[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 58961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-22059]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Supplemental Guidance for Labor Certification Process for 
Temporary Employment of Nonimmigrant Workers in the United States (H-2B 
Workers); Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Department of 
Labor (DOL).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On March 10, 2004, the United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services (CIS) announced receiving sufficient H-2B 
petitions to reach the FY 2004 Congressionally mandated cap of 66,000. 
In light of CIS' announcement, ETA published a Federal Register notice 
on May 13, 2004 to provide guidance to the public regarding ETA's 
processing of H-2B applications that will count against the FY 2005 
cap. ETA is publishing this notice to provide additional guidance due 
to the number of inquiries and questions that have arisen. This notice 
is intended to minimize confusion and burden to employers who use the 
H-2B program.

DATES: This notice is effective October 1, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Carlson, Chief, Division of 
Foreign Labor Certification, U.S. Department of Labor, Room C-4312, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: 202-693-3010 
(this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOL has continued to process alien labor 
certification applications since March 10, 2004, and many employers are 
in possession of a valid labor certification that has not been accepted 
by CIS for processing. CIS has advised that their practice has been to 
accept the H-2B labor certifications with periods of employment that 
cross fiscal years so long as some portion of the employment period 
remains. Employers with a valid H-2B labor certification with a date of 
need prior to October 1, 2004, but that includes periods of planned 
employment after October 1, 2004, are encouraged to file H-2B labor 
certifications with CIS if some portion of the employment period 
remains.
    ETA will continue to process new H-2B applications with dates of 
need within FY 2005 (that is, starting October 1, 2004 or later). For 
these new applications, employers must continue to follow existing 
filing rules, including regarding the timing of filing with the State 
Workforce Agency (SWA). Thus, employers must file a new H-2B 
application with the appropriate SWA no earlier than 120 days before 
the date of need and at least 60 days before the date of need.
    The procedures described in this notice relate only to H-2B 
applications for nonimmigrant workers subject to the numerical 
limitation (cap) for FY 2005 and who will be engaged in temporary work 
to commence on or after October 1, 2004.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 28th day of September, 2004.
Emily Stover DeRocco,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-22059 Filed 9-30-04; 8:45 am]
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