Update on LCA Processing for H1Bs as of March 27, 2001
Posted Apr 05, 2001

We have reported from time to time in the MurthyBulletin about the delays in processing Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for H1Bs. On March 27, 2001, DOL provided an update, indicating that all LCAs filed prior to March 1, 2001 should have been processed. For those LCAs filed before that point that had not yet been returned to the attorney of record, DOL provided a special eMail address that members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) can use to inquire. DOL also specified particular information the attorney needs to provide. Hopefully this method of inquiry will be helpful in retrieving any missing LCAs.

Processing time for LCAs continues to be about 3 to 4 weeks, though that timeframe varies, as many take somewhat longer or shorter, regardless of the fact that under federal law the DOL is required to process the LCA within seven days. The Law Office of Sheela Murthy hopes that DOL will succeed in improving the processing time for LCAs, especially since problems with the prior fax-back system for the 2-page LCA were resolved successfully, and that system did eventually turn out to work well.