The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC), a component of the U.S. Department of Labor, announced earlier this month the implementation of a new “one-stop visa portal system” called the iCERT System, to improve employer access to employment-based visa and green card services.

Beginning April 15, 2009, employers or their authorized representatives will be able to register with the iCERT System and establish a single account to file the new ETA Form 9035E – Labor Condition Application (LCA) – covering the H-1B, and PERM programs.

Although the iCERT System is effective today, the OFLC has implemented a transition period that will allow employers, their agents and attorneys continued access to the current LCA and PERM systems to check the status of pending applications.