1615-AC05 201604 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 1615 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS 1600 Department of Homeland Security DHS Retention of EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting Highly-Skilled H-1B Alien Workers

In December 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed to amend its regulations affecting certain employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant classifications. This rule proposes to amend current regulations to provide stability and job flexibility for the beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions while they wait to become lawful permanent residents. DHS is also proposing to conform its regulations with the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act of 2000 (AC21) as amended by the Twenty-First Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act (the 21st Century DOJ Appropriations Act), as well as the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (ACWIA). The rule also seeks to clarify several interpretive questions raised by ACWIA and AC21 regarding H-1B petitions, and incorporate relevant AC21 policy memoranda and an Administrative Appeals Office precedent decision, and would ensure that DHS practice is consistent with them.  

]]> Economically Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage Yes No 8 CFR 204 to 205 8 U.S.C. 214 8 CFR 245 8 CFR 274a 6 U.S.C. 112 8 U.S.C. 1154 and 1155 8 U.S.C. 1184 8 U.S.C. 1255 8 U.S.C. 1324a Yes NPRM 12/31/2015 80 FR 81900 NPRM Comment Period End 02/29/2016 Final Rule 05/00/2016 1615-AB97 will be merged under this rule, 1615-AC05. Yes Businesses None No No www.regulations.gov www.regulations.gov Yes Yes 1615-AB97 Related to Brian Hunt Acting Chief, Business and Foreign Workers Division, Office of Policy and Strategy 1615 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS 202 272-8377 202 272-1480 brian.j.hunt@uscis.dhs.gov 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 1200, Washington DC 20529-2200