May 2006
Update on Backlog Elimination Cases
As discussed in a previous posting
regarding Backlog Elimination Cases, the DOL continues its
efforts in processing the 300,000 plus applications filed across
the nation under the old Alien Labor Certification program that
was in effect prior to March 23, 2005 when PERM was initiated.
At a meeting in March 2006, the DOL released the following
figures on Backlog Elimination Cases:
| Total Number of Applications Received |
363,000 |
| Total Cases Completed |
108,000 |
| Current Balance |
255,000 |
| Approximate Cases Certified |
50,000 |
Although these figures do not offer much hope in eliminating
the backlog of these long-awaited labor certification cases,
they may provide some relief in that they confirm that there are
thousands of cases still pending in the Backlog Centers and that
your case is not lost in the system. As we previously reported,
there does not appear to be a pattern to the order in which the
45 day letters are being issued, despite the pronouncements of
DOL Headquarters that the cases are being entered and processed
in chronological order. The DOL currently expects to complete
their data entry by June 30, 2006. Once full data entry is
complete for an application the 45 day letter is sent out. The
DOL has also indicated that it plans to complete the processing
and issuance of final decisions of these cases within 18 months
-- a goal that may not be attainable with their limited staffing
resources. Unfortunately, the DOL has not provided a mechanism
for checking the status of pending cases to date.
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