DOL Releases Statistics on PERM and Backlog Cases
Posted Apr 14, 2006
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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently released PERM and Backlog statistics for March 2006. The PERM statistics cover the period from March 28, 2005, when the first cases were accepted for PERM processing, to March 17, 2006; essentially cover PERM's first year. The backlog numbers are as of March 2006.
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PERM Statistics with Certifications, Denials, and Audits
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The DOL states that 80,272 PERM cases were filed during the above timeframe. Of these, 36,687 have been certified, 1,950 have been withdrawn, and 23,205 have been denied. The denials have been for a variety of reasons, including small errors made on the forms. Thus, many of these cases were refiled and may have been approved, ultimately. The remaining cases are pending.
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There have been 24,960 audits. A breakdown of the number of cases approved and denied after an audit was not provided.
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Backlog Processing Center - Less than One Third Completed So Far
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The backlog processing centers (BPCs) began with just over 363,000 labor certifications in the backlog. The DOL reports that 108,000 of these cases have been completed. There are at least 255,000 cases that have not been completed. Of those cases completed, approximately 50,000 have been certified. This does not mean that there have been high rates of BPC denials. We believe it reflects the fact that a case is deemed "complete" if the employer chooses not to go forward at the 45-day letter stage.
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DOL believes that all special-handling cases have been identified and contacted. Full data entry for all cases still appears to be slated for a June 30, 2006 completion.
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Conclusion
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We at the Murthy Law Firm appreciate these updates on the PERM and BPC statistics from the DOL. We believe the coming year will see fewer PERM denials. During the first year of PERM, experience has been gained and technical and procedural problems have been solved. We see reason, therefore, for those considering PERM processing not to be disheartened by the number of denials. At the Murthy Law Firm, we have been experiencing a very high rate of PERM approvals for the cases we have filed on behalf of our clients. We recommend that our readers speak with qualified, experienced immigration attorneys to discuss any issues that may affect their PERM cases before filing to obtain permanent resident status.