01 Apr 2020
OFLC Temporarily Suspends Mail Processing at Chicago, Atlanta
"OFLC Temporarily Suspends Daily Mail Processing at Atlanta and Chicago National Processing Centers, Urges Employers to File Documents Electronically.
On March 20, 2020, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker directed all individuals currently living in the State of Illinois to stay at home or at their place of residence, which currently extends through April 7, 2020. On March 23, 2020, City of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, directed all individuals living in the territorial jurisdictional limits of the city of Atlanta to stay at their place of residence, effective March 24, 2020.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification has temporarily suspended daily mail processing at its Atlanta and Chicago National Processing Centers (NPCs) in order to protect the health and safety of its staff and help slow the spread of COVID-19. OFLC will monitor mail delivered to its NPCs once a week to ensure that time-sensitive documents are processed.
The Atlanta and Chicago NPCs continue to electronically process and issue labor certifications that meet all statutory and regulatory requirements under the federal government's maximum telework flexibilities operating status.
OFLC strongly encourages all employers (and their authorized attorneys or agents) to use the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) and PERM electronic filing systems for filing new applications and uploading responsive documents on applications currently under review. Alternatively, employers and their authorized attorneys or agents may file applications and responsive documentation using email at the following addresses: TLC.Chicago@dol.gov (Chicago NPC) and PLC.Atlanta@dol.gov (Atlanta NPC). See the COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions, Round 1, issued on March 20, 2020, for more information."