District Court Grants Extension to DOL for H-2B Program

On April 15, 2015, the federal district court in the Northern District of Florida issued an order effectively allowing the Department of Labor (DOL) to continue issuing temporary labor certifications under the H-2B visa program through May 15, 2015. As a result, DOL will continue to process temporary labor certification applications under its 2008 H-2B regulations through May 15, 2015.

On March 4, the court vacated DOL’s 2008 H-2B regulations on the grounds that DOL lacks authority to issue regulations in the H-2B program. DOL and the Department of Homeland Security are working on regulations “to minimize future interruptions to the H-2B program,” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said.