In October 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program Interim Final Rule revising the definition of “specialty occupation” for purposes of the H-1B visa program. Concurrently, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued the Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States Interim Final Rule, amending the regulations governing permanent labor certifications and Labor Condition Applications to incorporate changes to the computation of prevailing wage levels. Together, these rules would have set aside decades-old requirements for the H-1B program, both in terms of the definition of specialty occupation and in the computation of prevailing wage levels.
On December 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California set aside the DHS interim final rule and the DOL interim final rule in Chamber of Commerce, et al., v. DHS, et al. The court found that the DHS and DOL H-1B wage rules were “promulgated in violation of 5 U.S.C section 553(b),” which defines the Administrative Procedures Act’s notice and comment requirements for agency rulemaking. USCIS announced on December 4, 2020 that it will fully comply with the court’s decision. In response to the court’s order setting aside the DOL Interim Final Rule, the DOL’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced its timeline for updating the FLAG system to incorporate the pre-IFR wage data. DOL must make changes to the FLAG system modules to replace the 10/8/2020-6/30/2021 wage source year data that was implemented under its interim rule, with the OES prevailing wage data that was in effect on October 7, 2020. DOL has also provided details on how to seek a redetermination of any prevailing wage determinations issued in accordance with the DOL Interim Final Rule wage system.
The attorneys at Curray York & Associates will continue to closely monitor potential changes to the H-1B program and provide updates when possible. For specific questions, please contact our office to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.
Public Charge Updates
Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) rule on public charge inadmissibility went into effect, requiring the use of Form I-944 Declaration of Self-Sufficiency for adjustment of status applicants in deciding whether the applicant is inadmissible based on public charge grounds. Since then, the legal status of the public charge rule has been in limbo, as nationwide injunctions have halted implementation of the public charge rule only to have the injunction’s scope limited in the same week and completely reversed the week after. The amount of uncertainty surrounding the public charge rule has made it difficult to know how to advise clients.
Most recently, on December 2, 2020, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld preliminary injunctions issued against the rule that were issued by the Northern District of California and the Eastern District of Washington. At this time, it remains unclear whether the preliminary injunction applies nationwide in scope or if it only applies to the plaintiff states (CA, DC, ME, OR, PA, WA, CO, DE, IL, MD, MA, MN, NV, NJ, NM, RI, HI). As of December 8, 2020, USCIS has not yet decided how to implement the state-specific injunction and has not updated its guidance since November 4, 2020. For now, we believe that the safest approach is to prepare and file the I-944 with adjustment of status applications.
The attorneys at Curray York & Associates will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates when possible.
November 2020 Visa Bulletin is Available!
The U.S. Department of State released the November 2020 Visa Bulletin this morning. Visa availability in the employment-based categories will basically stay the same as in October 2020. Additionally, USCIS has announced that it will accept filings based on the “Dates for Filing” chart.
Without Notice USCIS Increases Premium Processing Fees, But Doesn’t Expand the Program
On Friday, October 16, 2020, USCIS announced that it will increase the fee for premium processing from $1,440 to $2,500 starting on Monday, October 19, 2020. USCIS is implementing the portion of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 & Other Extensions Act. (Pub. L. No. 116-159) that was enacted on October 1, 2020 and authorizes the agency to increase premium processing fees. Thus, any I-907 request for premium processing postmarked on or after October 19, 2020 must include the new fee amount. There is an exception for H-2B seasonal workers and R-1 religious workers in that the fee is only increasing to $1,500.00. Notably, the law enacted on October 1st also authorizes USCIS to expand premium processing to include other types of forms and applications. However, USCIS is not exercising its authority to expand the premium processing service at this time.
Proposed Changes to F, J, & I Visa Holders’ Period of Stay
On September 25, 2020, the ICE published a proposed rule in the Federal Register which, among other things, eliminates admission for duration of status for F, J and I (International Media) visa holders. The comment period ends on October 26, 2020, after which the agency is required to review and consider all comments before publishing the final rule. Currently, F and J visa holders are admitted to the U.S. for their “duration of status” or the time it takes to finish their program as long as they are making “normal progress” towards the completion of the program. The new rule limits the period of admission for F and J visa holders to 2 or 4 years based on their program end date. This rule will substantially change the way DHS determines whether F or J visa holders are maintaining their status, would subject them to harsh penalties for failure to maintain status, and would require the filing of extension applications on form I-539 to extend a program end-date or apply for OPT.
Forbes Article by Stuart Anderson on the impact of the USCIS and USDOL new rules on H-1B Visas
In this Forbes article, Stuart Anderson provides a good summary of the USCIS and USDOL rules that will change the H-1B visa program by substantially increasing the prevailing wages for H-1B occupations and redefine “specialty occupation.”
USCIS Proposes Major Changes to the H-1B Program
On October 6, 2020, USCIS will be providing an advance copy of a regulation that will significantly change the definition of “Specialty Occupation” for H-1B visa purposes. The rule will narrow the definition of “specialty occupation;” require U.S. companies to “make real offers to ‘real’ employees” by closing loopholes and preventing the displacement of U.S. workers; and enhance DHS enforcement mechanisms. The rule will be published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2020 and goes into effect 60 days after publication (December 7, 2020).
https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-22347.pdf
The USDOL Increases Prevailing Wages
On October 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor published an advance copy of an interim final rule that will be published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2020 and go into effect upon publication. The rule increases the prevailing wage at each wage level across the board for all occupations for both non-immigrant visa petitions that require a prevailing wage and PERM labor certification applications.
Updates on NIV Entry Ban
On October 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of State provided further guidance on the federal district court injunction, stating that any J-1, H-1B, H-2B, or L-1 applicant who is either sponsored (J-1 visa holders) by, petitioned by, or whose petitioner is a member of, one of the plaintiffs in the case is no longer subject to Presidential Proclamation 10052. The plaintiffs in the case are the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation, TechNet, and Intrax, Inc.
On October 5, 2020, the U.S. Department of State (USDOS) announced that it would no longer enforce Presidential Proclamation 10052 which bars certain non-immigrant visa (NIV) holders (certain H, L, J visa holders) from entering the U.S. until the beginning of next year when scheduling emergency appointments. The USDOS stated that emergency/expedited appointments at the U.S. Consular Offices can proceed without a National Interest Exemption (NIE) for foreign nationals subject to this entry ban. Please note that foreign nationals may still be subject to other entry bans that will still require an NIE approval prior to entering the United States. Stay tuned for further updates on this important federal court decision.
Non-immigrant Visa Entry Ban Enjoined, For Some!
On October 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction against the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State’s implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10052. The injunction stops the agencies from barring certain non-immigrant visa holders (H-1B, H-2B, certain J-1 visa holders, L-1 visa holders) from entering the U.S. and orders these agencies to stop delaying the processing of these non-immigrant visas applications at the U.S. Consular Offices abroad. Unfortunately, the court limited the scope of the injunctive relief to the plaintiffs in the case (the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of technology giants such as Apple and Google), thus the injunction does not cover everyone. We are awaiting guidance from the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State on how they will proceed given the order.