[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 3]
[Revised as of April 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR655.105]

[Page 485-486]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
 CHAPTER V--EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
 
PART 655_TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS IN THE UNITED STATES--Table of 
 
    Subpart B_Labor Certification Process for Temporary Agricultural 
 
Sec.  655.105  Recruitment period.

    (a) Notice of acceptance of application for consideration; required 
recruitment. If the OFLC Administrator determines that the H-2A 
application meets the requirements of Sec. Sec.  655.101-655.103 of this 
part, the OFLC Administrator shall promptly notify the employer (by 
means normally assuring next-day delivery) in writing with copies to the 
State agency. The notice shall inform the employer and the State agency 
of the specific efforts which will be expected from them during the 
following weeks to carry out the assurances contained in Sec.  655.103 
with respect to the recruitment of U.S. workers. The notice shall 
require that the job order be laced into intrastate clearance and into 
interstate clearance to such States as the OFLC Administrator shall 
determine to be potential sources of U.S. workers. The notice may 
require the employer to engage in positive recruitment efforts within a 
multi-State region of traditional or expected labor supply where the 
OFLC Administrator finds, based on current information provided by a 
State agency and such information as may be offered and provided by 
other sources, that there are a significant number of able and qualified 
U.S. workers who, if recruited, would likely be willing to make 
themselves available for work at the time and place needed. In making 
such a finding, the OFLC Administrator shall take into account other 
recent recruiting efforts in those areas and will attempt to avoid 
requiring employers to futilely recruit in areas where there are a 
significant number of local employers recruiting for U.S. workers for 
the same types of occupations. Positive recruitment is in addition to, 
and shall be conducted within the same time period as, the circulation 
through the interstate clearance system of an agricultural clearance 
order. The obligation to engage in such positive recruitment shall 
terminate on the date H-2A workers depart for the employer's place of 
work. In determining what positive recruitment shall be required, the 
OFLC Administrator will ascertain the normal recruitment practices of 
non-H-2A agricultural employers in the area and the kind and degree of 
recruitment efforts which the potential H-2A employer made to obtain H-
2A workers. The OFLC Administrator shall ensure that the effort, 
including the location(s) of the positive recruitment required of the 
potential H-2A employer, during the period after filing the application 
and before the date the H-2A workers depart their prior location to come 
to the place of employment, shall be no less than: (1) The recruitment 
efforts of non-H-2A agricultural employers of comparable or smaller size 
in the area of employment; and (2) the kind and degree of recruitment 
efforts which the potential H-2A employer made to obtain H-2A workers.
    (b) Recruitment of U.S. workers. After an application for temporary 
alien agricultural labor certification is accepted for processing 
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the OFLC Administrator shall 
provide overall direction to the employer and the SWA with respect to 
the recruitment of U.S. workers.
    (c) Modifications. At any time during the recruitment effort, the 
OFLC Administrator may require modifications to a job offer when the 
OFLC Administrator determines that the job offer

[[Page 486]]

does not contain all the provisions relating to minimum benefits, wages, 
and working conditions, required by Sec.  655.102(b) of this part. If 
any such modifications are required after an application has been 
accepted for consideration by the OFLC Administrator, the modifications 
must be made; however, the certification determination shall not be 
delayed beyond the 20 calendar days prior to the date of need as a 
result of such modification.
    (d) Final determination. By 20 calendar days before the date of need 
specified in the application, except as provided for under Sec. Sec.  
655.101(c)(2) and 655.104(e) of this part for untimely modified 
applications, the OFLC Administrator, when making a determination of the 
availability of U.S. workers, shall also make a determination as to 
whether the employer has satisfied the recruitment assurances in Sec.  
655.103 of this part. If the OFLC Administrator concludes that the 
employer has not satisfied the requirements for recruitment of U.S. 
workers, the OFLC Administrator shall deny the temporary alien 
agricultural labor certification, and shall immediately notify the 
employer in writing with a copy to the SWA. The notice shall contain the 
statements specified in Sec.  655.104(d) of this part.
    (e) Appeal procedure. With respect to determinations by the OFLC 
Administrator pursuant to this section, if the employer timely requests 
an expedited administrative review or a de novo hearing before an 
administrative law judge, the procedures in Sec.  655.112 of this part 
shall be followed.

[52 FR 20507, June 1, 1987, as amended at 71 FR 35519, June 21, 2006]