The Department of Labor released statistics on the PERM Labor Certification applications. As of the end of the first quarter of FY2014, the Department of Labor received 17,623 applications. Among the current active PERM applications, 64% are under analyst review, 9% are on appeal with BALCA (Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals), 25% are being audited, and 1% are under sponsorship. Please see PERM Labor Certification for a detailed discussion of the application process.
With limited exceptions, the first step of most employment-based immigrant petitions is for employer petitioners to file a PERM application with the Department of Labor for a specific foreign worker beneficiary and a specific job opportunity. Prior to filing the PERM application, petitioners must apply for and receive certified PWD and engage in good-faith advertisement recruitment process. If the Department of Labor approves the PERM application, it certifies that there are not sufficient U.S. workers able, willing, qualified, and available to accept the job opportunity in the area of intended employment and that employment of the foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.