VSVisaSignalOfficial filing intelligence

LCA case status

LCA case status check — what each LCA status means

An LCA (Labor Condition Application) case status is a Department of Labor determination — Certified, Certified - Withdrawn, Withdrawn, or Denied — published in the public OFLC disclosure data. This page explains each value, how a DOL LCA status differs from a USCIS H-1B case status, and how to look one up.

VisaSignal is not a live case tracker. It reflects the public DOL OFLC disclosure snapshot, which DOL releases each federal fiscal-year quarter — it is not a real-time, receipt-number status API. For a live, case-specific H-1B petition status, use the official USCIS Case Status Online tool.

Search LCA & PERM recordsSource statusUSCIS Case Status Online

LCA case-status values last verified against the DOL OFLC LCA disclosure record layout and flag.dol.gov/programs/LCA.

Status values

The four DOL LCA case-status values, explained

Every LCA row in the DOL OFLC disclosure data carries one of these CASE_STATUS values. They describe the outcome of the Department of Labor step only, not an H-1B petition decision.

Official CASE_STATUS field
Certified
DOL certified the Labor Condition Application. The employer may now use it to support an H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 petition. Certification is a DOL wage-and-attestation step — it does not by itself mean a visa was petitioned, approved, or that the worker was hired.
Certified - Withdrawn
The LCA was certified by DOL and then withdrawn by the employer, usually because the role, worksite, or plan changed. The certification existed but is no longer being used.
Withdrawn
The employer withdrew the LCA before a final DOL determination, so it was never certified for use. Common when a filing is superseded or the position does not move forward.
Denied
DOL denied certification — for example because of an incomplete filing or an attestation problem. A denied LCA cannot support a petition.

DOL vs USCIS

An LCA status is not a USCIS petition status

The LCA and the H-1B petition are two separate steps at two different agencies, filed in sequence. Reading the LCA status as an approved visa is the most common mix-up — here is where each one lives.

Two agencies, two steps
The LCA is the DOL step

The Labor Condition Application (Form ETA-9035/9035E) is filed with the Department of Labor before the H-1B petition. Its case status — Certified, Certified - Withdrawn, Withdrawn, or Denied — is a DOL determination about wage and working-condition attestations, published in the public OFLC disclosure files.

The H-1B petition is the USCIS step

After the LCA is certified, the employer files the H-1B petition (Form I-129) with USCIS. That petition gets its own receipt number and its own status — Received, Case Was Approved, Request for Evidence, and so on — tracked on the official USCIS Case Status Online tool, not in the DOL disclosure data.

A certified LCA is not an approved visa

Because the two run in sequence at two different agencies, a Certified LCA only clears the DOL step. It does not confirm that USCIS received, approved, or will approve the H-1B petition, and it is not proof of sponsorship or hiring.

How to check each one

For the DOL LCA status, look up the employer's public disclosure filings (VisaSignal reflects that OFLC snapshot). For a specific H-1B petition status, use the USCIS receipt number on USCIS Case Status Online — VisaSignal does not have and cannot show live petition receipt statuses.

How to look it up

Where to check an LCA status vs an H-1B petition status

There is no single public LCA case-number tracker. Use the public disclosure data for DOL LCA outcomes, and the USCIS tool for a live petition receipt status.

Two lookups
DOL LCA status (this snapshot)

Look up the employer in the LCA database to see its imported LCA filings and each row's case status, certified or otherwise, from the public OFLC disclosure files.

Search the LCA database
USCIS petition status (live)

For a specific H-1B petition, enter the receipt number on USCIS Case Status Online. That live status is on the USCIS side and is not part of the DOL disclosure data VisaSignal reflects.

Open USCIS Case Status Online

Keep researching

Move from status meaning into the filing data

These views keep the official-source trail close to the LCA and PERM records the case statuses come from.

Search LCA & PERM recordsLook up an employer's H-1B LCA and PERM disclosure filings — including the case status on each certified or denied record.Source statusCheck when the DOL OFLC LCA and PERM disclosure snapshots were last imported, with row counts and source links.H-1B sponsor checkerCheck whether a specific company shows LCA and PERM filing activity, using the same official DOL disclosure signals.About the dataRead how VisaSignal normalizes the official DOL OFLC disclosure files and the caveats that apply to every figure.

Built from the DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data. Date verified: .

LCA and PERM rows are filing signals, not USCIS approvals, green-card approvals, legal advice, or outcome predictions.

FAQ

Common questions

How do I check an LCA case status?

There is no single public 'LCA case number' tracker. DOL publishes LCA outcomes in its OFLC disclosure files after each fiscal-year quarter, with a CASE_STATUS of Certified, Certified - Withdrawn, Withdrawn, or Denied for each filing. VisaSignal reflects that public snapshot, so you can look up an employer's LCA filings and their statuses in the LCA database. For a live, case-specific status you would need the receipt number, which lives on the USCIS petition side, not the DOL LCA side.

What do the LCA case-status values mean?

Certified means DOL certified the Labor Condition Application so it can support a petition. Certified - Withdrawn means it was certified and then withdrawn by the employer. Withdrawn means the employer pulled it before a final determination, so it was never certified. Denied means DOL declined to certify it. These are the four CASE_STATUS values in the official DOL OFLC LCA disclosure record layout.

What is the difference between an LCA status and a USCIS case status?

They are two separate steps at two agencies. The LCA case status is the Department of Labor's determination on the Labor Condition Application (Form ETA-9035), published in the OFLC disclosure data. The USCIS case status is the adjudication status of the H-1B petition (Form I-129) filed after the LCA is certified, tracked by receipt number on USCIS Case Status Online. A certified LCA does not mean the H-1B petition was received or approved.

Does VisaSignal track LCA cases in real time?

No. VisaSignal is not a live case tracker. It reflects the public DOL OFLC disclosure snapshot, which DOL releases each federal fiscal-year quarter, and it shows when that snapshot was last imported on the source-status page. For a live, receipt-number status you should use the official USCIS Case Status Online tool.

Is a certified LCA the same as an approved H-1B?

No. A certified LCA only completes the DOL wage-and-attestation step. The H-1B petition is filed separately with USCIS afterward and can still receive a request for evidence, an approval, or a denial. Treat a certified LCA as historical DOL filing activity, not proof of an approved visa or guaranteed sponsorship.

Does an LCA certification mean an H-1B petition was approved?

No. A DOL-certified LCA is not the same as USCIS H-1B petition approval. It is an official labor-condition filing signal that should be interpreted with that limit.

Does a PERM certification mean a green card was approved?

No. PERM certification is one step in an employment-based green card process. It does not mean a green card, I-140 petition, or adjustment of status was approved.

Can this data prove an employer will sponsor a candidate?

No. Official filing history can show recent activity, roles, worksites, and wage signals, but it does not guarantee future sponsorship or predict legal outcomes.