All the labor certifications that was filed before the implementation of PERM is shipped into two backlog elimination center. One is based in Dallas and one is in Philly. Both centers are issuing 45 days letter to ask the employer if or not they wanted to continue their cases. You need to be more careful and talk to your employer about if or not the 45 days letter being received. If the 45 days letter fails to respond, then the case is considered to be closed, and it takes another year just to re-open your case. There are cases being in backlog center from 2001. The more cases are said to be of 245(i), where the Clinton Administration gave amnesty to the Illegals. This has created a huge problem for the State Workforce Agencies to process the case in timely manner, thus the goverment stated centralizing all the cases and BECs are working to finish their data entry and certifying the cases, but their working is said to be not taking place as it was said earlier. The problem with these two BECs is not strickly following the FIFO. One may still find their case of 2001 sitting around the conrner, while other may find their 2004 cases getting approved. Few people who are approaching their 6 year limit on their H1B visas should consult their respective attornies to send email to those centers for the screen shot, that will get the 7th year extension.