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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 8/31/2026)

Processing QueueOEWS Receipt DateiNon-OEWS Receipt Datei
CW-1May 2026--
H-1BMay 2026May 2026
H-2BJuly 2026--
PERMMay 2026May 2026
Redeterminations

H-1B: June 2026

PERM: June 2026

Center Director Reviews

CW-1: August 2026

H-1B: July 2026

H-2B: May 2026

PERM: June 2026

CW-1
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
March 20263
April 202613
May 20264
June 20268
July 202660
August 2026165

H-1B
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
November 20251
December 20250
January 20260
February 20260
March 20260
April 20266
May 202641
June 2026303
July 2026233
August 2026176

H-2B
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
July 2026206
August 20263,671

PERM
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
February 20261
March 202617
April 202685
May 20262,683
June 202615,781
July 202615,185
August 202614,189

[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[ii] Withdrawn and voided requests are excluded from the total, which may cause the numbers for previous months to fluctuate.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 8/31/2026)
Processing QueuePriority Date
Analyst ReviewNovember 2025
Audit ReviewDecember 2025
Reconsideration Request to the COApril 2026

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 ReviewAugust 2026336
Audit ReviewAugust 2026N/A

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 08/29/2026)

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
August 16 - August 22270270100%
CURRENT PROCESSING STATUS
August 23 - August 2924118175.1%
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)38018 Calendar Days
Average Number of Days to Process Incomplete Cases (cumulative over the last 2 weeks)13730 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 09/03/2026)

Applications Received for Requested Date of Need from January 1, 2026 through September 30, 2026
 STEP 1STEP 2STEP 3STEP 4
Filing WindowTotal Cases Submitted& 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 2026

8,487

(133,006 Workers)

8,487100.0%

5

(121 Workers)

8,482

(121,596 Workers)

Feb 2026

1,477

(19,989 Workers)

1,477100.0%--

1,477

(17,236 Workers)

Mar 2026

252

(3,942 Workers)

252100.0%

2

(11 Workers)

250

(3,011 Workers)

April 2026

119

(1,720 Workers)

119100.0%

1

(5 Workers)

118

(738 Workers)

May 2026

74

(893 Workers)

74100.0%--

74

(643 Workers)

Jun 2026

72

(805 Workers)

72100.0%--

72

(699 Workers)

Jul 2026

6

(208 Workers)

6100.0%

1

(4 Workers)

5

(15 Workers)

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

10,473

(143,923 Workers)

Applications Received for Requested Date of Need from October 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027
 STEP 1STEP 2STEP 3STEP 4
Filing WindowTotal Cases Submitted& 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 3 - 5 Group A

1,809

(33,937 Workers)

1,809100.0%

43

(694 Workers)

1,766 (31,071 Workers)
Jul 3 - 5 Group B

715

(15,716 Workers)

715100.0%

61

(1,317 Workers)

654

(13,143 Workers)

July 20265

327

(6,437 Workers)

327100.0%

63

(1,184 Workers)

264

(4,840 Workers)

August 20265

494

(8,948 Workers)

46594.0%

301

(5,630 Workers)

164

(2,506 Workers)

September 20265

115

(1,662 Workers)

--------
Total Cases Issued Final Decision and Positions Certified (for FY 2027 First Half Visa Cap)

2,848

(51,560 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 exclude the July 3-5 peak cases.

                    


CW-1 Processing Times (updated as of close of business 08/29/2026)
 STEP 1STEP 2STEP 3STEP 4
Month of ReceiptTotal Cases Submitted& 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)

1100.0%--

1

(5 Workers)

November

158

(739 Workers)

158100.0%--

158

(572 Workers)

December

119

(438 Workers)

119100.0%--

119

(339 Workers)

January

139

(659 Workers)

139100.0%--

139

(514 Workers)

February

98

(417 Workers)

98100.0%

2

(8 Workers)

96

(328 Workers)

March

112

(484 Workers)

112100.0%

4

(32 Workers)

108

(372 Workers)

April

329

(1,235 Workers)

329100.0%

38

(1423 Workers)

291

(1,015 Workers)

May

304

(1,100 Workers)

304100.0%

38

(224 Workers)

266

(825 Workers)

June

358

(1,665 Workers)

358100.0%

138

(791 Workers)

220

(802 Workers)

July

97

(347 Workers)

97100.0%

91

(335 Workers)

6

(11 Workers)

August

131

(523 Workers)

10076.3%

100

(408 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

703

(3,460 Workers)

68897.9%

197

(1,076 Workers)

491

(1,920 Workers)

Renewal of CW-1 Visas9

1,143

(4,152 Workers)

1,12798.6%

214

(845 Workers)

913

(2,863 Workers)

TOTALS

1,846

(7,612 Workers)

1,81598.3%

411

(1,921 Workers)

1,404

(4,783 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.