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Incomplete FAQ on Labor Certification in Chicago
New items are marked with Bold, last update Sep 13, 2002
How to find your DoL case details if you don’t know:
- Call Chicago DOL AVM system 1-312-353-1059, and enter '1' for permanent applications and next menu press '2' if you don't know the case number -> enter your company 10 digit phone number (which was enter in labor application on form 750A)
- If your company has multiple labor certification applications DOT code number sometimes helps.
- Dot code classification can be found on
http://online.onetcenter.org/
Select "find occupations" and enter the dot codes w/o dots (!) or dashes.
- If you cannot find out this way, the only other way is for you or your attorney to call the respective SESA office and find out if the file has moved to DoL.
Processing Times
- Currently it takes less than 1 month for your cases to be put on Automated Voice message after Local SESA sends it to Chicago DoL
- It usually takes 2.5 to 3 months for RIR cases (for most of IT) and takes about 4.5 to 5 Months for Regular cases
- Seems there are two analysts working on RIR case
- Based on observation - when DOL officers review cases depends on DOT Code and RIR/Non RIR
for example if you are Prof / Teacher for some college/university it gets approved very fast , within 2 weeks after RD
if you are IT related jobs, it takes about 2.5 to 3 months for RIR
if you are chef, it takes about 3-5 months for RIR
if you are cleaner/gardener , it just take couple days after RD because they have to wait very long time in local
and when they take RIR case, seems they follow the RD but it depends on the officer which case # he/she wants to review
- It usually takes about 5 to 15 days to receive Hard Copy after your case get certified
Checking case status
- Automated Voice Message number 312-353-1059. AVM seems to be working properly (if you get an error try again)
The status is updated on 5 am from Monday to Thursday (according to official)
Based on observation, the status SEEMS updated on 9 am Chicago Time from Monday to Thursday and seems on 9 pm on Friday afternoon also sometimes on Saturday
On every Monday, Automatic Voice Message gets updated (very long update). When you call AVM and the phone keep ringing, it means AVM update is in progress
- Currently email
lcstatus05@doleta.gov does not work
Here some notes regarding the status
*********************************************
Here is reply from DOL webmaster
From: FLC-DOL [FLC-DOL@doleta.gov]
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 12:30 PM
Subject: RE: status line
We have been having trouble with our national status system.
It is being worked on, and hopefully will be backup soon.
In the meantime you can get general information
from our web site: OWS.DOLETA.GOV/foreign.asp
Select Processing time on the right hand side of the screen (about 2 pages down)
**********************************************
- If you running out of time in your H1-B (close to 6 years), Is possible to make a request to DOL officer to expedite your case (give them your request and proof that you're 6 years almost up) (USE WITH YOUR OWN RISK, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE)
- List of phone number and email of DOL officers
Abraytis, John 312-886-2928
Jabraytis@doleta.gov
Carroll, Sarah 312-353-1550
Scarroll@doleta.gov
Gonzalez, Marie 312-353-3333
mgonzalez@doleta.gov
Johnson, Marsha 312-353-1509
majohnson@doleta.gov
Kimmons, Belinda 312-353-1207
bkimmons@doleta.gov
Smith, MaryAnn 312-353-7536
masmith@doleta.gov
Van, Renee 312-353-3448
rvan@doleta.gov
Warren, Waconda 312-353-1054
wwarren@doleta.gov
- Many attorneys advise that it is better not to call DOL officers directly asking about
your case, because it will irritate DOL officer and some attorneys said if they get
irritated, they will try to find fault on your file.
WebSite Link related to this issue :
http://www.murthy.com/UDavoid.html
- If you want to talk to DOL officer, the best time is around 8.30 to 9am Chicago Time
- jbm already provides an excellent DOL Chicago tracker thro a file called "chicago dol tracker excel.xls"
- If your case has not been processed according to time frame then make sure to
call your lawyer to inquiry about your case status, for example if your case has RD 4/1/2002 and today's date is August 31, 2002. When you check AVM, AVM reported that they already processed case with RD 5/1/2002, it means that your case is about 2 weeks to 1 month behind. Please ask your lawyer to inquiry about your status, because there are possibilities that your case is lost or misplaced
Miscellaneous
- DOL Chicago WebSite
http://www.doleta.gov/regions/reg05...cutxt.cfm#times
- DOL Website for all region
http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/foreign/times.asp
- You could get an RFE, Remand to State, Remand to Employer
"Remand to Employer" usually means the DOL has sent the employer (attorney) a letter looking for more details about the recruitment, for instance sometimes asking the employer to contact the prospective applicants that were not offered the position. This is usually not too serious and usually doesn't cause too much of a delay if the DOL accepts the employer's response.
"Remand to State" means the case has been sent back to the respective SESA for clarification. This is more serious and can significantly delay processing of the case.
After approval
While you are waiting for your hard copy, you should try and collect all documents required for concurrent processing to avoid delays. Pl see the forum on concurrent processing of I-140 and I-485 for more information:
http://boards.immigrationportal.com...&threadid=57200
Some Immigration Links
www.immigration-law.com
www.shusterman.com
www.visalaw.com
www.murthy.com
www.shihab.net
Please give me more suggestion to make this FAQ useful for anybody that needs it
