Department of Labor released the latest updates on the BEC backlog processing in its AILA-DOL Liaison meeting minute of 9/12/2006 as follows:

Total cases received: 362,000

Completed cases: approximately 181,000. These cases are completed in the following fashions:
50%= Closed or Withdrawn or Closed for No Response to 45-Day Letters
50%= Either approved or denied

Pending Cases: approximately 176,000 (45-day letters for all of these pending cases with a few exceptions have been issued).

If an employ does not receive a “45-day” letter by July 21, 2006, the employer must send an inquiry to the BECs. The email addresses are as follows:

Dallas BEC: nobeccontact@dal.dflc.us
Philadelphia BEC: nobeccontact@phi.dflc.us

In the backlog elimination centers, once the vital information in an application is fully entered into the OFLC database, a 45-day letter is the precursor to further processing of that application. The letter functions both as notice to the employer that its application has come up for full processing in the queue, and as a request for confirmation from the employer or its representative that the employer wishes to continue the case. An employer must reply to this letter, otherwise, the BEC will close the case.

The inquiry must contain the following information:

• Attorney name and address
• Employer’s name and address
• Alien’s name and address
• Priority date
• State or regional location and/or number where case was originally filed

Please note: only email inquiries are accepted.