The US Department of Labor has restarted the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system, allowing applications for H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and PERM visas.
This move will speed up US visa processing and help employers manage applications for their foreign workers more efficiently.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has also resumed processing labor certification determinations for both temporary and permanent employment.
Employers can now file new applications, monitor pending cases, and move them toward a decision.
FLAG System Now Fully Operational
The OFLC has confirmed that the FLAG platform is up and running again.
With the system restored, the department has resumed processing prevailing wage requests and labor certification determinations.
According to the department’s announcement, users can now:
Prepare and submit new applications
Submit and receive updates related to their applications
Track their cases until a final decision
The department also apologized for any inconvenience caused during the downtime and thanked applicants for their patience until the OFLC reached full operational capacity.
Understanding the Role of OFLC
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) is responsible for managing the labor certification process that US employers must complete before hiring foreign workers under programs such as H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and PERM.
All applications are handled through the FLAG portal, where employers can:
File and track applications
Upload required documents
Check the status of ongoing cases
Benefits for Indian Applicants
The FLAG system is connected to SeasonalJobs.dol.gov, which lists certified temporary positions under the H-2A and H-2B programs.
Employers cannot proceed with employment-based visa petitions to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) without OFLC approval.
The reactivation of the FLAG portal will also benefit Indian applicants, making it easier to apply for US work visas.
Why Was the System Halted Earlier?
Earlier this year, the processing was temporarily stopped due to a federal government shutdown caused by the end of federal funding.
When the Department of Labor’s budget allocation expired around September 30, the OFLC suspended its operations, leading to the shutdown of both the FLAG portal and
SeasonalJobs.dol.gov.As a result, employers couldn’t submit new applications or update existing ones during that period.
Possible Delays After Restart
Now that services have resumed, the OFLC has warned of possible delays in processing applications.
Employers can now resubmit labor condition applications for H-1B cases and PERM labor certifications.
The department has advised applicants to monitor official OFLC channels for the latest updates on system performance and processing timelines.
