| 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 04/09/2026)
| Processing Queue | OEWS Receipt Datei | Non-OEWS Receipt Datei |
|---|---|---|
| CW-1 | March 2026 | -- |
| H-1B | January 2026 | January 2026 |
| H-2B | March 2026 | March 2026 |
| PERM | January 2026 | January 2026 |
| Redeterminations | H-1B: January 2026 PERM: December 2025 | |
| Center Director Reviews | CW-1: January 2026 H-1B: N/A H-2B: September 2025 PERM: January 2026 | |
| CW-1 | |
|---|---|
| Receipt Monthii | Remaining Requestsii |
| January 2026 | 4 |
| February 2026 | 17 |
| March 2026 | 195 |
| H-1B | |
|---|---|
| Receipt Monthii | Remaining Requestsii |
| November 2025 | 6 |
| December 2025 | 10 |
| January 2026 | 97 |
| February 2026 | 254 |
| March 2026 | 289 |
| H-2B | |
|---|---|
| Receipt Monthii | Remaining Requestsii |
| December 2026 | 1 |
| January 2026 | 9 |
| February 2026 | 20 |
| March 2026 | 414 |
| PERM | |
|---|---|
| Receipt Monthii | Remaining Requestsii |
| September 2025 | 7 |
| October 2025 | 0 |
| November 2025 | 71 |
| December 2025 | 287 |
| January 2026 | 7,843 |
| February 2026 | 12,096 |
| March 2026 | 15,617 |
[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[ii] Withdrawn and voided requests are excluded from the total, which may cause the numbers for previous months to fluctuate.
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | November 2024 |
| Audit Review | June 2025 |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | September 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.
| Determinations | Month | Calendar Days |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst Review | March 2026 | 501 |
| Audit Review | March 2026 | 343 |
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 4/18/2026)
| Case Receipt Week | Total Cases Submitted1 | Total Cases Issued First NOA or NOD | Percent Receipt Week Issued NOA or NOD |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOST RECENT WEEK COMPLETED | |||
| Apr 5 - 11 | 251 | 251 | 100% |
| CURRENT PROCESSING STATUS | |||
| Apr 12 - 18 | 250 | 184 | 73.6% |
| Processing Activity | Total Cases | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Average Number of Days to Process Complete2 Cases (cumulative over the last 2 weeks) | 459 | 19 Calendar Days |
| Average Number of Days to Process Incomplete Cases (cumulative over the last 2 weeks) | 258 | 35 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 4/18/2026)
| STEP 1 | STEP 2 | STEP 3 | STEP 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Window | Total Cases Submitted3 & Positions Requested | Total Cases Issued NOA or NOD | Percent Issued a First NOA or NOD | Total Cases Pending - Post NOA or NOD Issued4 | Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
| Jul 2025 | 2,662 (52,780 Workers) | 2,662 | 100% | -- | 2,662 (45,807 Workers) |
| Aug 2025 | 475 (9,298 Workers) | 475 | 100% | -- | 475 (7,339 Workers) |
| Sep 2025 | 293 (6,147 Workers) | 293 | 100% | -- | 293 (5,212 Workers) |
| Oct 2025 | 73 (3,093 Workers) | 73 | 100% | -- | 73 (3,093 Workers) |
| Nov 2025 | 1,069 (26,242 Workers) | 1,069 | 100% | -- | 1,069 (25,803 Workers) |
| Dec 2025 | 1,706 (30,222 Workers) | 1,706 | 100% | 1 (45 Workers) | 1,705 (29,446 Workers) |
| Jan 2026 | 49 (1,263 Workers) | 24 | 49.0% | -- | 24 (102 Workers) |
| Feb 2026 | 5 (123 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Mar 2026 | 2 (23 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Total Cases Issued Final Decision and Positions Certified (for FY 2026 First Half Visa Cap) | 6,301 (116,899 Workers) | ||||
| STEP 1 | STEP 2 | STEP 3 | STEP 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Window | Total Cases Submitted3 & Positions Requested | Total Cases Issued NOA or NOD | Percent Issued a First NOA or NOD | Total Cases Pending - Post NOA or NOD Issued4 | Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
| Jan 1-3 Group A | 2,166 (34,203 Workers) | 2,166 | 100% | 11 (547 Workers) | 2,155 (32,168 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group B | 1,150 (17,699 Workers) | 1,150 | 100% | 11 (373 Workers) | 1,140 (16,170 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group C | 1,012 (16,377 Workers) | 1,012 | 100% | 16 (402 Workers) | 996 (14,655 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group D | 1,032 (16,321 Workers) | 1,032 | 100% | 31 (406 Workers) | 1,001 (15,020 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group E | 981 (14,497 Workers) | 981 | 100.0% | 130 (1,954 Workers) | 851 (11,564 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group F | 934 (14,943 Workers) | 934 | 100% | 588 (9,595 Workers) | 346 (5,068 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group G | 858 (13,704 Workers) | 858 | 100% | 857 (13,699 Workers) | 1 (0 Workers) |
| Jan 1-3 Group H | 332 (4,966 Workers) | 332 | 100% | 332 (4,966 Workers) | -- |
| 1/1-1/35 | 4 (22 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1/4-1/10 | 64 (924 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1/11-1/17 | 72 (706 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1/18-1/24 | 41 (827 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1/25-1/31 | 153 (1,370 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2/1-2/7 | 869 (12,570 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2/8-2/14 | 599 (6,790 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2/15-2/21 | 361 (5,701 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2/22-2/28 | 200 (3,825 Total Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 3/1-3/7 | 124 (2,072 Total Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 3/8-3/14 | 53 (562 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 3/15-3/21 | 71 (1,408 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 3/22-3/28 | 38 (603 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 3/29-4/4 | 46 (624 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 4/5-4/11 | 25 (401 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 4/12-4/18 | 41 (394 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 4/19 - 4/25 | 1 (3 Workers) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Total Cases Issued Final Decision and Positions Certified (for FY 2026 Second Half Visa Cap) | 6,495 (94,715 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] Cases submitted during the peak filing window for dates of need after April 1, 2026.
| STEP 1 | STEP 2 | STEP 3 | STEP 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month of Receipt | Total Cases Submitted6 & Positions Requested | Total Cases Issued NOA or NOD | Percent Issued a First NOA or NOD | Total Cases Pending - Post NOA or NOD Issued7 | Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
| October | 1 (5 Workers) | 1 | 100% | -- | 1 (5 Workers) |
| November | 158 (739 Workers) | 158 | 100% | -- | 158 (572 Workers) |
| December | 119 (438 Workers) | 119 | 100% | -- | 119 (339 Workers) |
| January | 139 (659 Workers) | 139 | 100% | 1 (10 Workers) | 138 (514 Workers) |
| February | 100 (419 Workers) | 100 | 100% | 23 (88 Workers) | 77 (280 Workers) |
| March | 117 (496 Workers) | 117 | 100% | 99 (413 Workers) | 18 (29 Workers) |
| April | 304 (1,165 Workers) | 157 | 51.6% | 157 (660 Workers) | -- |
| STEP 1 | STEP 2 | STEP 3 | STEP 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Type | Total Cases Submitted6 & Positions Requested | Total Cases Issued NOA or NOD | Percent Issued a First NOA or NOD | Total Cases Pending - Post NOA or NOD Issued7 | Total Cases Issued Final Decision & Positions Certified |
| New CW-1 Visas8 | 387 (1,909 Workers) | 366 | 94.6% | 88 (459 Workers) | 278 (1,015 Workers) |
| Renewal of CW-1 Visas9 | 551 (2,012 Workers) | 425 | 77.1% | 192 (712 Workers) | 233 (724 Workers) |
| TOTALS | 938 (3,921 Workers) | 791 | 84.3% | 280 (1,171 Workers) | 511 (1,739 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.