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April 2025 Update: Current Trends in PERM and Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD) Processing

  • Apr 21
  • 2 min read

Updated: May 7

As of April 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has provided updated processing times for Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) labor certification applications and Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD) requests. These updates are critical for employers and foreign workers navigating the employment-based immigration process, particularly for PERM-based green card applications and H-1B visa petitions.

PERM Processing Times

The DOL is currently adjudicating PERM applications filed on or before December 2023. Appeals for reconsideration are being reviewed for cases filed on or before February 2025.

Average Processing Times for PERM Applications

  • Analyst Review: As of March 2025, it's taking roughly 16 and a half months (about 497 days) for PERM applications to be reviewed by analysts

  • Audit Review: No specific processing time data was provided for audit reviews as of the latest update.

Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD) Processing Times

The National Prevailing Wage Center (NPWC) is processing PWD requests based on the type of visa and wage data source. As of April 1, 2025, the NPWC is completing PWD requests filed in the following timeframes:

  • H-1B Visa (OEWS): November 2024 and earlier

  • H-1B Visa (Non-OEWS): October 2024 and earlier

  • PERM (OEWS): November 2024 and earlier

  • PERM (Non-OEWS): October 2024 and earlier

Redeterminations

The NPWC is reviewing redetermination appeals for both H-1B visa and PERM cases filed on or before December 2024.

Center Director Reviews

As of April 2025, Center Director Reviews are underway for H-1B visa and PERM cases that were submitted on or before August 2024. This indicates that the government is currently reviewing these older cases at a higher level.

What This Means for Employers and Applicants

The processing times reflect significant backlogs in the PERM and PWD processes, with analyst reviews for PERM applications taking nearly 17 months on average. Employers should plan accordingly, submitting applications as early as possible to account for these delays. The variation in PWD processing times between OEWS and non-OEWS cases also highlights the importance of understanding the specific requirements for each visa type.

For those awaiting redeterminations or Center Director Reviews, the timelines indicate that appeals and reviews are also subject to considerable delays, with some cases pending for over eight months.

Conclusion

Staying informed about the latest DOL processing times is essential for employers and foreign workers pursuing employment-based immigration. As of April 2025, the DOL continues to work through a backlog of PERM and PWD applications, with processing times ranging from several months to over a year. Applicants are encouraged to monitor updates from the DOL and consult with immigration professionals to navigate these complex timelines effectively.

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Infographic detailing U.S. Department of Labor PERM and PWD processing times as of April 2025. Includes timelines for PERM applications (December 2023), analyst reviews (~16.5 months), and appeals (February 2025). PWD processing times listed for H-1B and PERM (OEWS: November 2024; Non-OEWS: October 2024). Redeterminations (December 2024) and Center Director Reviews (August 2024) are highlighted. Key takeaways note significant backlogs and the need for early submissions. Design uses navy blue, white, and gold with icons for documents, clocks, and gavels.

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