remanded
H-1B
remanded H-1B Case: Information Technology
Decision Summary
The appeal was remanded because a recent court decision (Itserve All., Inc. v. Cissna) led USCIS to rescind its policy guidance regarding H-1B petitions for workers at third-party worksites. The AAO determined the Director should reconsider the case under the new guidance, and therefore withdrew the initial decision and remanded the matter for new proceedings.
Criteria Discussed
Specialty Occupation Third-Party Worksite
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services In Re: 9258280 Appeal of California Service Center Decision Form 1-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (H-lB) Non-Precedent Decision of the Administrative Appeals Office Date : NOV . 23, 2020 The Petitioner, an information technology staffing organization, 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. ยง 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 knowledge; 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 Beneficiary would perform services in a specialty occupation for the requested period of intended employment. While this appeal was pending, the U.S . District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision in Itserve All., Inc. v. Cissna, 443 F. Supp. 3d 14 (D.D.C. 2020) . Subsequently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rescinded previously issued policy guidance relating to H-lB petitions filed for workers who will be employed at one or more third-party worksites . 1 The matter is now before us on appeal. The Petitioner bears the burden of proof to demonstrate eligibility by a preponderance of the evidence . 2 We review the questions in this matter de novo. 3 While we conduct de nova review on appeal, we conclude that a remand is warranted in this case in part based on the new USCIS policy guidance. 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 . 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 USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0114 , Rescission of Policy Memoranda at 2 (June I 7, 2020), http://www.uscis.gov/legal-resources/policy-memoranda . 2 Section 291 of the Act; Matter ofCha wathe, 25 I&N Dec. 369, 375 (AAO 2010). 3 See Matter of Christo 's Inc., 26 I&N Dec. 537, 537 n.2 (AAO 2015).
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