DOL Backlog Movement: Older PERM and Prevailing Wage Cases Finally Processing

For the past two years, one of the most common messages we received from readers sounded the same.

“My PERM has been pending forever.”

“Our prevailing wage request has not moved in months.”

“Is anyone even reviewing these cases?”

Now we are finally seeing measurable movement.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification has begun clearing older prevailing wage and PERM labor certification filings that were stuck in extended backlog cycles. Recent processing updates show the agency actively working through cases filed many months ago, including applications that had not moved since 2024.

That matters more than most people realize.

Why PERM and Prevailing Wage Delays Ripple Through Everything

PERM labor certification and prevailing wage determinations sit at the base of many employment-based immigration paths.

If you are pursuing:

• An EB-2 or EB-3 green card

• A future I-140 filing

• A change of status tied to employment

• H-1B extensions or long-term strategy planning

Your case often depends on these first steps clearing.

When prevailing wage determinations stall, employers cannot finalize PERM filings.

When PERM certifications stall, I-140 petitions cannot move forward.

When I-140s stall, adjustment of status timelines stretch out.

Backlogs at DOL create a chain reaction across the entire system.

What We Are Seeing Now

Recent DOL processing reports show that:

• Older prevailing wage requests are being issued after extended delays

• PERM labor certifications filed many months ago are finally receiving decisions

• The agency is steadily working through accumulated inventory

Processing times are still long. No one should assume immediate approvals. But the pace of adjudication has clearly picked up compared to the stagnation period many experienced.

This suggests backlog reduction is actively underway rather than frozen.

Who Is Affected

The groups most likely to feel this movement:

• Applicants waiting on PERM certification to file an I-140

• Employers planning green card sponsorship in 2026

• H-1B holders whose long-term strategy depends on approved I-140 status

• Workers approaching max-out periods who need forward movement

If your case has been sitting in silence for months, this shift increases the probability that it will move soon.

What This Does Not Mean

This does not mean the system is fast again.

PERM and prevailing wage processing remain slow compared to pre-backlog years. Employers should still plan conservatively. Applicants should still expect extended timelines.

What this does mean is that the agency is issuing decisions and clearing inventory rather than allowing cases to remain indefinitely untouched.

That distinction matters.

Why This Matters in 2026

Immigration planning today requires precision.

Wage-based H-1B selection changes, increased scrutiny on filings, and shifting adjudication patterns make timing more important than ever. When DOL processing accelerates, even modestly, it changes strategy conversations inside companies and law firms.

Green card timelines shift.

Priority date planning shifts.

Retention strategy shifts.

For individual applicants, it means one less unknown.

We will continue tracking DOL processing data closely.

If you rely on employment-based immigration, these foundational processing steps shape everything that comes after them.

Clarity matters when the system moves slowly. It matters even more when it starts moving again.