Electronic issuance of PERM labor certifications extended through September

Electronic issuance of PERM labor certification documents will be extended through September because of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an announcement by the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) today.

Key points:

• The National Processing Center will continue to issue PERM labor certification documents electronically to employers and their attorneys or agents through Sept. 30, 2020.
• Under the temporary measures, employers and their authorized agents will receive the certified Form ETA-9089 and Final Determination letter via email. If they are unable to receive them by email, the documents will be sent via UPS regular delivery (two to eight days depending on location).
• The form must be printed, then signed and dated by the employer, the employee and the preparer, if applicable, before the immigrant petition is filed. The OFLC announcement states that USCIS may consider the printed and signed form as evidence of an original labor certification issued by the Labor Department.

Additional information: Employers should make sure that the email address for the National Processing Center (plc.atlanta@dol.gov) is added to their address book and safe listed to avoid emails containing PERM documents from being blocked or sent to their spam folders.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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