8 hours ago
Last Updated:November 03, 2025, 22:35 IST
The US Department of Labor's OFLC has resumed processing H-1B and PERM applications after a funding lapse.
The outage halted submissions for prevailing wage requests, LCAs, and PERM applications. (Representative Image)
In a significant development, the US Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that its Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has resumed processing applications for both temporary and permanent employment-based immigration programs, after nearly a month-long disruption caused by a lapse in federal funding.
The outage, which began around September 30, paused several key services for employers relying on foreign talent and skilled overseas professionals, especially those from India, in tech, healthcare, and other sectors.
“OFLC’s FLAG system is now accessible and permits system users to prepare and submit new applications as well as submit and receive information associated with their applications pending a final determination," the DOL said in a notification issued last week.
The employers can now once again file Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for H-1B visas, a popular work visa category for highly skilled foreign professionals. The system also resumes processing of Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) labor certifications, the first step for US employers sponsoring foreign workers for Green Cards through permanent roles. These processes ensure no adverse effects on US workers’ wages and conditions.
The Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) portal and the SeasonalJobs.dol.gov website—both essential tools for filing applications and tracking case status—are now fully operational after being offline for weeks.
As per media reports, the pause in services was allegedly linked to a funding lapse during the federal government shutdown at the end of September, though the official notice did not specify the cause.
“OFLC is taking all steps necessary to resume application processing and will post additional announcements and other technical assistance notices for all stakeholders on this website, as appropriate," the notice added.
The agency also cautioned employers about potential delays as it works through the accumulated backlog.
“We do anticipate increased requests for stakeholder assistance, and this means some stakeholders may experience longer than normal processing and response times. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience as OFLC transitions back to full operational status," the DOL said.
The shutdown froze thousands of pending cases, including prevailing wage determinations, LCAs, and PERM filings. As of July 2025, some applications filed as early as March 2024 were still awaiting resolution, suggesting that the latest backlog could further strain processing timelines.
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...
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Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:
November 03, 2025, 22:35 IST
News world US Resumes H1-B Visa Application Processing After Month-Long Outage
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