ImmigrationVoice.org

What are Backlog Centers and What is Happening There?

Why is my Application Being Processed by a Backlog Processing Center?

Labor certification applications that are being filed now follow a new process called PERM. Over 300,000 applications filed under the old process were transferred to Backlog Processing Centers.

DOL-ETA has established two (2) Backlog Processing Centers in accordance with an interim final rule published in the Federal Register on July 21, 2004. The rule allows consolidation of state and Federal functions of the application review process into centralized locations.

What's Happening With My Application for Alien Employment Certification for Permanent Employment in the United States?

As part of the effort to improve the processing of permanent labor certification applications, Permanent cases from the Regional Offices and the State Workforce Agencies were transferred to the DOL-ETA Backlog Processing Centers. The centers will issue a "45-day letter" to the employer. The letter will ask the employer if it wishes to continue with the processing of the application. Additionally, the letter will inform the employer if any information from the application is missing. The employer will be given 45 days from the date of the letter to respond. If the employer fails to respond, the application will be closed. The respective backlog center will then adjudicate and make a final determination on the labor certification.

Which Backlog Processing Center has my application?

Which Backlog Processing Center has your application depends upon the area of intended employment for the job opportunity identified in the Permanent application.

Philadelphia Backlog Processing Center
If the area of intended employment is in the following states or territories, questions should be directed to the Philadelphia Processing Center at the address listed below:

Alabama

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Kentucky

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Mississippi

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Vermont

Virgin Islands

Virginia

Washington DC

West Virginia

U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
1 Belmont Avenue, Suite 200
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Phone: (484) 270-1500
Fax: (484) 270-1600

Dallas Backlog Processing Center
If the area of intended employment is in the following states or territories, questions should be directed to the Dallas Processing Center at the address listed below:

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Guam

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Louisiana

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Mexico

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

South Dakota

Texas

Utah

Washington

Wisconsin

Wyoming

U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
700 North Pearl St., Suite 400N
Dallas, Texas 75201
Phone: (214) 237-9111
Fax: (214) 237-9135