remanded H-1B

remanded H-1B Case: Specialty Occupation

๐Ÿ“… Date unknown ๐Ÿ‘ค Company ๐Ÿ“‚ Specialty Occupation

Decision Summary

The decision was remanded due to a change in policy guidance following the court decision in Itserve Alliance, Inc. v. Cissna. The AAO found it appropriate for the Director to reconsider the case under the new guidance, which rescinded previously issued policy memoranda.

Criteria Discussed

Availability Of Specialty Occupation Work Employer-Employee Relationship

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View Full Decision Text
U.S. Citizenship 
and Immigration 
Services 
In Re: 10345046 
Appeal of Vermont Service Center Decision 
Form 1-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (H-lB) 
Non-Precedent Decision of the 
Administrative Appeals Office 
Date : APR . 7, 2021 
The Petitioner 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 petition, concluding that the Petitioner did not 
establish availability of specialty occupation work for the Beneficiary , or that it qualifies as a United 
States employer with an employer-employee relationship with the Beneficiary. While this appeal was 
pending, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision inltserve Alliance, 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Services (USCIS) rescinded previously issued policy guidance and directed its officers to apply the 
existing statutory and regulatory requirements to assess eligibility for the classification. USCIS Policy 
Memorandum PM-602-0114 , Rescission of Policy Memoranda at 2 (June 17, 2020), 
http://www.uscis.gov /legal-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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