Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements

DOL Posts Notice Regarding Non-Substantive Form Changes to iCERT Data Collection in H-2A/H-2B Programs

From the DOL website:

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED: December 17, 2018. Non-Substantive Form Changes to iCERT Data Collection in the H-2A and H-2B Programs.

Important Notice:
Employers that have prepared cases in iCERT, but have not yet submitted them, will need to login to iCERT and complete Section H, items H.6a, H.6b, and/or H.6c, before the application can be submitted. If two of the three items are not completed, employers will not be able to submit their application.

The Employment and Training Administration's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) will be implementing non-substantive changes to application forms for temporary labor certification under the H-2A and H-2B programs. These changes are intended to offer greater assistance to prospective U.S. workers applying for job opportunities. Employers that have prepared cases in iCERT, but have not yet submitted them, will need to take additional actions on their application.

Beginning on and after December 20, 2018, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, OFLC will implement non-substantive changes to Section H, items H.6a, H.6b, and H.6c, on the Forms ETA-9142A and ETA-9142B. These changes have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget.

Specifically, the revised application forms require collection of the following information related to recruiting U.S. workers for the employer's job opportunity: (1) a phone number where U.S. workers can apply, (2) an email address where U.S. workers can apply, and (3) a website address where U.S. workers can apply. As per the instructions, an employer must provide a minimum of two of the three categories of information through which prospective U.S. workers can contact the employer and apply for the job opportunity.

The revised forms and instructions will be available on December 19, 2018. Stakeholders can access a copy of the form instructions and revised Forms ETA-9142A and ETA-9142B here.