Since some people asked about the NOF I received, I am giving the details of the same.
First let me thank Saknia and Rollingstone and BerkeleyBee from IV for the timely and earnest inputs they gave when I asked for help.
My labor is applied for Computer Programmer position (030.162-010) requiring BS/BE plus 5 years of experience.
DOL's contention is that the "combined educational and work experience requirements exceeds the prescribed SVP for the position". For DOL, "according to DOT, the SVP for computer programmer is of 7 or over 2 years up to an including 4 years of combine experience, education and training." (Can you believe this? 2 to 4 years of edu + exp + training!! There's only one guy who could do with 2-4 years of edu+exp, and now he also demands highly educated and experienced people to work for him)
To rebut,
DOL asked us to prove "that the requirement arises from a business necessity by demonstrating that the job bears a reasonable relationship to the occupation in the context of employer's business and is essential to perform the job duties in a reasonable manner ( and prove that the position can not be performed by an individual who possesses the qualifications normally required for proficiency)
AND
prove that the job as currently described existed before the alian was hired and was previously filled with the same duties and requirements before the alian was hired."
(Bear with me for long message as most of this is verbatim from the notice)
The DOL gave an option, in lieu of rebuttal, "of reducing the requirements to DOT standard by amending the application. It said if further recruitment is required, DOL will advise us". It asked not to do re-advertisement on our own.
To rebutt the notice, I submitted reference letters from my managers and directors at my clients (past and present) giving details of the requirements (edu + exp + skills) and duties I performed for them and the reasons of why they need a candidate having minimum 5 years of experience and that I performed my duties to their satisfaction. All 3 of my clients are Fortune 500 companies and the projects I worked/working on are mission critical projects.
My company also submitted the resumes and H1 petition details of someone who worked in similar position as mine before I joined the company. Also mentioned is that the skills required are of specialized and advanced level and can not be learned on job or trained in reasonable amout of time.
Now, I am awaiting the decision from PBEC.
Everything bad that can happen to LC has happened to my case:
1)My company applied LC as non-RIR.
2)It went to PBEC.
3)Case was closed even though 45 DL was replied in time.
4)Got NOF for business necessity.
I only hope the the final decision is good and in my favour.
The dumb lawyer, while preparing LC app, asked about my edu, years of experience and skills. I gave her as I would give in any resume. She just copy pasted it on the LC app. Took the money from company but added no legal value to the application and now I am facing problems. My company has fired her now, but we still have to fight the mess she created.
Gurus here, can you please tell me your gut feel about my case. Does it hold water?
My 7 yr extension depends on this LC.
Let me know.