remanded
H-1B
remanded H-1B Case: Information Technology
Decision Summary
The Director initially denied the petition for failing to establish that the proffered position qualifies as a specialty occupation. The AAO remanded the case because a recent court decision and subsequent USCIS policy change affected the analysis of the employer-employee relationship. The matter was sent back to the Director to re-adjudicate the petition under the new guidance.
Criteria Discussed
Specialty Occupation Employer-Employee Relationship Minimum Educational Requirements
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services In Re: 8908787 Appeal of California Service Center Decision Form 1-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (H-lB) Non-Precedent Decision of the Administrative Appeals Office Date: JULY 28, 2020 The Petitioner, an information technology solutions and consulting services company, seeks to temporarily employ the Beneficiary under the H-lB nonimmigrant classification for specialty occupations. See Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act) section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b), 8 U.S.C. Β§ 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b). The H-lB program allows a U.S. employer to temporarily employ a qualified foreign worker in a position that requires both: (a) the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized know ledge; and (b) the attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty ( or its equivalent) as a minimum prerequisite for entry into the position. The Director of the California Service Center denied the petition, concluding that the Petitioner did not establish that the proffered position qualifies as a specialty occupation. While this appeal was pending, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision in Itserve Alliance, Inc. v. Cissna, --- F.Supp.3d ---, 2020 WL 1150186 (D.D.C. 2020). Subsequently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rescinded previously issued policy guidance and directed its officers to apply the existing regulatory definition at 8 C.F.R. Β§ 214 .2(h)(4)(ii) to assess whether a petitioner and a beneficiary have an employer-employee relationship. USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602- 0114, Rescission of Policy Memoranda at 2 (June 17, 2020), http://www.uscis.gov /legalΒ resources /policy-memoranda. Because this case is affected by the new policy guidance, we find it appropriate to remand the matter for the Director to consider the question anew and to adjudicate in the first instance any additional issues as may be necessary and appropriate. 1 Accordingly, the following order shall be issued. ORDER: The decision of the Director is withdrawn. The matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent with the foregoing analysis and entry of a new decision . 1 We observe that the end-client has provided inconsistent information regarding the minimum requirements for the proffered position . For instance, in its letter from March 2019, the end-client states that the position required a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field of study. However , in its letter from November 2019, the end-client asserts that the position requires a bachelor 's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.
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