In July 2009 the Department of Labor unveiled its new "one-stop shop" for all immigration-related filings.  Known as iCert, this online portal is supposed to streamline the processing of all DOL components of immigration filings.  Labor condition applications (LCA's) for H-1B's were the first to be rolled out but other filings (H-2B's and eventually PERM) are also present or planned.

Unfortunately the system is buggy and its first few months of operation have resulted in tremendous headaches for employers, employees and attorneys alike.  For example, our firm dealt with the system arbitrarily dropping three digits out of the employer's identifying FEIN number, causing the system to deny the LCA on the basis that the employer's FEIN could not be verified! There are a myriad of problems, so many that the planned release of PERM through iCert, slated for September 2009, was put on hold.

The days of instant LCA approval are gone, so make sure to contact your lawyer early to ensure that there is enough time to obtain an approved LCA before the H-1B is filed.  With very,very limited exception, USCIS will not accept an H-1B without a properly approved LCA.