LCA Case Number Decoder: What Do I-200, I-203, I-205, I-206, and I-207 Mean?
Every Labor Condition Application (LCA) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor has a case number like
I-200-24015-123456. The prefix tells you the visa type.
This page explains what each prefix means, how to read the full case number, and how to look up your LCA status.
ETA Case Number Prefixes
I-200 H-1B
Standard H-1B specialty occupation LCA. This is by far the most common prefix and covers the vast majority of LCAs filed for technology, engineering, finance, and research roles.
I-203 H-1B3 (Fashion Models)
Reserved for H-1B3 visas granted to fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. Very rare — fewer than 100 LCAs per year.
I-205 E-3 (Australia)
LCA for the E-3 visa, exclusive to Australian citizens working in specialty occupations. E-3 has its own annual cap of 10,500 and is not subject to the H-1B lottery.
I-206 H-1B1 (Chile)
LCA for H-1B1 visas issued under the U.S.–Chile Free Trade Agreement. H-1B1 Chile has an annual cap of 1,400 and is not subject to the regular H-1B lottery.
I-207 H-1B1 (Singapore)
LCA for H-1B1 visas issued under the U.S.–Singapore Free Trade Agreement. H-1B1 Singapore has an annual cap of 5,400 and is not subject to the regular H-1B lottery.
Case Number Format
An LCA case number follows this format:
I-XXX-YYDDD-NNNNNN - XXX — Visa type prefix (200 for H-1B, 203 for H-1B3, 205 for E-3, 206 for H-1B1 Chile, 207 for H-1B1 Singapore)
- YY — Last two digits of the fiscal year the case was filed
- DDD — Day of the fiscal year (1 to 365)
- NNNNNN — Sequential case number assigned that day
Example: I-200-24015-123456 = an H-1B LCA filed on the 15th day of FY 2024.
How to Look Up Your LCA Case Status
LCA case data is public. You have two main options:
- DOL FLAG System — Check current case status at flag.dol.gov. Enter your case number to see whether it's pending, certified, denied, or withdrawn.
- Public LCA Disclosure Data — DOL publishes quarterly LCA disclosure files containing every certified and denied case, with employer name, job title, wage, and location. Archives at dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/performance. H1BScope indexes this dataset — use the company search to find historical LCAs for any H-1B sponsor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an LCA case number?
An LCA (Labor Condition Application) case number is a unique identifier assigned by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) when an employer files Form ETA-9035 for an H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 visa. The format is I-XXX-YYDDD-NNNNNN, where the prefix indicates the visa type.
What does I-200 mean on an LCA?
I-200 is the ETA case number prefix for standard H-1B specialty occupation Labor Condition Applications. If your LCA starts with I-200, it is an H-1B LCA — the most common type, covering technology, engineering, finance, science, and other specialty occupations.
How do I look up my LCA case status?
You can check current status at the DOL's FLAG system (flag.dol.gov). Historical LCA disclosure data with employer and salary details is published quarterly and archived at dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/performance.
Is an LCA the same as an H-1B petition?
No. An LCA is filed with the U.S. Department of Labor and is a prerequisite to filing an H-1B petition with USCIS. A certified LCA means DOL approved the wage and working conditions — it does not guarantee H-1B approval. The H-1B petition (Form I-129) is filed separately with USCIS.