November 3, 2005

DOL Offers Explanation of the BEC Processing Procedures

The Department of Labor (DOL) has put forth an explanation to the public to its procedures for processing labor certification applications pending at the Backlog Elimination Centers (BEC’s) and ETA regional offices. Though First in First Out (FIFO) procedures are followed in processing the applications, various factors affect the time period that an application will be processed. Basically, cases with earlier priority dates may be processed later than newer applications and cases with same priority dates will be processed at different times based on a number of factors including: Reduction in Recruitment cases will be processed before a Traditional Labor Certification; applications further in the recruitment process, which usually includes those coming from the region as opposed to the state may be processed faster ; the dates of other applications pending at the center, which are placed within the FIFO queue; the quality of the applications (those with less questions or problems are easier to finalize ); and finally the time it takes the employer or agent to respond to confirmation requests to continue processing the application.