The U.S. Department of Labor has resumed processing employer requests for prevailing wages and labor certifications following a temporary halt caused by a federal funding lapse. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) confirmed that its Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system is now operational, allowing users to file new applications and track pending cases for both temporary and permanent employment programs including H-2A and H-2B.
This pause affected Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) related to H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 visas and PERM certifications, which are essential for employers hiring foreign workers. The federal government shutdown beginning late September 2025 caused operations to suspend, halting submissions and amendments until funding was restored.
Employers should expect slower processing times as the backlog is addressed, with some applications still pending review from early 2024. The OFLC has apologized for any inconvenience and asked stakeholders to be patient while services stabilize.
The FLAG system continues to serve as the official online portal facilitating labor certification application submissions, document uploads, and status checks. Employers rely on OFLC certification before petitioning the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to approve employment-based visa cases.
The resumption of operations brings critical relief to sectors dependent on skilled foreign labor such as technology, healthcare, and education, where Indian nationals constitute a majority of applicants.
