. Recruitment generally must occur within 180 days before filing and must include a waiting period after the last step. |
| 3. Filing ETA-9089 | Employer | Submitted through FLAG. The filing date matters for the later green card priority date. |
| 4. DOL review | DOL | Analyst review, and possibly an audit or other request. |
| 5. Decision | DOL | Certification, denial, or other outcome. |
The first three stages happen before DOL’s published PERM queue even begins. Preparation time adds to the overall employment-based immigration timeline, so the time from “we decided to sponsor” to certification is longer than the DOL review alone. Any timeline you see, including this one, is illustrative and not a guaranteed deadline.
What Is the PERM Backlog, and Why Can Cases Be Delayed?
A PERM backlog means more applications are waiting for review than DOL can decide right away. Application volume, staffing, case complexity, and additional review can all affect speed.
Official data shows how much work sits in the pipeline. As of September 30, 2026, DOL’s prevailing wage table listed about 14,500 to 16,000 remaining PERM-related requests for each of July, August, and September 2026. These are prevailing wage requests, a step that comes before the PERM filing, not PERM applications themselves. They show demand on OFLC, but they are not a PERM backlog figure.
A general backlog is different from a problem with your case. A long wait can simply mean DOL has not reached your filing month yet. A problem is something specific to your file, such as a request for information, a deficiency, or an audit. Only the case record can tell you which one applies.
PERM Audit Processing Time: What Applicants Should Know
An audit is a DOL request for documentation supporting a filed application. DOL may select cases at random, or because something in the filing calls for a closer look. An audit does not mean anyone did anything wrong.
If audited, the employer must respond by DOL’s stated deadline. A complete, organized response matters, so the employer or its attorney should have the recruitment file ready. Missing the deadline can seriously harm the case.
PERM audit processing time is generally longer than for cases that go unaudited, since there is an extra review step. DOL’s October 5, 2026 update listed audit review at cases filed in December 2025, and it posted “N/A” for the August 2026 average. This article therefore does not state a fixed added duration. Audited cases follow their own queue and their own timing.
What Happens After PERM Is Certified?
After certification, the employer generally files Form I-140 with USCIS, within the certification’s validity period. That period is 180 days, so employers usually move promptly.
Several factors then shape the employment-based green card process:
- I-140 review. USCIS decides the immigrant petition. Certification is not I-140 approval.
- Priority date. For PERM-based cases, this is generally the date the ETA-9089 was filed.
- Visa availability. The monthly Visa Bulletin shows whether a visa number is available for your category and country of chargeability. Some applicants wait years after the I-140 stage.
- Final step. Applicants inside the U.S. may file for adjustment of status with USCIS. Applicants abroad, or those who choose it, use consular processing through a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Each stage has its own agency and its own timing, so ask your attorney which path fits your situation.
What Should You Do If Your PERM Case Is Taking Longer Than Expected?
Start with the facts, not the worry.
- Check DOL’s latest posted dates. Compare them with your filing month on the Processing Times page.
- Confirm the details. Ask the employer or attorney for the filing date, case number, and any DOL correspondence.
- Organize your records. Keep the filing confirmation, receipts, and every notice in one folder.
- Ask about an inquiry. If the filing is more than three months older than the posted month, ask whether a status inquiry to the OFLC PERM Helpdesk is appropriate under current DOL procedures. DOL lists oflc.plc@dol.gov for this purpose.
- Keep expectations realistic. An inquiry can provide information, but it cannot promise faster adjudication.
How Orange Law Can Help
Understanding PERM status is easier with someone who knows the process. Orange Law, led by attorney Karan Joshi, can help employers and employees understand where a labor certification stands, what each stage involves, and what may come next in the employment-based green card process.
Every case depends on its own facts, including the job, the filing date, the category, and the beneficiary’s country of chargeability. If you would like to talk through your situation, you can contact Orange Law. No outcome, processing time, or decision date can be guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my PERM processing status?
Your employer or its attorney checks PERM application status through DOL’s FLAG system using the case number from the ETA-9089 filing. FLAG also has a public Case Status Search that accepts the full case number. Ask your employer or attorney for the number and filing date, and compare the date with DOL’s posted processing dates.
How long does PERM processing take?
It varies. DOL’s October 5, 2026 update listed an average analyst review time of 336 calendar days for August 2026 decisions. That figure is an average, not a prediction. Individual cases may take more or less time, and prevailing wage and recruitment stages come before filing. Check DOL’s page for the latest data.
Where can I find the latest DOL PERM processing dates?
They are on OFLC’s Processing Times page at flag.dol.gov/processingtimes. DOL updates the PERM section around the end of the first work week of each month. Look for the filing months currently being adjudicated in analyst and audit review, plus the average days. Always note the “as of” date.
Can an employee check PERM application status without the employer?
Generally, no, not for a pending case. The employer owns the filing and holds the FLAG record. You may try the public Case Status Search with a case number, but results may be limited. The most dependable route is asking the employer or its attorney for the case number and a status update.
What does it mean if my PERM case is taking longer than expected?
Often it means DOL has not reached your filing month yet. Other causes include an audit or an issue specific to the application. Compare your filing date with DOL’s posted dates, then ask your employer or attorney whether the case record shows anything requiring action.
How long does PERM audit processing take?
There is no fixed duration. Audited cases are reviewed in a separate DOL queue and generally take longer than unaudited cases. DOL’s October 5, 2026 update listed audit review at cases filed in December 2025, with no average days posted for August 2026. Check the official page for current data.
What happens after PERM labor certification is approved?
The employer generally files Form I-140 with USCIS within the certification’s 180-day validity period. After that, visa availability under the Visa Bulletin and the applicant’s priority date shape the timeline. The final step is adjustment of status in the U.S. or consular processing abroad.
Does PERM approval mean my green card is approved?
No. PERM certification is not an I-140 approval, and it does not grant lawful permanent resident status. It is an early step in the employment-based green card process. USCIS must approve the I-140, a visa number must be available, and the final green card stage must be completed.
Conclusion
Checking PERM processing status comes down to two separate tasks. The employer or its attorney can review the specific case through FLAG, and everyone can read DOL’s published processing dates to understand general PERM processing time. Those dates show DOL’s workload, not a deadline for your case.
If your filing seems to be taking longer than expected, gather your records, compare your filing date with the latest posted dates, and ask your employer or attorney what the case record shows. If you would like help understanding your options, Orange Law is available to discuss your circumstances.