Department of Labor resumes all employment-based visa operations following funding lapse that disrupted filings
The US Department of Labor (DOL) has confirmed the resumption of all foreign labor certification processes under its Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) after nearly a month-long disruption caused by a government funding lapse that triggered a partial shutdown, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
The outage, which began around September 30, had halted critical visa-related services for employers across industries such as technology, healthcare, education, research, and specialized trades, creating a backlog of applications and uncertainty among foreign workers and US companies alike.
Systems back online but backlog may delay processing, says Department of Labor.
With the restoration of systems, employers can now file new Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for H-1B visas, track ongoing cases through the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG), and submit documents for temporary (H-2A, H-2B) and permanent labor certification programs (PERM).
The SeasonalJobs.dol.gov registry, which lists open positions under the H-2A and H-2B programs, has also been brought back online
However, the DOL cautioned that processing times may remain slower than usual due to the accumulated backlog and a likely surge in new filings following the outage. Officials said additional measures are being taken to prioritize pending applications and ensure a smooth transition back to normal operations.
The restoration comes as a relief for thousands of US-based employers and foreign professionals who rely on timely certifications for H-1B renewals, transfers, and new sponsorships, which had been delayed throughout October.
