Question 1

Does Covington & Burling sponsor green cards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Covington & Burling has filed 6 PERM labor certification applications with the Department of Labor, with 5 certified. The median processing time from filing to decision has been 140 days.

Question 2

What is the current PERM processing time?

Accepted Answer

The DOL processing time from PERM filing to decision typically ranges from 6 to 18 months. This does not include the prevailing wage determination (1–6 months) or the recruitment period (2–3 months) that happen before filing. For Covington & Burling, the median processing time from filing to decision has been 140 days. See the processing time chart above for year-over-year trends.

Question 3

How long does it take to get a green card through Covington & Burling?

Accepted Answer

The full employer-sponsored green card timeline depends on three stages: PERM labor certification (6–18 months), I-140 petition with USCIS (4–6 months, or 15 days with premium processing), and adjustment of status or consular processing. For applicants from countries with visa backlogs like India and China, the wait for a visa number after I-140 approval can add years. The total process from start to green card typically takes 1–5+ years.

Question 4

What triggers a PERM audit?

Accepted Answer

The DOL may audit a PERM application if certain risk factors are present: layoffs within 6 months of filing, the foreign worker having an ownership interest in the company, job requirements that exceed the norm for the occupation, foreign language requirements, or combination occupations. An audit requires additional documentation but does not mean the case will be denied.

Question 5

What is Covington & Burling's PERM approval rate?

Accepted Answer

Covington & Burling has a 100% PERM approval rate across 6 total applications (5 certified, 0 denied, 1 withdrawn). The national average PERM approval rate is approximately 85%. Note that withdrawn cases are not counted in the approval rate calculation.

Year	Filings	Certified	Withdrawn	Median Processing Days
2025	1	0	1	—
2024	1	1	0	479
2023	1	1	0	367
2017	2	2	0	140
2016	1	1	0	65

Job Title	Salary	Location	Filed	Decision	Days	Status
Senior Associate G-100-25272-340067	$390,000	San Francisco, CA	Sep 28, 2025	Dec 24, 2025	87	Withdrawn
Senior Associate G-100-24051-733623	$400,000	New York, NY	Feb 20, 2024	Jun 13, 2025	479	Certified
Mid-Level Associate Attorney A-22356-77992	$295,000	Washington, DC	Apr 21, 2023	Apr 22, 2024	367	Certified
Associate Attorney (IP Litigation and Counseling) A-17348-21505	N/A	San Francisco, CA	Dec 14, 2017	Apr 25, 2018	132	Certified
Associate Attorney (Patent Law) A-17270-92255	N/A	Washington, DC	Sep 27, 2017	Feb 22, 2018	148	Certified-Expired
Associate Attorney (Corporate Law) A-16351-81791	$185,000	New York, NY	Dec 19, 2016	Feb 22, 2017	65	Certified-Expired

Covington & Burling — Green Card PERM Data

Covington & Burling PERM & Green Card Filings

PERM Filings by Quarter

PERM Processing Time by Year

All PERM Filings

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