1615-AC05 201704 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 Nonimmigrant Workers

In November 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amended its regulations affecting certain employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant classifications. This rule amended 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 also updated its regulations to conform them 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 clarified several interpretive questions raised by ACWIA and AC21 regarding H-1B petitions, and incorporated relevant AC21 policy memoranda and an Administrative Appeals Office precedent decision.

]]> Economically Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Completed Actions 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 11/18/2016 81 FR 82398 Final Rule Effective 01/17/2017 1615-AB97 will be merged under this rule, 1615-AC05. Yes Businesses Organizations None No No www.regulations.gov www.regulations.gov Yes No 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