USCIS_GC_APPRO
Registered Users (C)
12/08/2005: DOL Notice of Special Procedures for Permanent Labor Certification Cases Affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma
DOL has published a notice that the DFLC centers for PERM applications and backlock elimination cases are handled under the special procedure as specified in this notice effective November 16, 2005. Today's official notice published in the federal register will supercede any previous messages posted in the DFLC websites. The employers, aliens, and their legal counsels who are involved should immediately follow these special procedures:
A. Mail delivery: Centers will not send correspondence to zip codes in the affected regions where there is either no mail service or partial mail service until a new address is provided by the employer or attorney in accordance with the instructions in this notice. Employers or their attorneys are asked to contact the Center with jurisdiction over each particular permanent labor certification case as follows: Katrina.dflc@phi.dflc.us for the Backlog Elimination Center in Philadelphia; Katrina.dflc@dal.dflc.us for the Backlog Elimination Center in Dallas; Katrina.dflcatlanta@dol.gov for the National National Processing Center in Chicago.The subject line of each e-mail should designate which hurricane(s) affected the application. E-mailed notices must include: the new mailing address to which correspondence should be forwarded, any new telephone and facsimile information, and sufficient information to identify each affected application(s), including the case number(s).
B. Extension of Due Dates: DFLC is extending deadlines for employer responses to Backlog Elimination Center (BEC)-issued 45-day letters (also known as continuation letters), BEC-issued Notices of Findings, National Processing Center (NPC)-issued audit requests, NPC requests for additional information, and employer appeals. In other words, any of these specifically listed application materials with a due date during the period described below will be considered timely if received by the appropriate Center by the date specified for each hurricane:
For Hurricane Katrina: If the specific deadlines listed above fall during the period from August 29, 2005, until December 1, 2005, the employer's submission will be considered timely if received by the appropriate NPC by December 1, 2005.
For Hurricane Rita: If the specific deadlines listed above fall during the period from September 23, 2005, until January 1, 2006, the employer's submission will be considered timely if received by the appropriate NPC by January 1, 2006.
For Hurricane Wilma: If the specific deadlines listed above fall during the period from October 24, 2005, until February 1, 2006, the employer's submission will be considered timely if received by the appropriate NPC by February 1, 2006.
These extensions apply even if the employer, attorney, or agent has relocated and resumed operations outside the disaster area.
C. PERM Filing Date Extension: DFLC is extending recruitment validity periods to allow employers or their attorneys located within a FEMA-designated disaster area (as defined above) to file their permanent labor certification application by seventy-five (75) days after the date of the last of the three hurricanes, so long as recruitment was begun within 180 days prior to the specific hurricane. The last of the three hurricanes, Wilma, hit on October 24, 2005, and 75 days after that date is January 7, 2006. The specific dates applicable to each hurricane are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recruitment must
have begun by (180 Filing must occur
Hurricane date days prior to by:
hurricane):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katrina--Aug. 29, 2005.......... March 2, 2005..... January 7, 2006.
Rita--Sept. 23, 2005............ March 27, 2005.... January 7, 2006.
Wilma--Oct. 24, 2005............ April 27, 2005.... January 7, 2006.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For details, please follow the instructions.
12/07/2005: Ongoing Negotiation on S.1932 by Legislative Leaders
Report indicates that House-Senate negotiators are nearing agreement on a $45 billion five-year savings target through an array of program cuts, pension premium increases and broadcast spectrum sales. The measure would move as a stand-alone "reconciliation" bill, which is not subject to filibuster in the Senate. House Budget Chairman Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, and other top lawmakers and staff expressed optimism the package could be completed this year. But major hurdles remain on how to reach $45 billion in savings, with drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and other programs still unresolved and casting doubt on the timetable set by GOP leaders. Senate Budget Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H., conceded that completing the deficit-cutting bill by Christmas was "problematic" but that progress might speed up once the Senate reconvenes next week.
Since the immigration packet is part of S.1932, its future depends on two movements: (1) Whether or not the conference committee will be able to revive the immigration packet in the conference final agreement and whether or not both House and Senate would pass such conference report. (2) More importantly, whether or not the whole bill, S. 1932 will be able to make it before the the year-end recess. The next week will mark a critical point in time to learn the answers to these questions.
DOL has published a notice that the DFLC centers for PERM applications and backlock elimination cases are handled under the special procedure as specified in this notice effective November 16, 2005. Today's official notice published in the federal register will supercede any previous messages posted in the DFLC websites. The employers, aliens, and their legal counsels who are involved should immediately follow these special procedures:
A. Mail delivery: Centers will not send correspondence to zip codes in the affected regions where there is either no mail service or partial mail service until a new address is provided by the employer or attorney in accordance with the instructions in this notice. Employers or their attorneys are asked to contact the Center with jurisdiction over each particular permanent labor certification case as follows: Katrina.dflc@phi.dflc.us for the Backlog Elimination Center in Philadelphia; Katrina.dflc@dal.dflc.us for the Backlog Elimination Center in Dallas; Katrina.dflcatlanta@dol.gov for the National National Processing Center in Chicago.The subject line of each e-mail should designate which hurricane(s) affected the application. E-mailed notices must include: the new mailing address to which correspondence should be forwarded, any new telephone and facsimile information, and sufficient information to identify each affected application(s), including the case number(s).
B. Extension of Due Dates: DFLC is extending deadlines for employer responses to Backlog Elimination Center (BEC)-issued 45-day letters (also known as continuation letters), BEC-issued Notices of Findings, National Processing Center (NPC)-issued audit requests, NPC requests for additional information, and employer appeals. In other words, any of these specifically listed application materials with a due date during the period described below will be considered timely if received by the appropriate Center by the date specified for each hurricane:
For Hurricane Katrina: If the specific deadlines listed above fall during the period from August 29, 2005, until December 1, 2005, the employer's submission will be considered timely if received by the appropriate NPC by December 1, 2005.
For Hurricane Rita: If the specific deadlines listed above fall during the period from September 23, 2005, until January 1, 2006, the employer's submission will be considered timely if received by the appropriate NPC by January 1, 2006.
For Hurricane Wilma: If the specific deadlines listed above fall during the period from October 24, 2005, until February 1, 2006, the employer's submission will be considered timely if received by the appropriate NPC by February 1, 2006.
These extensions apply even if the employer, attorney, or agent has relocated and resumed operations outside the disaster area.
C. PERM Filing Date Extension: DFLC is extending recruitment validity periods to allow employers or their attorneys located within a FEMA-designated disaster area (as defined above) to file their permanent labor certification application by seventy-five (75) days after the date of the last of the three hurricanes, so long as recruitment was begun within 180 days prior to the specific hurricane. The last of the three hurricanes, Wilma, hit on October 24, 2005, and 75 days after that date is January 7, 2006. The specific dates applicable to each hurricane are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recruitment must
have begun by (180 Filing must occur
Hurricane date days prior to by:
hurricane):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katrina--Aug. 29, 2005.......... March 2, 2005..... January 7, 2006.
Rita--Sept. 23, 2005............ March 27, 2005.... January 7, 2006.
Wilma--Oct. 24, 2005............ April 27, 2005.... January 7, 2006.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For details, please follow the instructions.
12/07/2005: Ongoing Negotiation on S.1932 by Legislative Leaders
Report indicates that House-Senate negotiators are nearing agreement on a $45 billion five-year savings target through an array of program cuts, pension premium increases and broadcast spectrum sales. The measure would move as a stand-alone "reconciliation" bill, which is not subject to filibuster in the Senate. House Budget Chairman Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, and other top lawmakers and staff expressed optimism the package could be completed this year. But major hurdles remain on how to reach $45 billion in savings, with drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and other programs still unresolved and casting doubt on the timetable set by GOP leaders. Senate Budget Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H., conceded that completing the deficit-cutting bill by Christmas was "problematic" but that progress might speed up once the Senate reconvenes next week.
Since the immigration packet is part of S.1932, its future depends on two movements: (1) Whether or not the conference committee will be able to revive the immigration packet in the conference final agreement and whether or not both House and Senate would pass such conference report. (2) More importantly, whether or not the whole bill, S. 1932 will be able to make it before the the year-end recess. The next week will mark a critical point in time to learn the answers to these questions.