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.

OFLC to Issue Electronic PERM Labor Certifications in Response to COVID-19

March 24, 2020

Beginning March 25, 2020, and through June 30, 2020, the Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification will send approved permanent labor certifications by email, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After receiving the certified Form ETA-9089 by email, the form must be printed, and

Coronavirus Critical Resources

March 27, 2020

COVID-19 Update from Esther D. Brimmer, NAFSA CEO & Executive Director Recorded March 12, 2020 Following the release of this video the U.S. travel ban was extended to include the United Kingdom and Ireland. NAFSA has assembled these resource links to help you navigate issues arising from the 2019

Key Takeaways from the November 5, 2019 DOL OFLC Stakeholder Meeting

Top Takeaways from the Department of Labor Stakeholder Meeting on November 5, 2019 OFLC is aware of the various issues that employers, and especially institutions of higher education, have encountered in using the new FLAG system when filing LCAs, including the incorrect wage data for several SOC

Pre-Registration Requirement for Cap-Subject H-1B Petitioners

On January 31, 2019, DHS published a final rule governing petitions filed on behalf of H-1B beneficiaries who may be counted toward the 65,000 H-1B cap (regular cap) or the 20,000 beneficiaries with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions of higher education who are eligible for an exemption from

OSTP Letter to Academic Institutions on Plans for Campus Meetings on Research Security and Other Topics

In a September 16, 2019 letter to academic institutions, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) said, "During the next few months, OSTP will be holding meetings at academic institutions across the Nation to converse with researchers and students on matters of research

Timeline for Use of FLAG System to File LCAs

On September 5, 2019, the Department of Labor's Office of Alien Labor Certification (OFLC) announced on their website the timeline for implementation of filing the Form ETA-9035 Labor Condition Application (LCA) in the DOL's FLAG system, and the phasing out of filing LCAs in iCert. OFLC Announces

Key Takeaways from the May 16, 2019 DOL OFLC Stakeholder Meeting

Top Takeaways from the Department of Labor Stakeholder Meeting on May 16, 2019 A new system for filing with DOL is here: the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG). Starting Monday, June 10, applications for Prevailing Wage Determinations will only be accepted through FLAG Due to the transition

Model Staffing: Evaluating Your Office Structure and Effectiveness

March 23, 2020

International education managers are tasked with thinking strategically to meet organization-wide expectations while sustaining a customer-centric office environment.

STEM OPT WashTech Litigation

December 3, 2019

The Washington Alliance of Technology Workers (WashTech) filed suit against both the standard 12-month OPT rule and the 24-month STEM OPT rule, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, raising many of the same substantive issues WashTech had brought up in the suit they filed against