remanded H-1B

remanded H-1B Case: Software Development

πŸ“… Date unknown πŸ‘€ Company πŸ“‚ Software Development

Decision Summary

The case was remanded following a new USCIS policy memorandum that resulted from the federal court decision in Itserve Alliance, Inc. v. Cissna. This new guidance affects the assessment of the employer-employee relationship, requiring the Director to reconsider the case and issue a new decision based on the current policy.

Criteria Discussed

Specialty Occupation Employer-Employee Relationship

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U.S. Citizenship 
and Immigration 
Services 
In Re: 6763044 
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 29, 2020 
The Petitioner , a software development 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 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 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Immigration Services (USCIS) rescinded previously issued policy guidance and directed its officers 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. 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. 
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