Trinity Care Associates · Lowell, Massachusetts
Case #I-200-24095-857291
A Outpatient Therapy Clinician position at Trinity Care Associates in Lowell, Massachusetts was filed at $50k per year, offering 2% above the prevailing wage of $49k. The case was denied in 4 days during the FY FY2024 cycle. This position is for continued employment. The filing covers 2 positions.
| Case Number | I-200-24095-857291 |
| Case Status | Denied |
| Visa Class | H-1B |
| Fiscal Year | FY 2024 |
| Employer | Trinity Care Associates |
| Employer Location | Lowell, Massachusetts |
| Job Title | Outpatient Therapy Clinician |
| SOC Code | 21-102300 – Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers |
| Worksite | Lowell, Massachusetts |
| Annual Wage | $50k – $60k |
| Prevailing Wage | $49k |
| Wage Premium | +2.4% |
| Positions | 2 (2 new, 0 continued) |
| Job Title | Salary | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outpatient Clinician | $50k | CERTIFIED | Apr 25, 2024 |
| Outpatient Therapy Clinician | $50k | DENIED | Apr 12, 2024 |
| Outpatient Therapy Clinician | $50k | DENIED | Apr 9, 2024 |
| In-Home Therapy Clinician | $42k | DENIED | May 19, 2022 |
This Labor Condition Application (LCA) was filed by Trinity Care Associates for the position of Outpatient Therapy Clinician in Lowell, Massachusetts. The offered annual salary is $50k, compared to the prevailing wage of $49k for this occupation and location. This represents a wage premium of +2.4% 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: Denied. This means the Department of Labor has denied the application, possibly due to wage or documentation issues.
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, Trinity Care Associates filed LCA case number I-200-24095-857291 to sponsor a Outpatient Therapy Clinician position at their worksite in Lowell, Massachusetts. 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 $50k compares to the DOL prevailing wage of $49k for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers positions in the Lowell, Massachusetts area. The positive wage premium of +2.4% 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 "Denied" status means the DOL has determined that Trinity Care Associates's LCA did not meet one or more regulatory requirements. Common reasons for denial include: the offered wage falling below the prevailing wage, errors in the application, failure to properly attest to working conditions, or prior violations by the employer. The employer may correct the identified issues and submit a new LCA.
This LCA was received by the DOL on Apr 4, 2024 and a decision was rendered on Apr 8, 2024, a processing time of approximately 4 business days. The standard DOL processing time for LCA applications is 7 to 10 business days. This application was processed within the standard timeframe.
The offered salary of $50k for this Outpatient Therapy Clinician 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 21-102300 (Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers), 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.
This LCA covers 2 positions (2 new hires, 0 continued employment), indicating that Trinity Care Associates has multiple openings for this role. Multi-position LCAs are common among larger employers who need to hire several workers for the same job classification and location.
The offered annual salary for this Outpatient Therapy Clinician position at Trinity Care Associates is $50k to $60k. The Department of Labor prevailing wage for this occupation and location is $49k. The offered wage represents a +2.4% premium over the prevailing wage.
This H-1B filing is for a position located in Lowell, Massachusetts. The employing company, Trinity Care Associates, is headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts.
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 Trinity Care Associates, located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Trinity Care Associates filed this Labor Condition Application (case number I-200-24095-857291) for a Outpatient Therapy Clinician position during fiscal year FY 2024. View all Trinity Care Associates H-1B filings.
Denied means the U.S. Department of Labor has rejected this Labor Condition Application. Common reasons for denial include offering a wage below the prevailing wage, incomplete documentation, failure to properly attest to working conditions, or prior violations.