The Department of Labor (“DOL”) has provided an update on the current PERM processing dates as of May 31, 2010. They are as follows: Regular processing: August 2009. DOL is processing PERM applications with priority dates in August of 2009. This suggests that there is certain forward movement for regular PERM processing. Accordingly, regular PERM [...]
The Department of Labor (“DOL”) has provided an update on the current PERM processing dates as of April 30, 2010. They are as follows: Regular processing: July 2009. DOL is processing PERM applications with priority dates in July of 2009. This suggests that there is very slight forward movement for regular PERM processing. Accordingly, regular [...]
On March 25, 2010, the Department of Labor ("DOL") held a stakeholders telephone conference to discuss DOL operations generally, and address PERM, iCERT prevailing wage and other specific areas. We are happy to share some interesting pieces of information from DOL. PERM Processing. With respect to PERM processing, DOL has made efforts to decrease its [...]
In a decision dated as of March 26, 2010, the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) has spelled out what we think is an an important policy change affecting employment-based permanent residency applicants who are beneficiaries of a labor certification either as a substitute or as the initial beneficiary of a subsequently-substituted labor certification. Brief Background on [...]
Effective January 1, 2010, the Department of Labor (DOL) centralized all prevailing wage determinations needed in connection with certain programs - PERM, H-1B, H-2B and E-3. All prevailing wage requests now must be submitted to DOL for processing and not to the state workforce agencies, as it was done before. Because DOL was not ready [...]
We wrote in late October and early November of 2009 about the USCIS Ombudsman's recommendation that USCIS (1) accept H-1B filings without a certified LCA but with a proof of filed and pending LCA and (2) to excuse late H-1B filings where the delay in filing was caused by pending LCA or employer's Federal Employed [...]
The Department of Labor (“DOL”) has provided an update on the current PERM processing dates as of December 31, 2009. They are as follows: Regular processing: March 2009. DOL is processing PERM applications with priority dates in March of 2009. This suggests that there is certain forward movement for regular PERM processing. Accordingly, regular PERM [...]
The Department of Labor ("DOL") has provided an update on the current PERM processing dates as of November 31, 2009. They are as follows: Regular processing: February 2009. DOL is processing PERM applications with priority dates in February 2009. This suggests that there is certain forward movement for regular PERM processing. Accordingly, regular PERM processing [...]
Two weeks ago we wrote about the USCIS Ombudsman recommendation to modify the LCA/H-1B filing process to avoid negative consequences associated with delayed LCAs. As a response, USCIS just announced a temporary change in policy pursuant to which it will temporarily accept H-1B petitions filed without Labor Conditions Applications (LCA) that have been certified by the [...]
The Department of Labor (”DOL”) has released a quarterly report covering the second quarter of 2009 (ending on June 31, 2009) which report indicates the performance measurements for four categories of labor certifications performed by DOL: H-1B Labor Condition Applications (”LCA”). The target performance rate set by DOL is seven (business) days. For the second quarter, [...]