Processing Times | Flag.dol.gov
Processing Times Update Schedule
PWD: Updated COB at the end of first work week of each month for data ending at 12am EST at the first of each month
PERM: Updated COB at end of first work week of each month for data ending at 12am EST at the first of each month
H-2A: Updated Monday of each week (or next business day) for weekly data ending COB of each Saturday
H-2B: Updated Monday of each week (or next business day) for weekly data ending COB of each Saturday and additional updates on Wednesday and Friday for data as of COB on previous day
CW-1: Updated Monday of each week (or next business day) for weekly data ending COB of each Saturday

 

Prevailing Wage Determination Processing Times (as of 04/30/2026)

Processing QueueOEWS Receipt DateiNon-OEWS Receipt Datei
CW-1March 2026--
H-1BFebruary 2026February 2026
H-2BApril 2026April 2026
PERMFebruary 2026January 2026
Redeterminations

H-1B: February 2026

PERM: February 2026

Center Director Reviews

CW-1: April 2026

H-1B: N/A

H-2B: November 2025

PERM: April 2026

CW-1
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
March 202656
April 2026180

H-1B
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
November 20251
December 20252
January 20265
February 2026147
March 2026287
April 2026330

H-2B
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
March 202687
April 20262,200

PERM
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
September 20253
October 20250
November 202514
December 202571
January 2026568
February 20266,868
March 202615,569
April 202616,189

[i] The above dates reflect the month and year in which applications were filed (request date) or submission date of the appeal request for Redeterminations or Center Director Review. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) encourages employers to request a prevailing wage determination for the H-2B program at least 60 days before the date the determination is needed. For various reasons, OFLC may be completing the processing of applications filed prior to the month posted.
[ii] Withdrawn and voided requests are excluded from the total, which may cause the numbers for previous months to fluctuate.

PERM Processing Times (as of 04/30/2026)
Processing QueuePriority Date
Analyst ReviewFebruary 2025
Audit ReviewNovember 2025
Reconsideration Request to the CODecember 2025

These dates reflect the month and year in which cases were filed and are currently being adjudicated. The Reconsideration Request to the CO date reflects the month and year in which cases that are currently being reviewed were appealed. For various reasons, OFLC may be completing the processing of applications filed prior to the month posted. If your application was filed more than three months prior to the month posted, you may contact the OFLC PERM Helpdesk for a status on the application at oflc.plc@dol.gov.

Average Number of Days to Process PERM Applications
DeterminationsMonthCalendar Days
Analyst ReviewMarch 2026501
Audit ReviewMarch 2026343

These dates reflect the amount of time to process applications. Actual processing times for each employer’s PERM application may vary from the average depending on material facts and individual circumstances of the case. OFLC is reporting the average processing time for all PERM applications for the most recent month.

H-2A Processing Times (updated as of close of business 5/23/2026)

I. Issuance of Initial Notices of Acceptance (NOA) or Deficiency (NOD)
Case Receipt WeekTotal Cases Submitted1Total Cases Issued First NOA or NODPercent Receipt Week Issued NOA or NOD
MOST RECENT WEEK COMPLETED
May 10 - 16210210100%
CURRENT PROCESSING STATUS
May 17 - 2329121473.5%
II. Average Case Processing Times (measured in calendar days)
Processing ActivityTotal CasesCurrent Status
Average Number of Days to Process Complete2 Cases (cumulative over the last 2 weeks)34116 Calendar Days
Average Number of Days to Process Incomplete Cases (cumulative over the last 2 weeks)17831 Calendar Days

[1] Withdrawn and rejected applications are excluded from the total, which may cause these numbers to fluctuate.                          
[2] A complete H-2A application is defined as one containing all the documentation (e.g., housing inspection report, workers' compensation information, recruitment report) necessary for the OFLC Certifying Officer to issue a final determination 30 days before the start date of need.

H-2B Processing Times (updated as of close of business 5/28/2026)

Applications Received for Requested Date of Need from October 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026
 STEP 1STEP 2STEP 3STEP 4
Filing WindowTotal Cases Submitted3 & Positions RequestedTotal Cases Issued NOA or NODPercent Issued a First NOA or NODTotal Cases Pending - Post NOA or NOD Issued4Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified
Jul 2025

2,662

(52,780 Workers)

2,662100%

1

(45 Workers)

2,661

(45,762 Workers)

Aug 2025

475

(9,298 Workers)

475100%--

475

(7,339 Workers)

Sep 2025

293

(6,147 Workers)

293100%--

293

(5,212 Workers)

Oct 2025

73

(3,093 Workers)

73100%--

73

(3,093 Workers)

Nov 2025

1,068

(26,218 Workers)

1,068100%--

1,068

(25,779 Workers)

Dec 2025

1,697

(30,162 Workers)

1,697100%

1

(45 Workers)

1,696

(29,387 Workers)

Jan 2026

41

(1,161 Workers)

41100%

2

(56 Workers)

39

(128 Workers)

Feb 2026

4

(122 Workers)

4100%----
Total Cases Issued Final Decision and Positions Certified (for FY 2026 First Half Visa Cap)

6,305

(116,700 Workers)

Applications Received for Requested Date of Need from April 1, 2026 through September 30, 2026
 STEP 1STEP 2STEP 3STEP 4
Filing WindowTotal Cases Submitted3 & Positions RequestedTotal Cases Issued NOA or NODPercent Issued a First NOA or NODTotal Cases Pending - Post NOA or NOD Issued4Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified
Jan 1-3 Group A

2,166

(34,203 Workers)

2,166100%

4

(74 Workers)

2,162

(32,177 Workers)

Jan 1-3 Group B

1,150

(17,699 Workers)

1,150100%

2

(40 Workers)

1,148

(16,182 Workers)

Jan 1-3 Group C

1,012

(16,377 Workers)

1,012100%

1

(33 Workers)

1,011

(14,755 Workers)

Jan 1-3 Group D

1,031

(16,317 Workers)

1,031100%--

1,031

(15,336 Workers)

Jan 1-3 Group E

970

(14,347 Workers)

970100.0%

1

(24 Workers)

969

(13,042 Workers)

Jan 1-3 Group F

891

(14,451 Workers)

891100%

4

(46 Workers)

888

(13,571 Workers)

Jan 1-3 Group G

711

(11,539 Workers)

711100%

14

(271 Workers)

697

(10,268 Workers)

Jan 1-3 Group H

259

(4,164 Workers)

259100%

12

(312 Workers)

247

(3,634 Workers)

Jan 4 - Feb 75

793

(9,994 Workers)

793100%

197

(2,970 Workers)

677

(6,815 Workers)

Feb 8 - 28

886

(12,171 Workers)

886100.0%

650

(9,920 Workers)

384

(3,209 Workers)

Mar 1 - 31

264

(4,325 Workers)

264100.0%

269

(4,408 Workers)

3

(14 Workers)

Apr 1 - 30

126

(1,807 Workers)

126100.0%

122

(1,771 Workers)

7

(61 Workers)

May 1 - 30

75

(905 Workers)

5776.0%

50

(596 Workers)

--
Total Cases Issued Final Decision and Positions Certified (for FY 2026 Second Half Visa Cap)

9,224

(125,430 Workers)

[3] Withdrawn and rejected applications are excluded from the total, which may cause these numbers to fluctuate.                           
[4] Total number of pending applications that received a NOA and are actively recruiting for U.S. workers or responding to a NOD.  
[5] These filing dates include 4 cases filed between January 1 and January 3 containing a start date after April 1, 2026. 

                    

CW-1 Processing Times (updated as of close of business 5/23/2026)
 STEP 1STEP 2STEP 3STEP 4
Month of ReceiptTotal Cases Submitted6 & Positions RequestedTotal Cases Issued NOA or NODPercent Issued a First NOA or NODTotal Cases Pending - Post NOA or NOD Issued7Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified
October

1

(5 Workers)

1100%--

1

(5 Workers)

November

158

(739 Workers)

158100%--

158

(572 Workers)

December

119

(438 Workers)

119100%--

119

(339 Workers)

January

139

(659 Workers)

139100%

1

(10 Workers)

138

(514 Workers)

February

98

(417 Workers)

98100%

3

(14 Workers)

95

(322 Workers)

March

115

(493 Workers)

115100%

60

(239 Workers)

55

(193 Workers)

April

356

(1,311 Workers)

35599.7%

347

(1,267 Workers)

8

(13 Workers)

May

285

(1,013 Workers)

22177.5%

221

(764 Workers)

--
Types of Applications
 STEP 1STEP 2STEP 3STEP 4
Application TypeTotal Cases Submitted6 & Positions RequestedTotal Cases Issued NOA or NODPercent Issued a First NOA or NODTotal Cases Pending - Post NOA or NOD Issued7Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified
New CW-1 Visas8

429

(2,020 Workers)

40995.3%

95

(435 Workers)

314

(1,159 Workers)

Renewal of CW-1 Visas9

842

(3,055 Workers)

79794.7%

537

(1,859 Workers)

260

(799 Workers)

TOTALS

1,271

(5,075 Workers)

1,20694.9%

632

(2,294 Workers)

574

(1,958 Workers)

[6] Withdrawn and rejected applications are excluded from the total, which may cause these numbers to fluctuate.                          
[7] Total number of pending applications that either received a NOA and actively recruiting for U.S. workers or responding to a NOD.                          
[8] Indicates employer is requesting to hire a foreign worker who is not already performing work in the CNMI in CW-1 visa status.                          
[9] Indicates employer is requesting to extend the employment of a foreign worker in CW-1 visa status.