One of the most important things people must think about when they want to get employment-based permanent residency in the United States is the PERM processing time. This term refers to how long it takes for the U.S. Department of Labour (DOL) to process an application for a Permanent Labour Certification (PERM), which is needed for many green cards based on work. As of 2025, processing times have changed because of changes in federal priorities, backlogs, attempts to go digital, and reorganisation after the pandemic. This timeline is important for both foreign workers and companies who are planning how to hire people and let them come to the U.S.
What does “PERM processing time” mean? What factors affect it? What are the newest trends for 2025? How can you best get ready for the process? What delays can you expect? It’s a complete guide for people who are trying to figure out how to immigrate for work reasons.
What is PERM, and why do we need it?
Program Electronic Review Management, or PERM, is a method that the DOL set up to make the process of getting a work permit easier. It is the first big thing that needs to be done to get an EB-2 or EB-3 employment-based green card. The main purpose of PERM is to make sure that hiring a foreign worker won’t hurt the pay or working conditions of U.S. workers.
Employers must first get a certified PERM labour certification from the DOL before they can file Form I-140 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This is for an immigrant claim. This is the first step in the process of getting a green card for the foreign worker.
Parts of the PERM processing
The PERM process can be broken down into three key steps:
- Determination of Wage Priority (PWD)
- Period of Recruitment
- Review of the PERM application
Each of these stages has its own due date and set of rules that must be followed. The working time is equal to the sum of these three times.
1. Determination of the Actual Wage
An company must ask the DOL for a Prevailing Wage Determination before they start hiring. This makes sure that the pay being offered is in line with what people in that area usually make for that job.
As of 2025, the average time to process is 4 to 5 months.
In the past few years, PWD timelines have changed because of changes in how often labour market data is updated and delays in digital infrastructure. Some tasks have become faster thanks to automation, but human proof is still very important.
2. Time for hiring
- The employer must make a good-faith effort to hire qualified U.S. workers during this time. Among these are:
- Two ads in the Sunday paper
- There was a job order sent to the state hiring agency.
- Three more steps are needed to hire people for professional roles, such as job fairs or online postings.
- The hiring process has to last at least 60 days, and there has to be a 30-day break after the last step of hiring before the PERM application can be filed.
- Processing usually takes two to three months, which includes time for paperwork.
3. Review of the PERM application
When the hiring time is over, the employer sends ETA Form 9089 to the DOL so that it can be looked over. It can be an application for:
- OKed without an audit
- Subject to audits that are random or targeted
- Seven to eight months is the average processing time without an audit in 2025.
- For audits, add another 6 to 8 months.
Recently, there has been a push to look more closely at foreign worker certifications. As a result, there have been more checks, especially for jobs in tech and health care where there are shortages in the United States.
Things that affect the time it takes to process a PERM
It looks like the process will go in a straight line on paper, but there are a few things that can speed up or slow down the real world:
1. The DOL’s work load
When the fiscal year ends in September, a lot of people file their taxes, which usually makes the lines longer. Even though the DOL is trying to automate some tasks, many applications are still reviewed by hand.
2. Number of Audits
Audits can happen at chance or because of red flags, like
- A wage that is unusually high or low
- Businesses owned by families hiring family members
- Jobs from home
Not keeping clear records of hiring people
3. Correctness of the Application
Even small mistakes in job titles, pay rates, or standards can cause delays. Employers need to be exact and uniform in all of their paperwork.
4. Using technology together
In 2023 and 2024, the DOL started testing out new digital tools to make wage determinations and keep track of the progress of applications. Even though these tools are better, the change has caused some problems that should be fixed by the middle of 2025.
How PERM Processing Will Change in 2025
As of 2025, PERM working times are changing because of a number of new trends:
1. Switch to filing in the cloud
More of the DOL’s systems are being moved to cloud-based platforms, which make it faster to get data and check on progress. Long-term, this should cut down on working times, but for now, the migration is making things more complicated.
2. A stronger focus on fairness
The DOL has put a lot of effort into looking closely at businesses that have a history of paying foreign workers too little. This includes doing more audits and studying the job market in more depth.
3. Verification Checks for Hiring
Employers are being asked to show proof that they put up ads and did outreach, especially for jobs that allow for flexible working from home.
4. Help from artificial intelligence
Pilot projects have been started to use AI to mark applications as unfinished or inconsistent. However, AI choices can still be overridden by humans, so the gains in efficiency aren’t very big.
Mistakes that often lead to delays
Knowing about common problems can help employers and foreign workers escape delays that cost a lot of money. Some of these are:
- The job description or SOC code is wrong.
- Not clear job needs
- Not meeting the requirements of the job posting
- Not keeping records for 5 years as required by the DOL
Delays in getting proof of a job order from the State Workforce Agency
What Comes Next After PERM Approval?
After the PERM is accepted, the next steps are:
- When you file an I-140 (Immigrant Petition), it is usually processed in 6–12 months, but you can pay extra for faster handling.
- Change of Status (I-485): It depends on the priority dates listed in the visa report. Here, delays depend a lot on the person’s home country and the supply of visas.
- Due to visa caps, applicants from countries like India, China, and the Philippines, which are in high demand, often have to wait years, even after their PERM is approved.
Ways to Cut Down on PERM Processing Time
There is no way to speed up PERM itself (there is no special processing for this stage), but there are things you can do to make the process go more smoothly and quickly:
- While waiting for the wage to be decided, get paperwork ready for the PWD and recruitment stages.
- To handle the paperwork, you should hire a lawyer who specialises in employment-based immigration.
- Use standard job titles that match information from the DOL.
- Get regular updates on DOL processing times to stay up to date.
PERM for positions that are remote or hybrid
Employers need to be careful as hybrid and fully remote jobs become more popular after the pandemic. The DOL wants wages to be set and jobs to be filled based on where the person actually works, not where the company is based. If you misclassify a place, it could lead to a denial or an audit.
Important Things for People Applying in 2025
- If there is no audit, the whole process should take 13–16 months.
- If you get inspected, plan for up to 24 months.
- Keep track of everything and make sure you follow the law at all times.
- Keep an open mind and check the Department of Labor’s changes often.
Last Thoughts
The PERM processing time is still a major worry for employers and foreign workers who want to live and work in the U.S. permanently. There are still some problems, like checks and delays with PWD, but the long-term results should be better as technology is used more and more and information is shared more openly. For now, the best ways to avoid delays are to carefully plan, follow the law, and get ready with the right information.
In 2025, this process is more reliable than it was in the past, but it still takes time to get through. As the immigration scene changes, keeping up with changes to the steps you need to take can make all the difference in how well your plans go.
Questions and Answers About the Time It Takes to Process a PERM
Q: Is it possible to speed up PERM like I-140?
Not at all. At the moment, there is no extra processing for PERM applications.
Do you think you could work on an H-1B while you wait for PERM?
Yes. A lot of workers keep their H-1B status longer than 6 years because their PERM and I-140 are still being processed or have been accepted.
How often do you plan to do audits?
Audit rates change from year to year, but on average, 25–30% of applications are audited. This depends on the business and the history of the employer.
I have a qualified PERM. How long does it last?
It’s good for 180 days after getting a PERM. This is the time frame for employers to file the I-140.
Q: Can PERM be given to a different company?
No, PERM certifications are unique to each company and job.