United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is seeking public comments on a proposed rule that would modernize and improve certain aspects of employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa programs.
USCIS is also proposing regulatory amendments to better enable U.S. employers to hire and retain certain foreign workers who are beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions and are waiting to become lawful permanent residents (LPRs).
USCIS aims to:
Clarify and improve longstanding agency policies and procedures
Better enable U.S. employers to employ and retain certain foreign workers who are beneficiaries of approved employment based immigrant visa petitions (I-140 petitions),
Improve job portability for certain beneficiaries of approved I-140 petitions,
Clarify when individuals may keep their priority date to use when applying for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence,
Allow certain high-skilled individuals in the United States in certain nonimmigrant statuses to apply for one year of unrestricted employment authorization,
Establish a one-time grace period during an authorized validity period of up to 60 days for certain high-skilled nonimmigrant workers whenever their employment ends.
The public has until Feb. 29 to comment. (end)
To submit comments, visit regulations.gov or email USCISFRComment@dhs.gov. (Reference docket number USCIS-2015-0008 in the subject line of the email.)