January 18, 2005

ETA REGIONAL INFORMATION ALERT 030-05

ORIGINATING OFFICE: Region 5

SUBJECT: Notices, Rules and Comment Requests – Foreign Labor Certification

PROGRAM(S): Labor Certification

1. Purpose. To transmit recent notices, rules and comment requests for the labor certification process for permanent and temporary employment of alien workers in the United States.

2. References. Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 228, November 29, 2004, p. 69412 (Dallas and Philadelphia Office Relocation); Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 5, January 7, 2005, pp. 1473-1474 (Atlanta and Chicago Office Relocation); Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 250, December 30, 2004, pp. 78480-78481 (Comment Request); Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 225, November 23, 2004, pp. 68222-68229 (Interim Final Rule for H-1B and H-1B1); Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 247, December 27, 2004, pp. 77326-77421 (Final Rule PERMs); 20 CFR Parts 655 and 656; United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Chile FTA) [Pub.L. 108-77, 117 Stat. 948 (September 3, 2003)]; United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreements Implementation Act (Singapore FTA) [Pub.L. 108-78, 117 stat. 948 (September 3, 2003)]; Immigration and Nationality Act; Executive Orders 12866 and 13132; Regulatory Flexibility Act; Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995; Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996; Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

3. Links. This Alert is in the Regional Resources website archive at: http://www.doleta.gov/regions/regionalresources/

Link to the Federal Register attachment on Relocation to Dallas and Philadelphia (.pdf)

Link to the Federal Register attachment on Relocation to Atlanta and Chicago (.pdf)

Link to the Federal Register attachment on ETA-9016 Comments (.pdf)

Link to the Federal Register attachment on the Interim Final Rule for H-1B and H-1B1 Applications (.pdf)

Link to the Federal Register attachment on the Final Rule for PERM Applications (.pdf)

4. Substance. This Information Alert transmits links to notices concerning:

a. the relocation of Regional Office foreign labor certification staff to Backlog Processing Centers in Dallas and Philadelphia;

b. the relocation of Regional Office foreign labor certification staff to National Processing Centers in Atlanta and Chicago;

c. a request for public comment on ETA Form 9016, Report on Alien Claimant Activity;

d. the Interim Final Rule for H-1B and H-1B1 applications; and

e. the Final Rule for Permanent applications.

5. Action. Program administrators are requested to share this Information Alert with appropriate staff and other agencies.

6. Contact. Comments or questions about labor certification may be directed to the appropriate Foreign Labor Certification Processing Office:

Atlanta National Processing Center – 404.893.0101
Philadelphia Backlog Processing Center – 484.270.1500
Chicago National Processing Center – 312.886.8000
Dallas Backlog Processing Center – 214.237.9111

Comments or questions about the format of this Alert may be directed to Tom Coyne on 312.596.5435.

7. Expiration Date. Continuing

8. Attachments.

Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 228, November 29, 2004, p. 69412 (Dallas and Philadelphia Backlog Processing Centers)

Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 5, January 7, 2005, pp. 1473-1474 (Atlanta and Chicago National Processing Centers)

Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 250, December 30, 2004, pp. 78480-78481 (Comment Request);

Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 225, November 23, 2004, pp. 68222-68229 (Interim Final Rule for H-1B and H-1B1)

Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 247, December 27, 2004, pp. 77326-77421 (Final Rule for Permanent Applications)