Originally Posted by
eaglenow
1. There is specific statute about long pending adjustment applications, which explicitly specifies that once 485 stays pending beyond 180 days, the certification will continue to be valid for same or similar jobs. So they cannot revoke certifications for pending 485.
2. For others, it is certainly gray area, but as mentioned by the lawyer above, it can be challenged as the previous regulation stipulates that labor cert is valid for 180 days for filing 140 and expires after that IF 140 is not filed by that time. But there is no regulation that states that labor will expire after filing 140 within the 180 day window. This is due to how the statute is interpreted through current regulations. But one caveat is the “at the time of filing and admission” in statute. This is reason for 140 time window from labor. If they change this to 485 filing, it would get murky.
But doing so now is basically reversing previous regulation. They have to consider the impact of this and evaluate the same similar to reasoning of DACA. This is basically reversing of rules with retroactive effect. This can be done but will be challenged in court.
3. What they can do is enable this for future filings and labor. Again it may be challenged but the impact is not retroactive, which may or may not be turned down by courts.
4. What they can do is rework wage levels to 3 instead of 4, this will in turn raise the average wage.
5. Another provision they could implement is rise in wage level commensurate with experience. So if filed in level 1 for first time, the next extension could force level 2 and so on. If not force a labor test.
There are a few other remote scenarios. But in a nutshell, I think 1 is no go, 2 very difficult, if not impossible, 3 is difficult but possible, will be challenged in court, 4 and 5 pretty likely with 5 kinds stretching it.
The other scenario could be based on wage levels, they can determine whether to recertify.
All of these are speculations, but With this admin anything goes. We can only hope US will remain fair and not do things retroactively.