USCIS Publishes Final Rule For Parole For International Entrepreneurs (on 1/17/2017), To Be Effective From July of 2017

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations related to certain employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant visa programs. Many of these changes are primarily aimed at improving the ability of U.S. employers to hire and retain high-skilled workers who are beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions and are waiting to become lawful permanent residents. The rule increases the ability of high skilled workers, who are beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions (Form I-140 petitions), to further their careers by accepting promotions, changing positions with current employers, changing employers and pursuing other employment opportunities.

Highlights:

• Revises regulations so that a petition (I-140) may remain valid despite withdrawal by the employer or termination of the employer’s business after 180 days or more of approval, or 180 days or more after the associated application for adjustment of status has been filed.
• Clarifies when a priority date is established for employment-based immigrant visa petitions that do not require a labor certification under INA 203(b).
• Explains that workers may retain priority dates and transfer those dates to new and subsequently approved Form I-140 petitions, except when USCIS revokes approval of the petition for: material error, fraud or willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or revocation or invalidation of the labor certification accompanying the petition.
• Incorporates statutory portability provisions into regulation.
• Provisions allowing certain nonimmigrant principal beneficiaries, and their dependent spouses and children, to apply for employment authorization if the principal is a beneficiary of an approved EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3 immigrant visa petition while waiting for his or her immigrant visa to become available. Applicants must demonstrate compelling circumstances justifying an independent grant of employment authorization.
• Eliminates regulatory requirement for 90-day adjudication timeframe and issuance of interim-EADs. Adds provisions allowing for the automatic extension of EADs for up to 180 days for certain workers filing renewal requests.
• Nonimmigrants in certain high-skilled, nonimmigrant classifications may be granted grace periods of up to 10 days before and after their validity period, and a grace period upon cessation of employment on which the foreign national’s classification was based, for up to 60 days or until the end of their authorized validity period, whichever is shorter, during each authorized validity period.
• Updates, improves, and clarifies DHS regulations consistent with policy guidance.
• Expands the evidence USCIS will examine in cases where a state allows an individual without licensure to fully practice the relevant occupation under the supervision of licensed senior or supervisory personnel in that occupation to include evidence of compliance with state requirements. Additionally, USCIS is expanding the possible situations in which it may approve an H-1B petition even though the beneficiary cannot obtain a license for certain technical reasons.
• Codifies definition of “institution of higher education” and adds a broader definition of “related or affiliated nonprofit entity.” Also, revises the definition of “related or affiliated nonprofit entity” for purposes of the ACWIA fee to conform it to the new definition of the same term for H-1B numerical cap exemption. Expands the interpretation of “governmental research organizations” for purposes of the ACWIA fee and aligns definitions for H-1B cap and fee exemptions.