On 9 July the Department of Labor quietly pushed a new software release to the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG). Release notes show two practical upgrades: prevailing-wage (PW) filers can now upload a single response that satisfies multiple Requests for Information (RFIs) on the same case, and CW-1 employers in the Northern Mariana Islands can request automatic extensions for Recruitment Reports and Notices of Deficiency. While technical, the changes matter for high-volume users of the PW system—particularly IT consulting firms and universities that file hundreds of ETA-9141s annually. Under the old design, each RFI required a separate PDF upload, spawning version-control problems and missed deadlines. The consolidated workflow should cut administrative time and reduce inadvertent denials. Equally important for corporate mobility is the knock-on effect on green-card timelines. Faster PW determinations allow employers to file PERM applications sooner, helping to secure immigrant-visa priority dates before further retrogression. DOL says it will monitor system stability over the next two weeks; users experiencing glitches should clear browser caches and submit screenshots via the FLAG help desk. Given that USCIS premium-processing fees now top $2,805, any savings upstream in the labor-certification process are welcome. Companies should update internal SOPs and train paralegals on the new upload screen to avoid delays.
Source: AILA release notes summary
