PERM Labor Certification Timeline Calculator
PERM is the first step for most employment-based green cards: the employer proves to the Department of Labor that no qualified U.S. workers are available for the job. This tool estimates the overall timeline from the legal requirements for each stage.
PERM timeline calculator
Plan your recruitment and filing deadlines
When you plan to start or started recruitment
When your prevailing wage determination was issued
Four Stages
① Prevailing wage determination (PWD)
The employer asks the Department of Labor for the prevailing wage for the job in its area. It comes first, and it is the wait people most often underestimate.
② Recruitment
Must include a 30-day job order with the state workforce agency and newspaper ads on two consecutive Sundays; professional positions need three additional recruitment steps. Recruitment must be done within set time windows before filing.
③ 30-day quiet period
After recruitment ends, the employer must wait at least 30 days before filing the ETA-9089, to allow for late applicants.
④ Filing and possible audit
After the ETA-9089 is filed, it goes into review. Being selected for an audit or for supervised recruitment adds a lot of time. The Department of Labor posts current processing times on its website.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is my priority date set?
- For categories that require PERM, the priority date is the day the Department of Labor receives the ETA-9089. For categories that don't (such as EB-1A and NIW), it is the day the I-140 is received.
- Can I start over if PERM is denied?
- Yes, you can go through the process again, but you will get a new priority date unless you have an earlier priority date you can carry over.
Sources: Data and Law
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This tool gives estimates based on public regulations and government data, for reference only. It is not legal advice. We are not a law firm. Every case is different — talk to an immigration lawyer before making a decision.