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 9/30/2026)

Processing QueueOEWS Receipt DateiNon-OEWS Receipt Datei
CW-1August 2026--
H-1BJune 2026June 2026
H-2BAugust 2026--
PERMJune 2026June 2026
Redeterminations

H-1B: August 2026

PERM: July 2026

Center Director Reviews

CW-1: September 2026

H-1B: July 2026

H-2B: June 2026

PERM: July 2026

CW-1
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
May 20262
June 20268
July 20265
August 202636
September 2026159

H-1B
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
April 20263
May 20261
June 202674
July 2026248
August 2026183
September 2026201
H-2B
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
July 20261
August 2026548
September 20263,975

PERM
Receipt MonthiiRemaining Requestsii
April 20268
May 202636
June 20263,532
July 202615,959
August 202614,980
September 202614,519

[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[ii] Withdrawn and voided requests are excluded from the total, which may cause the numbers for previous months to fluctuate.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 10/31/2026)
DeterminationsReporting PeriodCalendar Days
 Last 30 Days300
Analyst ReviewLast 90 Days315
 Last 180 Days 360

The average processing days in other queues (Audit, Supervised Recruitment) are not presented due to the significantly small percentage those cases represent in relation to the current total PERM workload.

H-2A Processing Times (updated as of close of business 10/31/2026)

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
 October 18 - October 24414414100%
CURRENT PROCESSING STATUS
 October 25 - October 3140230275.1%
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)53619 Calendar Days
Average Number of Days to Process Incomplete Cases (cumulative over the last 2 weeks)10734 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 11/03/2026)

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

8,487

(133,006 Workers)

8,487100.0%

2

(46 Workers)

8,485

(121,558 Workers)

Feb 2026

1,477

(19,989 Workers)

1,477100.0%--

1,477

(17,236 Workers)

Mar 2026

252

(3,942 Workers)

252100.0%--

252

(3,017 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%--

6

(19 Workers)

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

10,478

(143,891 Workers)

Applications Received for Requested Date of Need from October 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027
 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 3 - 5 Group A

1,806

(33,927 Workers)

1,806100.0%

1

(120 Workers)

1,805

 

(31,438 Workers)

Jul 3 - 5 Group B

714

(15,715 Workers)

714100.0%

1

(60 Workers)

713

(14,318 Workers)

July 2026

324

(6,419 Workers)

324100.0%--

324

(5,914 Workers)

August 2026

488

(8,902 Workers)

488100.0%

7

(681 Workers)

481

(6,865 Workers)

September 2026

283

(4,417 Workers)

283100.0%

24

(375  Workers)

259

(3,461 Workers)

October 2026

304

(10,186 Workers)

26888.0%

187

(6,282  Workers)

81

(2,867 Workers)

November 2026

326

(8,131 Workers)

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

3,324

(58,535  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.  
 

                    

CW-1 Processing Times (updated as of close of business 10/31/2026)
 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
February

98

(417 Workers)

98100.0%

1

(5 Workers)

97

(331 Workers)

March

112

(484 Workers)

112100.0%

1

(3 Workers)

111

(372 Workers)

April

314

(1,208 Workers)

314100.0%

2

(6 Workers)

312

(1,044 Workers)

May

301

(1,089 Workers)

301100.0%

10

(87 Workers)

291

(898 Workers)

June

349

(1,621 Workers)

349100.0%

6

(47 Workers)

343

(1,221 Workers)

July

93

(340 Workers)

93100.0%

14

(68 Workers)

79

(189 Workers)

August

128

(496 Workers)

128100.0%

30

(197 Workers)

98

(251 Workers)

September

134

(574 Workers)

134100.0%

77

(350 Workers)

57

(212 Workers)

October

161

(716 Workers)

15193.8%

143

(624 Workers)

8

(8 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

880

(4,227 Workers)

87499.3%

172

(829 Workers)

702

(2,585 Workers)

Renewal of CW-1 Visas9

1,229

(4,564 Workers)

1,22299.4%

112

(558 Workers)

1,110

(3,366 Workers)

TOTALS

2,109

(8,791 Workers)

2,09699.4%

284

(1,387 Workers)

1,812

(5,951 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.