Key Takeaways:
- OFLC updates prevailing wage determination processing times; significant variation exists across different visa categories and stages.
- PERM applications: Analyst review takes 388 days, audit review takes 493 days on average.
- Employers should request determinations 60 days prior for timely H-2B visa processing.
What are the Current Prevailing Wage Determination Processing Times?
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) frequently updates the prevailing wage determination processing times to help employers and immigration applicants understand the current queue. As of July 1, 2024, the latest processing times for various applications are as follows:
Processing Queue
- CW-1: April 2024
- H-1B: Non-OEWS – January 2024, OEWS – June 2023
- H-2B: May 2024
- PERM: Non-OEWS – December 2023, OEWS – June 2023
For redeterminations:
– H-1B: March 2024
– PERM: January 2024
For Center Director Reviews:
– CW-1: June 2024
– H-1B: August 2023
– H-2B: May 2024
– PERM: August 2023
The OFLC advises employers to request a prevailing wage determination at least 60 days before the determination is needed, especially for the H-2B program. Keep in mind that these times reflect averages, and individual cases may vary.
How Many Requests are Pending for Each Visa Category?
The processing times and workload at the OFLC can vary significantly each month. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
CW-1 Visa:
– April 2024: 19 remaining requests
– May 2024: 173 remaining requests
– June 2024: 264 remaining requests
H-1B Visa:
– June 2023: 2 remaining requests
– July 2023: 1 remaining request
– August 2023: 0 remaining requests
– September 2023: 1 remaining request
– October 2023: 1 remaining request
– November 2023: 1 remaining request
– December 2023: 12 remaining requests
– January 2024: 43 remaining requests
– February 2024: 251 remaining requests
– March 2024: 429 remaining requests
– April 2024: 380 remaining requests
– May 2024: 646 remaining requests
– June 2024: 344 remaining requests
H-2B Visa:
– April 2024: 2 remaining requests
– May 2024: 601 remaining requests
– June 2024: 1,477 remaining requests
PERM Visa:
– February 2023: 1 remaining request
– March 2023: 0 remaining requests
– April 2023: 5 remaining requests
– May 2023: 36 remaining requests
– June 2023: 37 remaining requests
– July 2023: 54 remaining requests
– August 2023: 102 remaining requests
– September 2023: 140 remaining requests
– October 2023: 232 remaining requests
– November 2023: 772 remaining requests
– December 2023: 2,155 remaining requests
– January 2024: 14,563 remaining requests
– February 2024: 15,632 remaining requests
– March 2024: 15,160 remaining requests
– April 2024: 13,400 remaining requests
What are the Average Processing Times for PERM Applications?
For those curious about the timeline for PERM applications, here are the average processing durations for June 2024:
Analyst Review:
– Processing Queue Priority Date: June 2023
– Average Processing Time: 388 calendar days
Audit Review:
– Processing Queue Priority Date: December 2022
– Average Processing Time: 493 calendar days
These times represent averages; individual cases may take more or fewer days depending on specific factors and circumstances involved.
How Long Does it Take to Process H-2A Applications?
The H-2A visa program data provides an insightful look at the processing performance over a recent period:
Issuance of Initial Notices of Acceptance (NOA) or Deficiency (NOD):
– Most Recent Week (June 23 – 29): 333 cases submitted, 100% issued NOA or NOD
– Current Processing Week (June 30 – July 6): 274 cases submitted, 59% issued NOA or NOD
Average Case Processing Times over the Last Two Weeks:
– For complete cases: 22 calendar days
– For incomplete cases: 32 calendar days
A complete H-2A application must contain all necessary documentation, such as housing inspection reports, worker compensation information, and recruitment reports.
What are the Recent H-2B Processing Times?
Processing data for H-2B visa applications from January 2024 to July 2024 shows varying results:
Applications Received for Requested Date of Need from April 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024:
January 2024:
– 8,118 cases, all issued NOA or NOD
February 2024:
– 896 cases, all issued NOA or NOD
March 2024:
– 176 cases, all issued NOA or NOD
April 2024:
– 113 cases, all issued NOA or NOD
May 2024:
– 90 cases, all issued NOA or NOD
June 2024:
– 64 cases, 95.3% issued NOA or NOD
July 2024:
– 9 cases, 22.2% issued NOA or NOD
Applications Received for Requested Date of Need from October 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025:
Group A (July 3-5):
– 1,728 cases submitted
Group B (July 3-5):
– 430 cases submitted
July 6:
– 1 case submitted
How Do CW-1 Visa Processing Times Compare?
Here is the current data on CW-1 visa processing:
Applications by Month:
October:
– 164 cases, 100% issued NOA or NOD
November:
– 161 cases, 100% issued NOA or NOD
December:
– 118 cases, 100% issued NOA or NOD
January:
– 169 cases, 100% issued NOA or NOD
February:
– 143 cases, 100% issued NOA or NOD
March:
– 125 cases, 100% issued NOA or NOD
April:
– 562 cases, 100% issued NOA or NOD
May:
– 416 cases, 99.5% issued NOA or NOD
June:
– 827 cases, 63.5% issued NOA or NOD
July:
– 46 cases submitted so far
New CW-1 Visas:
– 995 cases, 87.4% issued NOA or NOD
Renewal of CW-1 Visas:
– 1,696 cases, 86.1% issued NOA or NOD
Conclusion
Understanding the prevailing wage determination processing times can help employers and applicants plan their visa submissions effectively. The data provided by OFLC showcases the busy periods and helps in setting realistic timelines. It’s crucial to stay updated with the official sites for accurate updates and detail. As per VisaVerge.com, knowing the processing times and being aware of the required steps can ensure a smoother application process.
For more detailed information on processing times and immigration procedures, you can visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Foreign Labor Certification website.
Learn Today:
Glossary of Immigration Terms
- Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD):
The process by which the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) determines the average or standard wage that employers must offer to workers to ensure the wage is not adversely affecting U.S. workers. - Non-OEWS / OEWS:
Categories used in prevailing wage determinations:- Non-OEWS: Refers to wage determinations not based on the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.
- OEWS: Refers to wage determinations based on the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.
- Redeterminations:
A procedure in which an employer requests a review of the initial prevailing wage determination if they believe the result was inaccurate or unfair. - Center Director Review:
A second-level review process of a prevailing wage determination or employment certification decision handled by the Center Director if the employer is dissatisfied with the initial decision. - Notice of Acceptance (NOA) / Notice of Deficiency (NOD):
- NOA: Written communication indicating that a visa application is complete and meets the required initial criteria.
- NOD: Written communication stating that a visa application is incomplete or has deficiencies that need to be resolved before proceeding.
This Article In A Nutshell:
Current prevailing wage determination processing times show applications for CW-1 from April 2024, H-1B non-OEWS and OEWS from January 2024 and June 2023 respectively, H-2B from May 2024, and PERM from December 2023. Employers should apply 60 days prior to needed determinations.
— By VisaVerge.com
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. If you reference or use any content from this article, please attribute it to VisaVerge.com by including a link to the original source. We appreciate your adherence to our content usage policies and your commitment to giving proper credit.
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