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August was a consequential month for the Department of Labor's PERM processing pipeline. As of August 31, 2026, DOL was conducting analyst review for PERM applications filed in November 2025 or earlier, and audit review for cases filed in December 2025 or earlier . This represents a processing window of approximately nine months from filing to initial review for standard cases. The agency was also processing prevailing wage determinations (PWDs) for PERM requests filed in May 2026, and redeterminations requested in June 2026 .

The most significant development came from the DOL's Office of Inspector General, which announced a major escalation of Project Firewall investigations into both the H-1B and PERM programs . While the initiative initially focused on H-1B compliance, the OIG's new fraud investigative track explicitly names PERM recruitment practices as a priority area. Investigators will examine whether employers' PERM recruitment reflects a genuine, good-faith test of the U.S. labor market—a core requirement for EB-3 unskilled certifications . Employers should expect increased scrutiny of recruitment documentation, including proof of job postings, applicant responses, and lawful disqualification justifications. The OIG has already issued numerous subpoenas and is working alongside federal law enforcement and the administration's Fraud Task Force .

For EB-3 unskilled applicants and their sponsoring employers, this means the PERM process may face longer review times if cases are selected for audit. DOL audits approximately 25% of all PERM cases, and the current audit review queue is running well behind standard analyst review . Employers should ensure their recruitment files are complete, well-documented, and defensible before filing.