The Department of Labor (DOL) recently provided the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA) with a score of information regarding the PERM filing system. The following is an overview of that dialogue:
Denials :: Many cases received a “denial” when individuals checked the automated case status system online. While many individuals wondered if there was some systemic error at the DOL, these cases were indeed denied. The PERM system has many rules and will immediately deny a PERM application if these rules are not strictly adhered to. Some of these rules, according to AILA, are as follows:
The prevailing wage determination was dated prior to March 8, 2005. Only PWDs dated March 8 or after can be used. The SWA job order must have been for at least 30 days. Many individuals received denials because their job order fell on February, a month with only 28 days. You must wait at least 30 days after the end of the recruitment period before submitting this application
Registration ::The DOL verifies each employer that tries to register for PERM. Originally, this process happened efficiently and employers received PIN numbers/passwords in days and sometimes hours. However, an increased number of employers are registering and, therefore, it now takes about two weeks to receive a PIN number/password. In addition, many employers, feeling that their registration did not officially go through, are registering multiple times, further worsening the situation.
If, for some reason, the DOL requests further information to verify the employer’s existence, employers should keep in mind the following:
Make sure your company’s headquarter address is used as the “company address” The address where the beneficiary will work can be included in a separate, appropriate box.
Try not to do business as DBA names. Instead, utilize the company’s legal name.
If your company has several Employer Identification Numbers (EIN), use the one your company had when it filed its articles of incorporation.
Filing :: Certain problems have also arrived in regards to filing the PERM application. DOL suggests that when searching for case status, individuals note the letter prefix of the case. During draft status, the case is assigned the prefix “T” (for temporary). When submitted, the prefix changes to the first letter of the Center where the application will be reviewed (e.g.: “A” for Atlanta). Further, when you are preparing the application, you can save drafts at each step. When you are complete, make sure to officially submit the application. If you’re unsure if you’ve submitted, check the application’s case status for assurance. And finally, if your system times out during the application preparation, that may be due to a problem with your web browser. DOL has seen this happen with the AOL browser; however, the problem does not happen with more common browsers like Internet Explorer.
Good luck, and please get in touch with our firm. We specialize in assisting clients with PERM applications and can ensure that these problems do not happen in the future.