DOL Issues Clarifications to Non-Substantive Application Form Changes in the H-2A and H-2B Programs
From the DOL website:
December 21, 2018. Clarifications to Non-Substantive Application Form Changes in the H-2A and H-2B Programs.
The Employment and Training Administration's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) is issuing clarifications to the non-substantive changes to application forms for temporary labor certification under the H-2A and H-2B programs. The below Frequently Asked Questions are intended to provide employers with assistance in completing Section H, items H.6a, H.6b, and/or H.6c, before the application can be submitted.
QUESTION: I am a small employer that does not maintain a website where U.S. workers can apply for my job opportunities. Can I comply with the collection requirements in Section H.6.c, Forms ETA-9142A and 9142B, by entering the website of the State Workforce Agency (SWA) where I placed my job opportunity for recruiting U.S. workers?
ANSWER: Yes. The general instructions for Section H.6.c, Forms ETA-9142A and 9142B, require the employer to provide a website address where U.S. workers can apply, or enter "N/A" where no website address is available. The employer is also required to use a valid format when entering the website address, and the general instructions identify a number of valid website address suffixes, including those covering government agencies. Because employers are required by regulation to place job orders with the SWA and place other advertisements directing applicants to apply for the job opportunity at the nearest SWA in the states in which their advertisements appear, and include contact information for the relevant SWA in their advertisements, the employer may enter the website address of the SWA where the job opportunity is posted in Section H.6.c. Employers are reminded to report SWA referrals of qualified and available U.S. workers on their recruitment reports.
QUESTION: I am completing my application and usually do not include a phone number, email address, or website address for the State Workforce Agency (SWA) job order. Do I need to edit my job order to include the same information in Sections H.6.a, H.6.b., and H.6.c.?
ANSWER: No. The Department will review the application along with the SWA job order and issue a Notice of Deficiency (NOD) where the employer or their authorized agents or attorneys provide contact information (e.g., phone, email, web site) that is different from that provided on the SWA job order. For instance, if the employer or its authorized agent or attorney provides a phone number and email address as its contact information on the SWA job order where U.S. workers can apply, and the information submitted on the Forms ETA-9142A or 9142B is different, a NOD will be issued to provide the employer with an opportunity to correct the discrepancy. However, if an employer or its authorized agent or attorney provides other methods of contact information on the SWA job order, such as a fax number and physical address, the Department will not issue a NOD but will view this as additional methods for U.S. workers to apply for the job.