Key Points
- The DOL has extended the deadline for an RFI to update its Schedule A list
- The deadline has been extended to May 13, 2024
- The DOL seeks the public’s input on matters related to Schedule A occupations and labor shortages
- The RFI is part of the Biden administration’s initiative to draw skilled foreign talent to the US
Overview
The Department of Labor (DOL) has extended its initial Request for Information (RFI) deadline to revise its list of Schedule A occupations that don’t require permanent labor certification (PERM).
The RFI comment period deadline has now been extended from February 20, 2024, to May 13, 2024. The RFI’s intent is still the same. The DOL is seeking the public’s input on the data sources and methods utilized for determining if labor shortages exist, if Schedule A should be used to alleviate STEM occupation labor shortages, and if so, how the DOL can establish an objective, reliable, and transparent methodology for identifying STEM occupations experiencing labor shortages.
The DOL’s RFI is part of the Biden administration’s broader initiative, as stated in the Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence issued in October 2023, on drawing more high-skilled foreign talent to the US The executive order also aims to streamline immigration processes.
Looking Ahead
If the list of Schedule A occupations is revised, it will be the first modification to the list since 2004. The DOL welcomes the public’s input on updating and modernizing the list.
Written by: Lucy Halse, Content Marketing Associate, Envoy Global
Edited by: Frank Fogelbach, Supervising Attorney, Corporate Immigration Partners
Source: Federal Register
