PERM Case Status Check: Track Your DOL Labor Certification

What Is a PERM Case Status?

A PERM case status is the label DOL shows for a permanent labor certification filed on Form ETA-9089. It tells you where the employer's application sits, such as Analyst Review, Audit or Certified. It is the first official record in most employment-based green card cases.

PERM in one sentence

PERM stands for Program Electronic Review Management. DOL uses it to certify that no qualified U.S. worker was available for a job offered to a foreign worker. Your employer files it, DOL decides it, and USCIS sees it only at the next step.

Who actually sees the status

The employer, or the attorney who filed for it, holds the FLAG account and sees the full record. As the sponsored worker, you depend on the public search box or on what your employer shares, so asking for your case number comes first.

What Is PERM Labor Certification?

PERM labor certification is DOL's approval of a permanent job offer to a foreign worker. The employer must prove it tested the U.S. labor market and will pay at least the prevailing wage. A certified ETA-9089 then supports an immigrant petition at USCIS.

Three agencies in one green card case

A PERM green card passes through up to three bodies. DOL certifies the job, USCIS approves the petition and the green card, and the State Department issues visas to people abroad. Each keeps its own records and its own status tool.

What Form ETA-9089 records

Form ETA-9089 describes the job, minimum requirements, wage, recruitment and the worker's qualifications. Gaps or mismatches on this form are a common reason a case goes to audit. DOL compares those entries with the ads and the wage determination, so ask to review your own section before the form is filed.

Is PERM Handled by USCIS?

No. PERM is handled by the U.S. Department of Labor, not U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS steps in only after DOL certifies the case and the employer files Form I-140. That is why the first official record in your case sits at flag.dol.gov, and your first USCIS receipt number arrives only with the I-140 receipt notice.

Where DOL's role ends

DOL decides one question: does the job offer meet labor rules? It does not decide your visa category, green card eligibility or place in line. USCIS and the State Department handle those after certification.

Why USCIS tools show nothing

USCIS tools search by a 13-character receipt number, and PERM cases have none. A DOL number typed into egov.uscis.gov returns an error. Once your I-140 is filed, our uscis case status guide explains the USCIS side.

Who Files PERM, and Who Can Check It?

The employer files PERM, usually through an immigration attorney. You are the beneficiary, not the applicant. The employer controls the FLAG account and decides whether to answer an audit, appeal a denial or withdraw the case. Your part is to supply records and ask for updates.

The employer is the applicant

DOL sends letters to the employer or its attorney, not to you. You do not report address changes to DOL. You do need to give your employer accurate degree and experience records, because they go on the form.

What the worker can do

You can search the public FLAG case status box once you have the case number. You can also ask for copies of key letters and keep a tracking log. Ask HR to tell you, in writing, when any DOL letter arrives.

How Do You Check PERM Case Status in FLAG?

You check PERM case status by entering the full DOL case number in the Case Status Search on flag.dol.gov. DOL's 2023 release notes say external users can search by case number, dashes included. The result shows the current label.

Step-by-step PERM case status check

1. Ask your employer or attorney for the DOL case number.
2. Open flag.dol.gov in a browser.
3. Find the Case Status Search area.
4. Type the number exactly, with all dashes.
5. Note the status and the date you checked.

Typing the case number correctly

Copy the number from an email instead of retyping it. A missing dash, an extra space or a letter O typed as a zero returns no result. Paste it into the box, then check the first letter and each dash before you search.

What a result cannot tell you

The public result is a short label. It shows no audit questions, analyst notes or employer replies. Attorneys report that some pending cases return nothing until DOL decides, so a blank result is not proof the case is lost.

Where Do You Find Your PERM Case Number?

Your PERM case number is on the filing confirmation and every DOL letter to your employer. The fastest way to get it is to ask the HR contact or attorney who filed. Attorneys report that PERM numbers start with a letter and include dashes.

Ask the employer or attorney

Send a short written request for the ETA-9089 case number and filing date. A copy of the certified form, once issued, is useful for later I-140 and I-485 records. Keep the reply in a personal email folder, not only on a work laptop.

Numbers people confuse

Five different numbers can appear in a work-based green card case, and only one of them works in the PERM case status search.

Can You Check PERM Status Without a Case Number?

Not in FLAG. The official search works only with a full case number. Without it, ask your employer, check DOL's public disclosure data later, or follow the queues on flag.dol.gov. The public search has no lookup by your name, birth date, passport or employer, so the case number is the only key.

DOL disclosure data

DOL's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) publishes disclosure data on decided cases by employer and job. It is released in batches and lags live FLAG records, so it rarely helps with a recent filing.

When the employer will not share

Ask at least what stage the case has reached and when it was filed. An attorney you hire separately can explain your options. Put the request in writing and keep the reply, because DOL's letters go to the employer or its attorney, not to you.

PERM Case Status Check: Employer Account vs Public Search

A PERM case status check looks different depending on who signs in. The employer's FLAG account shows the full record, letters and history. The public search shows one label. Treat the employer as your main source and the public box as a cross-check.

What the employer account shows

The employer's dashboard lists each case with its status, submission date and DOL messages, such as an audit notice. Employers download the certified ETA-9089 there, and linked attorneys see the cases they filed.

What the public search shows

The public result is one line: the case number and a label such as Certified. It has no step dates and no explanation. Use it to confirm a decision HR mentioned or to spot a change, then ask what that change means for your I-140 timing.

PERM Status Meanings: What Each FLAG Label Says

PERM status meanings are short, but each points to a next step. Pending cases show In Process or Analyst Review, some show Audit, and decided cases show Certified, Denied or Withdrawn. Only Certified lets your employer move on to Form I-140.

FLAG labels and next steps table

Each label below is one the status search can display; the right column is the step that usually follows it.

Only one row, Certified, opens the path to USCIS; every other label means wait, respond or regroup.

In Process or Submitted

These labels mean DOL has the ETA-9089 in its system and has not finished. Nothing is wrong, and your employer sends nothing unless DOL writes first. Expect this label soon after filing, before Analyst Review.

Analyst Review

Analyst Review means the case is waiting for, or under, an analyst's review. For most cases it is the longest label. A later section explains what it does and does not signal.

Audit and Certified

An audit means DOL wants documents proving what the employer stated; it is not a denial. Certified means DOL approved the labor certification, and the employer has a limited window to file Form I-140.

Certified-Expired, Denied and Withdrawn

Certified-Expired means the certification passed its validity window unused: A PERM labor certification expires 180 days after DOL certifies it. Denied means DOL refused the case after review. Withdrawn means the employer asked DOL to close it. Each ends that filing, with different options.

What Does "Analyst Review" Mean on a PERM?

Analyst Review on a PERM means a DOL analyst has the case or it is in line for one. It signals normal processing, not a problem. The label alone does not predict approval or denial. If your ETA-9089 was filed after the month DOL is now working on, this is exactly the label you should expect.

A normal queue, not a warning

DOL works cases largely in filing order within each review type. Your case may hold the same label for a long stretch. Compare your filing month with the month DOL posts on flag.dol.gov, not with friends' cases.

What you can do while waiting

Gather I-140 documents now: degree certificates, transcripts, experience letters and passport copies. Ask your employer to tell you when any DOL letter arrives. Do not write to DOL yourself. Renew a passport that expires soon, because later forms ask for it.

What Happens When a PERM Case Is Audited?

When a PERM case is audited, DOL asks the employer for proof of recruitment, wages or job requirements. The employer must reply by the deadline in the letter. The case then returns to review, and the label changes again only after a decision.

What an audit letter asks for

Most letters ask for the recruitment report, copies of ads, proof of the state job order and the posted notice of filing. Some ask why each U.S. applicant was rejected.

Missing the audit deadline

If the employer misses the date in the letter, DOL can deny the case. Ask your employer to confirm the reply went out. DOL can also order supervised recruitment, a new round of ads under its oversight.

How an audit changes your timeline

FLAG may show Audit until DOL reviews the reply. DOL lists audit queues separately on flag.dol.gov, and an audit adds time. Audited cases can still end in certification. Right now, DOL audit review is working on PERM cases filed in December 2025 (as of Oct. 5, 2026).

What Does a Certified PERM Mean for Your Green Card?

A certified PERM means DOL approved the job offer and your employer can now file Form I-140 with USCIS. It also fixes your priority date, which controls your place in the green card line. Certification is not a green card or a visa.

The certified ETA-9089

The employer gets the certified labor certification in FLAG, and USCIS needs it with the I-140. Ask for a copy: it shows the exact job and requirements DOL approved. Check that your name and degree read as they do on your passport and diploma.

How Long Is a Certified PERM Valid?

A labor certification stays valid only for a limited time: A PERM labor certification expires 180 days after DOL certifies it. USCIS's Form I-140 page says it must receive the petition before that period ends, or the certification shows Certified-Expired. Ask your employer for its planned I-140 filing date as soon as FLAG shows Certified.

What Is Your PERM Priority Date?

For PERM-based cases, your priority date is generally the date DOL accepted the ETA-9089 for processing, not the certification date. It marks your place in the green card line. After I-140 approval, compare it with the monthly visa bulletin.

What If Your PERM Is Denied?

If your PERM is denied, DOL sends the employer a letter with the reasons and options. The employer can ask DOL to reconsider, ask the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA) to review, or file a new PERM. Each option has a deadline in the letter.

Request for reconsideration

Reconsideration asks the same DOL office to look again, usually over an error or a document already in the record. New evidence is often limited, so the attorney checks whether it fits the denial reasons.

Refiling a new PERM

Many employers start again with fresh recruitment. A new filing gets a new case number and usually a new priority date. If you hold an earlier approved I-140, ask an attorney whether that date carries over.

What Is BALCA Review of a Denied PERM?

BALCA, the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals, is the appeals board for labor certification decisions. Employers use it when they believe DOL applied the law wrongly, not to add new evidence. Review can take time, so many employers weigh it against refiling, and the deadline to ask for review is in the denial letter.

Why Would a PERM Be Withdrawn?

A PERM shows Withdrawn when the employer asks DOL to close it before a decision. Common reasons are an error found after filing, a changed role, a layoff or a business decision. Withdrawal ends that application but does not bar a new one.

Common reasons employers withdraw

Some employers withdraw to fix a mistake rather than risk a denial. Others withdraw because the job changed or the worker left. A withdrawal to fix an error is often followed by a new filing with fresh recruitment, which brings a new case number to track.

What withdrawal means for your plans

A withdrawn PERM cannot support an I-140. If you hold a temporary visa, such as H-1B, plans built on a pending green card case may shift. See an attorney before your status runs short.

PWD Case Status: Checking Your Prevailing Wage Request

PWD case status tracks the prevailing wage determination, filed on Form ETA-9141 before PERM. The PWD sets the minimum wage your employer must offer. Employers check it in FLAG, and it must be issued before the ETA-9089 is filed. Right now, DOL is issuing PERM prevailing wage determinations for requests filed in June 2026, OEWS and non-OEWS (as of Sept. 30, 2026).

What a prevailing wage determination is

A prevailing wage determination is DOL's minimum wage for your job in its location, based on duties, requirements and area. The PERM offer must meet or beat it, so it comes first.

How to check a PWD in FLAG

The PWD has its own case number and status in the employer's account. Workers rarely see it directly, so ask whether it has been issued and at what wage level.

PWD statuses you may hear about

Typical labels include in process, issued, and less often redetermination or review. Issued means DOL set the wage. A redetermination means the employer asked DOL to reconsider the wage.

How Does the PWD Connect to Your PERM?

The PWD and PERM are linked by the wage. The prevailing wage from Form ETA-9141 goes on the ETA-9089, and the offer must pay at least that amount. If the PWD lapses or the job changes, a new PWD may be needed.

The wage on your job offer

The offer must match or exceed the issued wage. That wage is for the future permanent job, not your current pay. If you earn less today, the offered wage applies once you take the permanent role. Ask HR which wage level DOL issued.

When a new PWD is needed

Each PWD shows a validity period. If recruitment or filing falls outside it, or the duties or location change, the employer usually requests a new one, which resets the early stage.

LCA Case Status: Why It Is Not PERM

LCA case status belongs to the Labor Condition Application, filed on Form ETA-9035 for temporary H-1B workers. It is a different DOL case from PERM: an LCA supports a temporary work visa, while PERM supports a permanent job offer. An H-1B worker in a green card case may have both.

What an LCA does

The Labor Condition Application is the employer's promise to DOL about wages and conditions for an H-1B worker. DOL certifies it before the employer files the H-1B petition. It plays no part in the green card process.

LCA application status in FLAG

Each LCA has its own number in FLAG. An LCA application status of certified means the employer can file the H-1B petition. For the USCIS side of that visa, see our guide to h1b visa status.

PWD vs LCA vs PERM: Which DOL Case Do You Have?

Most people tracking a DOL case status hold one of three case types: a PWD on ETA-9141, an LCA on ETA-9035, or a PERM on ETA-9089. All live in FLAG but serve different purposes, so knowing yours tells you which label matters.

PWD, LCA and PERM side by side

Each case answers a different question, though the same employer files all three through one FLAG account.

Only the PERM row leads to Form I-140, so it is the label that controls your green card timing.

Which tracker applies to you

All three are tracked in FLAG, not on uscis.gov. After certification, your next tracker is USCIS Case Status Online for the I-140. Our immigration forms hub shows how the later forms connect.

DOL Case Status vs USCIS Case Status

A labor case status at DOL and a USCIS case status measure different things in separate systems. DOL tracks the job offer; USCIS tracks your petition and green card. They do not sync, so a certified PERM updates nothing on uscis.gov.

DOL and USCIS trackers compared

The two systems differ in website, search key, notices and account, so neither can look up the other's case.

Different systems, different records

When PERM is certified, the employer opens a new USCIS case, and USCIS sends Form I-797 notices with a receipt number. Keep the DOL number too, because USCIS reviews the certification again.

The PERM Process From Start to Certification

The PERM process has five stages: prevailing wage, recruitment, filing Form ETA-9089, DOL review and the decision. Each leaves a record in the employer's FLAG account. Each stage must finish before the next begins, so a slow early step, such as the wage determination, pushes back everything after it. The stages are the employer's work; your part is supplying accurate records on time.

The five PERM stages in order

1. Prevailing wage: the employer files ETA-9141 and waits for the wage.
2. Recruitment: a state job order, required ads and a posted notice of filing.
3. Filing: the ETA-9089 goes into FLAG; this usually sets your priority date.
4. Review: Analyst Review, sometimes an audit or supervised recruitment.
5. Decision: certified, denied or withdrawn.

Why recruitment matters most

Recruitment is the stage most likely to trigger an audit. Every ad must match the ETA-9089, and the employer must record why each U.S. applicant was not hired in a recruitment report.

PERM Processing Time: Summary and Where to Check

DOL posts PERM processing time figures on flag.dol.gov, split by review type such as analyst review and audit. Right now, DOL analyst review is working on PERM cases filed in January 2026 (as of Oct. 5, 2026), and PERM analyst review took an average of 336 calendar days in August 2026. Recheck the official page and our perm processing time guide.

Why this page lists no times

PERM queues move month to month, and a wrong number could mislead your plans. We publish only figures confirmed on an official page, so we point you to DOL's own posting instead.

How Do You Compare Your Filing Month With DOL's Queue?

DOL usually shows the filing month it is now working on for each review type. Compare it with your ETA-9089 filing month, and use the audit queue if your case was audited. If yours is older than the month shown, ask your employer whether DOL sent a letter.

PERM Application Tracking: Build Your Own Log

PERM application tracking is easier with a simple log of each case number, filing date, label and the date you saw it. It prepares you for the I-140 and I-485 steps. Update it each time you check FLAG, and share the dates with HR if anything looks stalled.

What to record

Note the PWD number and issue date, the PERM number, the filing date and each FLAG label. Add any audit letter and reply dates, and later your I-140 receipt number.

A copyable tracking checklist

• DOL PERM case number (with dashes)
• PWD case number and wage level
• ETA-9089 filing date (likely priority date)
• Each status label and the date checked
• Audit letter and reply dates, if any
• Certification date
• Planned I-140 filing date
• Attorney name and contact

Can You Trust Third-Party PERM Trackers?

Third-party PERM trackers can show trends, but they are not official. Many republish DOL disclosure files or crowd-sourced dates, which lag FLAG and may contain errors. Use them for context and rely on FLAG and your employer for your own case.

Where tracker data comes from

Most trackers mix DOL public data with user reports. User reports are self-selected and often skip audited or denied cases, which skews averages toward faster ones. Treat any average there as a rough guide only.

Risks to watch for

Never pay to see your status, and never share your employer's FLAG login. The official record lives only at flag.dol.gov. Be wary of sites that ask for your passport number or copy DOL branding. If a tracker's figure differs from FLAG, trust DOL.

Is There a Fee to File a PERM Labor Certification?

DOL's PERM program page lists no filing fee for Form ETA-9089, but we found no explicit DOL statement confirming there is none, so we state no fee. Recruitment and legal costs are separate. Check dol.gov and ask your employer.

The next fees come at USCIS

The first government fee most people meet is the I-140 fee. As of October 2026, USCIS Form G-1055 lists $715 (paper) / $665 (online) + Asylum Program Fee $600 ($300 small employer or self-petitioner; $0 nonprofit). Our immigration fees guide has the full schedule.

Can a Worker Pay for PERM Costs?

No. Under DOL rules, the employer, not the worker, must pay PERM labor certification costs, including its own attorney fees. That bar includes wage deductions or unpaid work used to cover them. You may pay a lawyer who represents only you. If anyone asks you to pay PERM costs, get independent advice.

What Happens After PERM: The Move to Form I-140

After certification, the employer files Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, with USCIS. The I-140 places you in a category such as EB-2 or EB-3. Your PERM case status stops changing once DOL decides; tracking moves to USCIS.

The handoff to USCIS

The employer includes the certified labor certification with the I-140, and USCIS issues a receipt notice. That receipt number becomes your new tracking key on egov.uscis.gov. Our guide to form i 140 covers filing, tracking and approval in full.

Filing the I-485 later

If your priority date is current and you are in the U.S., you may file Form I-485 with or after the I-140. See Check which visa bulletin chart USCIS tells applicants to use that month. See our green card application guide.

Does a Certified PERM Guarantee I-140 Approval?

No. USCIS reviews questions DOL did not: whether you met the job's requirements by the priority date and whether the employer can pay the offered wage. Keep degree and experience records that match the certified ETA-9089, because a mismatch found at USCIS can still sink the petition.

Can You Change Jobs While Your PERM Is Pending?

You can, but a pending PERM is tied to one employer and one job. If you leave before certification, that PERM usually cannot help you, and a new employer must start its own. Talk to an attorney before you resign.

Leaving before certification

The labor certification belongs to the employer's offer, so the employer will usually withdraw it if you leave. A new employer's PERM starts fresh with a new case number.

Leaving after certification or I-140 approval

Rules after I-140 approval can be more flexible, especially about your priority date. They depend on timing and the job, so get advice from an immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative.

What Happens to Your PERM If You Hold an H-1B?

Many PERM beneficiaries hold H-1B status during DOL review. A pending PERM does not change your H-1B by itself. Your H-1B runs on its own approval dates, and your employer must keep it valid while the green card case moves.

Keeping temporary status valid

Watch your H-1B end date separately from your PERM label. Some H-1B extensions depend on how far the green card case has gone, so ask your attorney how the dates fit.

Two DOL cases, one worker

Your employer may hold both an LCA for your H-1B and a PERM for your green card. They have separate numbers, so make sure you know which one you are checking.

Common PERM Case Status Problems

The usual PERM case status problems are a search that returns nothing, a wrong case number, an employer who shares little, and a label that seems frozen. Most have simple fixes: check the number, ask your employer, then compare with DOL's posted queues.

The search returns nothing

A blank result often means a typo or a missing dash. Some pending cases may also return nothing in the public search. Confirm the number and ask your employer to check its account.

You have the wrong number

You may hold a PWD or LCA number instead of the PERM number. Match the number to the program first. A PWD number comes from the prevailing wage step and an LCA number from an H-1B filing; the one you need is tied to the ETA-9089. Ask HR to confirm which program each number belongs to.

The label has not changed for months

A long stretch in Analyst Review is normal. Compare your filing month with DOL's posted month on flag.dol.gov before you raise concerns with HR. Use the audit queue instead if your case was audited.

Mistakes That Can Delay a PERM Case

Many PERM delays start with avoidable mistakes in the job description, recruitment or the ETA-9089. You cannot fix the employer's side, but you can give accurate records early. Consistent facts lower the chance of an audit or denial. Ask to check your section of the draft.

Mistakes in the worker's information

• Degree titles or dates that differ from your diploma
• Experience letters missing duties, dates or a signature
• Experience gained with the sponsoring employer counted wrongly
• Name spellings that differ from your passport

Mistakes on the employer's side

• Requirements that differ between the ads and the ETA-9089
• Missing proof of a required recruitment step
• A notice of filing posted for the wrong period
• A job title or location that changed after the wage request

Where Can You Find PERM Labor Certification News?

Official PERM labor certification news comes from DOL: announcements on flag.dol.gov, OFLC program pages and rules in the Federal Register. Check these before trusting social media posts about PERM changes. If a post claims a new PERM rule, look for the matching notice on dol.gov or federalregister.gov; if none exists, treat the claim as unconfirmed.

FLAG announcements

FLAG posts release notes and system notices, such as its 2023 notes on the case status search. They explain changes to forms and how filers use the system. Read them when a form or the search page looks different.

OFLC pages and the Federal Register

OFLC posts program updates, performance data and FAQs. Formal rule changes appear in the Federal Register. A proposed rule opens a comment period first, and a final rule states its effective date, so a proposal alone changes nothing about a pending case.

When Does a PERM Case Need Your Own Lawyer?

Get your own immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative if your PERM is denied, withdrawn or audited, or if it is tied to a job you plan to leave. The employer's attorney represents the employer, so your interests may need separate advice.

Signs you need independent advice

• Your PERM is denied or withdrawn
• You plan to change jobs mid-process
• Your temporary status expires soon
• You were asked to pay PERM costs
• DOL ordered supervised recruitment
• An audit reply is due and you want your own review

Finding qualified help

Choose a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative at a recognized organization. Avoid anyone who promises approval or a faster DOL decision for a fee. Check an attorney's standing with a state bar, or find a representative on the DOJ list of recognized organizations.

Does PERM Cover Your Spouse and Children?

PERM certifies one job offer for one worker. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 are not named on the labor certification. They usually join later as derivative beneficiaries when you apply for the green card itself. Keep their documents in your log alongside your own.

Family at the green card stage

Derivative family members generally file their own I-485 or immigrant visa applications based on your approved I-140. Their timing follows your priority date and category. A child who turns 21 during the wait may face age-out questions, so ask an attorney about the Child Status Protection Act.

Family-based options

A relative who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder may offer a separate family path. See our guide to Form i 130 for that route. Both paths can run at once, but each has its own forms and fees.

Real-Life PERM Case Status Scenarios

These examples are not legal advice. Each shows what FLAG said, what it meant and what the worker did next. The names are invented. Together they cover the questions readers raise most: a long wait, an audit, a search that finds nothing and a certified case with a deadline. Find the one closest to your own label.

Scenario 1: A long Analyst Review

Priya's case showed Analyst Review for many months. She compared her filing month with DOL's posted month, saw she was still in line, and kept her I-140 documents ready.

Scenario 2: An audit letter arrives

Marco's employer received an audit letter. The attorney gathered the recruitment report and ads and replied before the deadline. The case later showed Certified. Meanwhile Marco checked FLAG weekly and asked HR to confirm the date the reply was sent.

Scenario 3: A blank search result

Lin's search returned nothing. She had typed her H-1B LCA number by mistake. With the PERM number from HR, the search worked. She then saved both numbers in her log, each clearly labelled.

Scenario 4: Certified with the clock running

Ana's case showed Certified. She asked HR for a copy of the certified ETA-9089 and the planned I-140 date, and logged the certification date so the validity window would not pass unused.

Decision Table: If Your PERM Status Says This, Do This

Use this table to turn a FLAG label into one action. Your employer and attorney make the final call, because PERM is the employer's case. Start with the row that matches the exact label you see. If the search shows a label not listed here, ask your employer before acting.

PERM label-to-action table

Frequently Asked Questions

casestatuscompass.com is an independent publication and is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal advice. For denials, court or asylum matters, consult an immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.