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Hello People, For the benefit of people stuck in Atlanta center, I have consolidated all the contact information and also drafted a letter that everyone can customize it. Please email and fax everyone on this list WITHOUT FAIL. PLEASE PLEASE CONTACT THEM NOW. We need to step up our efforts.

The Honorable Elaine L. Chao
Secretary of U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20210

Elaine Chao's email is: secretaryelainechao@dol.gov
Phone number: 202-693-6000
Fax number for Office of the Secretary: 202-693-6111
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U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Harris Tower
233 Peachtree Street, Suite 410
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: (404) 893-0101
Fax: (404) 893-4642
Email1: PLC.Atlanta@dol.gov
Email2: Perm.DFLC@dol.gov

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Key personnel at ETA
Assistant Secretary Emily Stover DeRocco (202) 693-2700
Deputy Assistant Secretary Douglas F. Small
Deputy Assistant Secretary Mason Bishop (202) 693-2700
Email: etapagemaster@dol.gov

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Dear Sir/Madam,

I want to bring to attention one issue that has never been looked into or addressed. This is related to labor certification process at the Atlanta PERM Processing Center. While lot of attention has been paid towards illegal immigration, no news channel or program has investigated the pains and frustration people have to go through while trying for employment based immigration. Currently there are 1000's of PERM applications pending at Atlanta PERM Processing Center, some dating as far as early part of 2006. There are people waiting for their labor applications (First stage towards attaining permanent residence) to be approved for more than a year.
Department of Labor (DOL) established PERM National Processing Centers for faster approval of labor applications last year but that seems to make the matters worse. While the Chicago Processing center seems to be processing applications in a timebound manner, the Atlanta center has followed its predecessor BEC's in processing applications. PERM Centers were established to process applications in 90 days, but there are 1000's of cases that have been pending for more than 6 months now. There is no visibility into the process, it is slow and makes life tough people who are here on an H1 or other work visas.

As a legal, tax-paying and productive members of society, many careers are stalled by this seemingly never ending unfair wait in the American legal immigration system and is very discouraging and possibly detrimental to the interest of the American global economy in the 21st century.

The DOS having released their monthly visa bulletin recently with all dates being current. It would make it absolutely necessary for us to be able to use this one time opportunity to submit the next stages of our immigration process. DOS has very clearly stated that they will retrogress the dates in the forthcoming visa bulletins.In this situation, it makes it even more necessary for us to be able to submit our applications. But we are all stuck in this black hole called the Atlanta PERM Processing Center.

I this regard, I would be very grateful if this issue can be addressed quickly. I would appreciate if you can request the Atlanta PERM processing center to start processing our labor applications in a timebound manner and also dedicate additional personnel to clear the backlogs. This would be of immense help to legal, tax-paying and law abiding members like us. Atleast then we will not be caught in a never ending cycle of waiting and uncertainty for us & our family members. Your prompt action would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

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