After a month-long pause caused by a funding issue, the US Department of Labor (DOL) has finally resumed processing applications for both temporary and permanent work programs.
The disruption, which began around September 30, affected major industries like tech, healthcare, finance, and research—many of which rely heavily on foreign professionals.
This move comes as welcome news for thousands of skilled workers, especially Indian professionals, who form a large part of the H-1B visa workforce.
Key Systems Are Back Online
According to a notice shared by the DOL, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) systems are now fully operational.
The Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) portal has also been restored, allowing employers to:
File new Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for H-1B visas
Track pending applications
Submit Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) certification cases
Resume prevailing wage requests
These steps are essential to the US employment-based immigration system, helping ensure that hiring foreign workers does not harm job opportunities or wages for American employees.
Delays Expected Despite Restart
While processing has resumed, applicants have been warned to expect longer waiting times.
The DOL reported a large backlog, with some PERM applications from early 2024 still unresolved by mid-2025.
Employers and workers faced major challenges during the downtime, unable to submit or update applications—worsening existing delays.
The department acknowledged the issue, saying, “Stakeholders may experience longer-than-normal processing and response times… We apologise for any inconvenience.”
Big Relief for Indian Professionals
Indian nationals, who make up nearly 70% of H-1B visa holders, are expected to benefit the most from this update.
Since US tech companies depend heavily on Indian talent, the restart of processing marks an important step toward stability.
With the OFLC systems back to full strength, both employers and skilled professionals are hoping for faster clearances and smoother operations in the months ahead.
