The Department of Labor (DOL) released 3rd Quarter PERM statistics for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, and it looks like filed PERM Labor applications continue to rise and India continues to top the list of PERM Labor applications certified so far this year. 

Review of Applications Certified in FY 2016 to Date (October 01, 2015 to June 30, 2016):

Not surprisingly, India was the top country of citizenship for those individuals who had PERM applications certified so far this year. The top 5 Countries of citizenship are as follows:

1. India: 56%
2. China: 9%
3. South Korea: 7%
4. Canada: 4%
5. Mexico: 2%

The H-1B was the top Visa Classification at 74% of the certified PERM applications. The top 5 are as follows:

1. H-1B: 74%
2. L-1: 6%
3. F-1: 5%
4. Blank: 6% (Section of the PERM application designated for visa classification was left blank)
5. Not in USA: 3%

Again, not surprisingly, the top occupation listed for certified applications was Computer & Mathematical occupations at 57%. The top 5 are as follows:

1. Computer & Mathematical: 57%
2. Architecture & Engineering: 9%
3. Management: 8%
4. Business and Financial Operations: 6%
5. Education, training and library: 3%

The top industry for certified applications was in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services field at 45%. The top 5 industries are as follows:

1. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: 45%
2. Manufacturing: 16%
3. Information: 9%
4. Finance and Insurance: 6%
5. Educational Services:4%

Certified and In-Process Cases: 

As of June 30, 2016, 87,739 cases have been certified and 38,612 applications are still pending. Last year at this time, “only” 54,085 applications were certified. By the end of FY 2015, 78,938 cases were certified, meaning more cases were certified in the first 3 quarters of this year than were certified in 2015 total. 

The processing status of active PERM applications to date is as follows:

1. Analyst Review: 73% of active PERM applications are under initial review
2. Audit Review: 11% of active PERM applications are under Audit Review
3. Appeal: 14% of active PERM applications are on appeal

Currently, we have been receiving approvals on PERM applications in anywhere from 2.5 to 5 months, although generally processing times are listed as 5 months on the DOL’s website. Last year at this time, the DOL was taking about 6 months to adjudicate applications.

PERM Applications Received by DOL:

There has been an increase in the number of PERM applications received in 2016. At the end of the 3rd quarter of 2015, the DOL received 64,441 PERM applications. At the end of the 3rd quarter this year, the DOL has already received 74,590 PERM applications. When you look back to 2010, employers filed 43,984 applications for the ENTIRE year!  Here is a look at the numbers since 2010:

2010: 43,984 total PERM applications received

2011: 67,383 total PERM applications received

2012: 69,738 total PERM applications received

2013: 72,462 total PERM applications received

2014: 74,936 total PERM applications received

2015: 87,644 total PERM applications received

I am expecting the number of filed applications to continue to increase this year and in the coming years. As the economy continues to grow and business continues to boom, the need for talented high skilled and professional foreign workers will continue to increase.

If you are going through the employment based green card process now or will in the future, it is a good idea to prepare early. For tips, please visit: Tips to Improve Your Chance at an Approved PERM Labor Certification and Tips to Improve your Chance of I-140 Approval .