Overview
- OFLC confirms the Foreign Labor Application Gateway is fully operational for new submissions and pending case processing.
- Processing has restarted for ETA‑9035 labor condition applications, ETA‑9089 PERM labor certifications, ETA‑9141 prevailing wage determinations, and H‑2A/H‑2B temporary labor certifications.
- The department cautions stakeholders to expect longer‑than‑normal processing and response times due to a shutdown‑related backlog.
- Guidance is still pending on how the agency will treat PERM cases with recruitment that expired between October 1 and October 31 when the portal was inaccessible.
- Immigration counsel advise employers to file time‑sensitive H‑1B, H‑1B1, E‑3, and PERM matters promptly to mitigate delays and potential further disruption.