International Faculty, Staff, Researchers

OFLC Stakeholder Engagements

Links to summaries and key takeaways from public stakeholder meetings conducted by the Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC), prepared by the NAFSA ISSRP EB subcommittee.

Amendments to 8 CFR 214.2(h) Effective December 7, 2020

On October 8, 2020, DHS published an interim final rule at 85 FR 63918 (October 8, 2020) titled Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program. The rule is effective on December 7, 2020. Changes include revised definitions of and standards for a "specialty occupation" and "employer

Recent Employment-Based Changes and Proposals

November 24, 2020

In the final quarter of 2020 we see a number of rule making initiatives by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) that impact the H-1B specialty occupation category and to a certain extent the PERM labor certification process: On October 8, 2020, both DHS and DOL

DOL Interim Final Rule on OES and Prevailing Wage Determinations

November 12, 2020

On October 8, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) published an interim final rule (IFR) titled Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States. The rule changes how DOL computes Level I through Level IV wage rates when it uses

Proposed Revisions to Permanent Labor Certification Forms

September 10, 2020

On July 20, 2020, the Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) posted a news item regarding public comment on proposed changes to the ETA 9089 permanent labor certification (PERM) form. Comments are due by September 18, 2020. Read NAFSA's comment letter (September 10, 2020)

Proclamation Suspending Entry of Certain H, J, and L Nonimmigrants

November 20, 2020

On June 22, 2020, the president issued Proclamation 10052 titled Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak, that went into effect at at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 24, 2020. A June 29, 2020 amendment clarifies

USCIS Policy Memo Rescinds Prior Memos on Third-Party Placements, Contracts and Itineraries

In a June 17, 2020 policy memorandum (USCIS PM-602-0114), USCIS rescinded the following policy memoranda and issued updated policy guidance in their place: Determining Employer-Employee Relationship for Adjudication of H-1B Petitions, Including Third-Party Site Placements (Reference AFM Chapter 31.3

OFLC Announces Migration of Website to New Domain

On June 3, 2020, the Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification announced that in July it will move the OFLC website to a new domain. The OFLC news item is reproduced below. June 3, 2020. OFLC Announces Migration of Website to New Domain. Please be advised that the Office of Foreign

OFLC Will Permanently Issue Electronic PERM Labor Certifications

October 15, 2020

On March 25, 2020, the Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification began sending approved permanent labor certifications by email, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 25, 2020, OFLC "announced that it is permanently adopting the electronic issuance of PERM labor

Coronavirus Critical Resources

October 22, 2020

NAFSA has assembled these resource links to help you navigate issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.