Labor Certification for Guest Workers

The Department of Labor published a notice in the Federal Register on Friday, March 2, publicizing dates for public meetings on the amendments to regulations governing the certification of temporary employment of nonimmigrant workers in temporary or seasonal non-agricultural employment.

The final regulations, published February 21, also created new regulations allowing for enhanced enforcement under the H-2B program requirements, and are scheduled to become effective on April 23, 2012. 

In advance of that effective date, the DOL has scheduled three webinars and one public briefing to educate interested parties on changes to the H-2B program made by the H-2B Final Rule, and on ways to apply for H-2B temporary labor certifications under the new regulations. The DOL hopes that the meetings will take place in March and early April, 2012, with a sole in-person briefing to be held at DOL in Washington, D.C. While the dates of informational sessions are subject to change and/or cancellation without further notice in the Federal Register, the DOL will post any changes related to the webinars on the Office of Foreign Labor Certification website http://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/, and will notify registered participants of any changes to the in-person briefing. Each webinar is limited to 200 concurrent participants, and participation will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will be able to log in approximately 30 minutes prior to the official start of the webinar.

Webinars are currently scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 14, from 1:30 PM–4:00 PM; on Tuesday, March 20, from 1:30 PM–4:00 PM; and on Tuesday, March 27, from 1:30 PM–4:00 PM. The in-person briefing is scheduled for April 17, from 10:00 AM–3.00 PM. All times listed are Eastern Standard Time.