The Department of Labor (DOL) released a Foreign Labor Certification Performance Goals Chart for the quarter ending March 31, 2009, showing a decrease in PERM labor certification cases “resolved” within six months of filing (i.e. approved or denied) from 94 percent to 11 percent. When asked to explain the drop in PERM adjudications, DOL stated that it is in the processing of developing new baseline targets for an enhanced PERM performance measure and a new PERM integrity measure, and that these measures are scheduled for approval and implementation at the beginning of FY2010. Based on PERM cases filed by McCown & Evans, it appears that PERM adjudications are now taking at least nine months, which is an increase from about three months in 2007.
