Track current PERM labor certification processing times. See average wait times by category, audit rates, approval statistics, and top PERM sponsors.
PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) is the first step in the employment-based green card process. The Department of Labor must certify that hiring a foreign worker for a permanent position will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers. Employers must conduct a recruitment process to test the labor market before filing a PERM application.
The PERM process involves several steps: obtaining a prevailing wage determination (PWD) from DOL, conducting recruitment (job postings, advertisements), and filing the ETA Form 9089. Processing times vary based on DOL workload and whether the case is selected for audit.
| Step | Timeline | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Prevailing Wage Determination | 2–4 months | DOL determines the prevailing wage for the occupation and location |
| Recruitment Period | 2–3 months | Employer posts job ads and conducts recruitment to test the labor market |
| 30-Day Quiet Period | 1 month | Mandatory waiting period after recruitment before filing |
| PERM Filing & Processing | 6–12 months | DOL reviews the application and issues a certification decision |
| PERM Audit (if selected) | +6–12 months | Additional documentation review adds to total processing time |
Total estimated time from start to PERM approval: 11–22 months depending on audit selection.
| Category | Requirements | Typical Processing | Green Card Wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-2 | Master's degree or Bachelor's + 5 years experience | 6–12 months | Varies by country (2–10+ years) |
| EB-3 | Bachelor's degree or 2 years experience | 6–12 months | Varies by country (2–10+ years) |
These employers file the most PERM labor certification applications, indicating active green card sponsorship programs.
| # | Employer | PERM Filings | Approval Rate | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Corporation | 14,372 | 94% | $137k |
| 2 | Google LLC | 13,702 | 98% | $126k |
| 3 | Tata Consultancy Services Limited | 7,806 | 98% | $133k |
| 4 | Intel Corporation | 6,308 | 89% | $111k |
| 5 | Apple Inc. | 5,842 | 97% | $157k |
| 6 | AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC. | 3,825 | 97% | $117k |
| 7 | Oracle America, Inc. | 3,034 | 97% | $137k |
| 8 | CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC | 2,742 | 94% | $111k |
| 9 | Cisco Systems, Inc. | 2,390 | 98% | $137k |
| 10 | NVIDIA Corporation | 2,176 | 92% | $167k |
| 11 | Deloitte Consulting LLP | 2,143 | 99% | $136k |
| 12 | LinkedIn Corporation | 1,997 | 93% | $169k |
| 13 | HCL AMERICA INC | 1,891 | 99% | $102k |
| 14 | IBM Corporation | 1,846 | 99% | $115k |
| 15 | Accenture LLP | 1,791 | 98% | $127k |
| 16 | COMPUNNEL SOFTWARE GROUP, INC | 1,669 | 96% | $94k |
| 17 | Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. | 1,336 | 99% | $121k |
| 18 | WIPRO LIMITED | 1,333 | 40% | $101k |
| 19 | KFORCE INC. | 1,242 | 99% | $97k |
| 20 | Adobe Inc. | 1,190 | 98% | $156k |
Standard PERM processing currently takes 6-12 months from filing to decision. Cases selected for audit can take 12-18 months or longer. Processing times vary based on DOL workload, case complexity, and whether an audit is triggered.
A PERM audit is when the Department of Labor requests additional documentation to verify the information in a PERM application. Approximately 30% of PERM cases are audited. Audits can add 6-12 months to processing time.
The overall PERM approval rate is approximately 85-90%. Cases that are properly prepared with thorough documentation have higher approval rates. Denied cases can be refiled but must restart the entire process.
EB-2 (Employment-Based Second Preference) requires a master's degree or bachelor's plus 5 years of experience. EB-3 (Third Preference) requires a bachelor's degree or 2 years of experience. EB-2 generally has shorter green card wait times, especially for non-Indian/Chinese nationals.
Yes, PERM can be filed at any time during H-1B status. Many employers begin the PERM process within the first 1-2 years of H-1B employment. Starting early is recommended as the green card process can take several years.
After PERM approval, the employer files an I-140 petition with USCIS. Once the I-140 is approved and a visa number is available (based on your priority date and country of chargeability), you can file for adjustment of status (I-485) to get your green card.