<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-06-09-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>1615-AC00</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201210</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>1615</CODE>
            <NAME>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>USCIS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>1600</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Homeland Security</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DHS</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Enhancing Opportunities for High-Skilled H-1B1 and E-3 Nonimmigrants and EB-1 Immigrants</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to amend its regulations affecting high-skilled workers within the nonimmigrant classifications for specialty occupation professionals from Chile and Singapore (H-1B1) and from Australia (E-3), and the immigration classification for employment-based first preference (EB-1) outstanding professors or researchers.  DHS proposes changes that would harmonize the regulations for E-3 and H-1B1 nonimmigrant classifications with existing regulations for other, similarly situated nonimmigrant classifications.  DHS is proposing these changes to the regulations to encourage and facilitate the employment and retention of these high-skilled workers.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>First Time Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Proposed Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>8 CFR 204</CFR>
            <CFR>8 CFR 214</CFR>
            <CFR>8 CFR 248</CFR>
            <CFR>8 CFR 274a</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1101</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1103</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1151</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1153</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1154</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1182</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1184</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1186a</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1255</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1641</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>...</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[DHS proposes to amend its regulations to improve the programs serving the E-3 and H-1B1 nonimmigrant classifications and the EB-1 immigrant classification for outstanding professors and researchers. The regulatory changes to these categories would significantly improve procedures to more effectively encourage and facilitate the retention of these high-skilled workers in the United States.]]></STMT_OF_NEED>
            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[The portion of the proposed rule addressing E-3 and H-1B1 visas would extend the period of employment authorized while requests for an extension of these employment-based nonimmigrant visa classifications are being reviewed. We do not anticipate that this rule would impose any additional costs. The benefits of this portion of the proposed rule include easing the regulatory burden on employers of E-3 and H-1B1 nonimmigrants and avoiding potential gaps in employment for these nonimmigrant workers.  

The portion of the proposed rule addressing the evidentiary requirements for the EB-1 outstanding professor and researcher employment-based immigrant classification would allow for the submission of comparable evidence (achievements not listed in the criteria such as important patents or prestigious, peer-reviewed funding grants) for that listed in 8 CFR 204.5(i)(3)(i)(A)(F) to establish that the EB-1 professor or researcher is recognized internationally as outstanding in his or her academic field. We do not anticipate that this part of the proposed rule would impose additional costs.

The non-quantified benefits would include the harmonization of the evidentiary requirements for EB-1 outstanding professors and researchers with other comparable employment-based immigrant classifications and easing petitioners' recruitment of these highly skilled individuals by expanding the range of evidence that may be adduced to support their petitions.]]></COSTS_AND_BENEFITS>
        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>03/00/2013</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Businesses</SMALL_ENTITY>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Organizations</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Lori</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>MacKenzie</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>S. </MIDDLE_NAME>
                <TITLE>Division Chief, Operations Policy &amp; Stakeholder Communications, Immigrant Investor Program</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>1615</CODE>
                    <NAME>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>USCIS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 357-9214</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>lori.s.mackenzie@uscis.dhs.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>131 M Street NE.,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20529-2200</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
