remanded H-1B

remanded H-1B Case: Software Solutions

๐Ÿ“… Date unknown ๐Ÿ‘ค Company ๐Ÿ“‚ Software Solutions

Decision Summary

The Director's decision was withdrawn and the matter was remanded for a new decision. The remand was prompted by a change in USCIS policy regarding H-1B petitions for workers at third-party worksites, which was rescinded following a federal court case.

Criteria Discussed

Specialty Occupation Third-Party Worksite

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View Full Decision Text
U.S. Citizenship 
and Immigration 
Services 
In Re: 11259338 
Appeal of Vermont Service Center Decision 
Form 1-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (H-lB) 
Non-Precedent Decision of the 
Administrative Appeals Office 
Date: SEPT. 10, 2020 
The Petitioner, a software and hardware solutions firm, 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 Vermont Service Center denied the Form 1-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant 
Worker, 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 ltserve 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Immigration Services (USCIS) rescinded previously issued policy guidance relating to H-lB petitions 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. 
1 USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0114 , Rescission of Policy Memoranda at 2 (June 17, 2020), 
http://www.uscis.gov/legal-resource s/policy-memoranda. 
2 Section 291 of the Act; Matter of Chawathe, 25 l&N Dec. 369, 375 (AAO 2010). 
3 See Matter of Chri sta's Inc., 26 l&N Dec. 537, 537 n.2 (AAO 2015). 
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. 
2 
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