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News Topical, Digital Desk : The US Department of Labor has restarted the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system, allowing individuals to apply for H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and PERM visas. This resumption will speed up US visa applications and help employers process visa applications for their foreign workers.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has resumed processing requests for labor certification determinations for temporary and permanent employment. This will help employers file new applications, monitor pending cases, and move pending cases toward a decision.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification has confirmed that the platform is up and running. With the system back online, the department has resumed processing requests for prevailing wage and labor certification determinations for both temporary and permanent employment.
In its announcement, the department said that the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC)'s Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system is now accessible and allows users to prepare and submit new applications as well as submit and receive information related to their applications until the final decision.
It also said that we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience until OFLC is back to full operational status.
What is OFLC?
The OFLC handles the labor certification process that U.S. employers must complete before hiring foreign workers under visa programs such as H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and PERM. Applications are processed through Flag Port, the official online system used to file applications, upload supporting documents, and monitor application status.
Will Indians get the benefit?
The portal is also linked to SeasonalJobs.dol.gov, which lists certified temporary positions under the H-2A and H-2B programs. Without OFLC approval, employers cannot proceed with employment-based visa petitions to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The reintroduction of the flag system will also benefit Indians applying for visas to travel to the United States.
Why was the system stopped earlier?
It's worth noting that processing was halted earlier this year due to the shutdown. This was caused by the end of federal funding, which led to a halt in various government operations. Around September 30th of this year, when the Department of Labor's allocation ran out, OFLC suspended its operations, and both the FLAG portal and SeasonalJobs.dol.gov went offline. Consequently, employers were unable to submit new applications or update existing ones.
Now that services have been restored, the OFLC has warned of delays in processing submitted applications, ET reported. With the FLAG portal back up and running, employers can resubmit labor condition applications for H-1B cases and PERM labor certifications. The department urged applicants to continue monitoring official OFLC channels for updates on system performance and processing timelines.
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