After a 30-day closure due to the US government shutdown, the US Department of Labour FLAG system reopened on 31 October 2025.
The reopening means that the Department of Labor are now again processing PERM applications for EB-3 Labor Certificates.
The current DOL Priority Date for EB-3 Labor Certificate as of December 2025 is June 2024. For applicants submitting Labor Certificate applications (Form 9089) today, the expected processing time is 472 days or almost 16 months.
The 2026 Department of Labor budget for the Foreign Worker Ceritifcation Program (FLAG) is expected to rise by USD 2 million with a specific requirement to reduce waiting times back to the pre-COVID 6-month application time. The appropriation bill has been introduced but not yet passed.
Isaford Immigration will keep all our clients & followers updated on changes in FLAG processing times.
