Bowdoin College · Brunswick, Maine
Case #I-200-21024-030000
Bowdoin College filed an H-1B petition for a Lecturer in Chinese Language position in Brunswick, Maine at $70k per year — 30% above the prevailing wage of $54k. The case was certified in 890 days during the FY FY2021 cycle. This position is for new employment.
| Case Number | I-200-21024-030000 |
| Case Status | Certified - Withdrawn |
| Visa Class | H-1B |
| Fiscal Year | FY 2021 |
| Employer | Bowdoin College |
| Employer Location | Brunswick, Maine |
| Job Title | Lecturer in Chinese Language |
| SOC Code | 25-112400 – Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary |
| Worksite | Brunswick, Maine |
| Annual Wage | $70k – $85k |
| Prevailing Wage | $54k |
| Wage Premium | +29.9% |
| Positions | 1 (1 new, 0 continued) |
| Job Title | Salary | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visiting Assistant Professor of Government | $71k | CERTIFIED | Jul 7, 2025 |
| Visiting Assistant Professor of Government | $71k | CERTIFIED | Mar 25, 2025 |
| Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology | $71k | CERTIFIED | Mar 11, 2025 |
| Asst. Prof. of Gender, Sexuality, and Womens Studies | $88k | CERTIFIED | Feb 19, 2025 |
| Assistant Professor of Sociology | $90k | CERTIFIED | Jan 15, 2025 |
This Labor Condition Application (LCA) was filed by Bowdoin College for the position of Lecturer in Chinese Language in Brunswick, Maine. The offered annual salary is $70k, compared to the prevailing wage of $54k for this occupation and location. This represents a wage premium of +29.9% above the prevailing wage.
The LCA is the first step in the H-1B visa process. Employers must file an LCA with the Department of Labor certifying that they will pay the foreign worker at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area of intended employment. A certified LCA is required before the employer can file an H-1B petition with USCIS.
Case status: Certified - Withdrawn. This means the employer or their representative withdrew the application.
A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is a mandatory document that U.S. employers must file with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) before they can petition for a foreign worker under the H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 visa categories. The LCA process was established under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to protect both foreign and domestic workers by ensuring fair wages and working conditions.
When a U.S. company identifies a foreign national to fill a specialty occupation position, they must first obtain DOL certification through the LCA process before filing the H-1B petition (Form I-129) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In this case, Bowdoin College filed LCA case number I-200-21024-030000 to sponsor a Lecturer in Chinese Language position at their worksite in Brunswick, Maine. By filing this LCA, the employer attests to four key conditions: (1) paying the higher of the actual wage or prevailing wage, (2) providing working conditions that will not adversely affect other similarly employed workers, (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite, and (4) providing notice of the filing to the bargaining representative or posting notice at the worksite.
The DOL establishes four wage levels for each occupation and geographic area, representing the progression from entry-level to fully competent workers:
For this filing, the offered wage of $70k compares to the DOL prevailing wage of $54k for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary positions in the Brunswick, Maine area. The positive wage premium of +29.9% indicates the employer is offering above the DOL-determined average for this occupation and location.
The prevailing wage is the average wage paid to similarly employed workers in a specific occupation in the area of intended employment. The DOL determines prevailing wages using data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employers must pay H-1B workers the higher of the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to other employees in similar positions at the company. This requirement is designed to prevent employers from using H-1B workers to undercut domestic wages.
A "Certified-Withdrawn" status means this LCA was initially certified by the DOL but was later withdrawn by the employer. This can happen for various reasons: the foreign worker may have declined the position, found employment elsewhere, the employer may have decided to refile with updated information, or business conditions may have changed. A withdrawal does not negatively affect the employer's ability to file future LCAs.
This LCA was received by the DOL on Jan 24, 2021 and a decision was rendered on Jul 3, 2023, a processing time of approximately 890 business days. The standard DOL processing time for LCA applications is 7 to 10 business days. This application took longer than the standard timeframe, which may indicate additional review was required.
The offered salary of $70k for this Lecturer in Chinese Language position provides a data point for evaluating compensation trends in H-1B visa sponsorship. When reviewing H-1B salary data, consider that wages vary significantly based on geographic location, employer size, industry sector, and the worker's experience level. This position falls under SOC code 25-112400 (Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary), which standardizes how the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies occupations across industries. Metropolitan areas like New York, San Francisco, and Seattle typically command higher salaries due to higher costs of living, while positions in smaller markets may offer lower nominal wages but comparable purchasing power.
The offered annual salary for this Lecturer in Chinese Language position at Bowdoin College is $70k to $85k. The Department of Labor prevailing wage for this occupation and location is $54k. The offered wage represents a +29.9% premium over the prevailing wage.
This H-1B filing is for a position located in Brunswick, Maine. The employing company, Bowdoin College, is headquartered in Brunswick, Maine.
This Labor Condition Application is filed under the H-1B visa classification. The H-1B visa is designed for specialty occupation workers who possess at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a specific field related to the job.
The employer for this filing is Bowdoin College, located in Brunswick, Maine. Bowdoin College filed this Labor Condition Application (case number I-200-21024-030000) for a Lecturer in Chinese Language position during fiscal year FY 2021. View all Bowdoin College H-1B filings.
Certified-Withdrawn means this LCA was initially certified by the DOL but was subsequently withdrawn by the employer or their authorized representative.