• H-1B
    美国H-1B签证改革:现代化调整全面解析,助力全球高技能人才融入美国职场 白宫批准了一项全面的H-1B签证改革,为国际学生、创业者和雇主带来巨大利好。改革亮点包括:加速签证续期,明确“专业职位”定义,简化F-1学生过渡,赋予非营利机构更多申请灵活性,同时加强签证抽签公平性和工作地点检查。 这一举措缓解了人才引进瓶颈,满足美国高科技、研究领域的关键劳动力需求,推动经济竞争力和创新力提升。 美国国土安全部(DHS)正式发布了H-1B签证改革的最终规则。这次改革被视为H-1B签证项目近年来最重要的现代化调整,旨在提高审批效率、为雇主和签证持有人提供更大灵活性,并强化项目诚信,打击滥用现象。新规不仅惠及美国企业,也为国际学生、创业者和研究机构创造了更多机会。 一、改革背景与目标 H-1B签证是美国向外籍高技能人才发放的重要工作签证,主要面向“专业职位”,即需要具备特定专业学士或以上学历的岗位。长期以来,该项目面临审批延误、资格认定不清晰以及诚信监管薄弱等问题,影响了雇主和签证持有人的稳定性。 国土安全部本次改革的核心目标包括: 提高审批效率,减少不必要的冗余程序; 提供政策灵活性,方便国际学生和创业者更顺畅地融入美国职场; 强化诚信措施,防止项目被滥用,确保公平性和合法性。 二、改革亮点详细解读 1. 恢复“优先原则”:加速H-1B续签流程 此次改革重新引入“优先原则”(Prior Deference),即对于已经批准的H-1B签证续签申请,移民局在无重大变化或错误的情况下,将优先参考先前的审批结果。这一原则被前特朗普政府废除,导致申请人续签面临重新审核,增加了审批时间和不确定性。 影响:减少签证续签的冗余审查,加快处理速度,帮助外籍员工和雇主维持工作的连续性。 2. 重新定义“专业职位”标准 新规进一步明确了“专业职位”(Specialty Occupation)的定义,要求岗位所需的学位必须与工作职责直接相关。 具体内容: 学位专业与工作职责需有“逻辑联系”; 雇主可以接受多个相关领域的学位,但每个领域都必须与岗位职责直接相关。 影响:提高资格标准的透明度,帮助雇主和申请人理解申请条件,避免因模糊定义导致的申请被拒。 3. F-1学生签证自动延期:平稳过渡H-1B身份 改革针对F-1国际学生向H-1B签证转换的身份过渡问题,允许自动延长学生签证有效期及工作许可(OPT),直到次年4月1日。 背景:以往,许多国际学生的OPT工作许可到期,而H-1B申请尚未获批,导致身份和就业中断。 影响: 避免身份失效和就业中断,保证学生合法留美; 为国际学生提供稳定的职业发展路径。 4. 非营利和政府研究机构:扩大H-1B豁免条件 新规调整了“非营利研究机构”和“政府研究机构”的定义,允许这些机构在不以研究为“主要任务”的情况下,通过“基础活动”标准申请H-1B配额豁免。此外,员工虽非直接受雇于这些机构,但只要至少50%的工作时间用于支持机构的核心任务,同样可申请豁免。 影响: 扩大非营利和研究机构的签证申请资格; 支持科研和教育领域吸引更多全球高技能人才。 5. 支持创业者申请H-1B签证 新规明确规定,公司创始人或持有控股权的企业家在满足条件下可申请H-1B签证。 条件: 创始人需持有超过50%的公司股份或具备公司决策控制权; 初次申请和首次续签的有效期均限制为18个月。 影响:为创业者提供合法工作身份,鼓励创新企业发展。 6. 强化诚信监管,保障项目公平性 为维护H-1B项目的诚信,防止滥用,新规提出了一系列监管措施: 工作现场检查:移民局有权对H-1B申请雇主进行现场检查,未配合检查的雇主将面临申请被拒或撤销的风险。 合同和职位真实性核查:要求雇主提供证明材料,确认岗位真实存在且符合“专业职位”标准。 禁止重复注册:杜绝相关企业为同一申请人提交多个H-1B注册,确保抽签过程公平透明。 三、改革的深远影响 对雇主和高技能人才的影响 雇主:加速审批流程,降低行政负担,帮助企业更快地引进和留住关键人才。 高技能人才:特别是国际学生和创业者,将受益于更清晰的申请标准和更平稳的身份过渡,职业发展路径更加明确。 对科研和创新领域的支持 新规通过扩大非营利和研究机构的签证豁免条件,支持高技能人才进入教育、医疗和科研等关键领域,促进美国在全球科研创新竞争中的领先地位。 推动经济竞争力与创新力 H-1B改革通过吸引和留住全球高技能人才,助力美国企业在科技、工程和医疗等领域创新发展,进一步巩固美国在全球人才竞争中的优势。 加强项目诚信与公平 新规强化了申请流程的诚信监管,打击滥用现象,确保签证资源分配更加公平,保护本地劳工权益,同时提高项目的透明度和合法性。 四、总结与展望 美国此次H-1B签证改革,通过多项关键措施解决了签证申请过程中的冗余审查、身份过渡和诚信监管问题,为雇主、国际学生、创业者及科研机构提供了更多支持和灵活性。这不仅优化了H-1B签证项目,也为美国吸引全球高技能人才、推动经济增长和创新发展提供了坚实保障。
    H-1B
    2024年12月17日
  • H-1B
    2025财年美国H-1B签证达到上限,你抽中了吗? 美国公民及移民服务局(USCIS)已宣布完成 2025 财年(FY)H-1B 签证上限(包括高级学位豁免)的初步筛选程序。根据其目前的状态,注册被分为 "已提交"、"已选定"、"未选定 "等状态。被选中的注册者现在有资格从 2024 年 4 月 1 日起递交 H-1B 上限主体申请。该公告还包括对申请费用的修改,以及自 2024 年 4 月 1 日起启用新版 I-129 表格,旧版表格不再有宽限期。此外,移民局还推出了 H-1B 申请在线申请和组织账户,以方便管理申请。 美国 H-1B 签证的电子注册数量已达到 2025 年联邦财政年度的签证上限。签证上限为 65,000 个,另外 20,000 个签证可供拥有美国高级签证的人使用。 Notice of FY 2025 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Selection Process Completion and Cap Season Reminders H-1B Initial Electronic Registration Selection Process Completed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap). We have randomly selected enough properly submitted registrations for unique beneficiaries projected as needed to reach the H-1B cap and have notified all prospective petitioners with selected beneficiaries that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for such beneficiaries. Registrants’ online accounts will now show one of the following statuses for each registration (that is, for each beneficiary registered): Submitted: The registration has been submitted and is eligible for selection. If the initial selection process has been completed, this registration remains eligible, unless subsequently invalidated, for selection in any subsequent selections for the fiscal year for which it was submitted. Selected: Selected to file an H-1B cap petition. Not Selected: Not eligible to file an H-1B cap petition based on this registration. Denied – duplicate registration: Multiple registrations were submitted by or on behalf of the same registrant for the same beneficiary. If denied as a duplicate registration, all registrations submitted by or on behalf of the same registrant for this beneficiary for the fiscal year are invalid. Invalidated – failed payment: A registration was submitted but the payment method was declined, not reconciled, or otherwise invalid. Deleted: The submitted registration has been deleted and is no longer eligible for selection. Processing submission: USCIS is processing your submission. It may take up to 72 hours for all of your case information to show on the case details page. While it is processing, you will be unable to access your draft. For more information, visit the H-1B Electronic Registration Process page. FY 2025 H-1B Cap Petitions May Be Filed Starting April 1 H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2025, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, may be filed with USCIS beginning April 1, 2024, if filed for a selected beneficiary and based on a valid registration. Only petitioners with registrations for selected beneficiaries may file H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2025. An H-1B cap-subject petition must be properly filed at the correct filing location (see H-1B Form I-129 Filing Location Change to Lockbox section below) or online at my.uscis.gov and within the filing period indicated on the relevant selection notice. The period for filing the H-1B cap-subject petition will be at least 90 days. Petitioners must include a copy of the applicable selection notice with the FY 2025 H-1B cap-subject petition. Petitioners must also submit evidence of the beneficiary’s valid passport or travel document used at the time of registration to identify the beneficiary. Petitioners filing for selected beneficiaries based on their valid registration must still submit evidence or otherwise establish eligibility for petition approval, as registration and selection only pertains to eligibility to file the H-1B cap-subject petition. For more information, visit the H-1B Cap Season page. New Fees and Form Edition On Jan. 31, 2024, USCIS published a final rule  that adjusts the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees are effective April 1, 2024. Petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2024, must include the new fees or we will not accept them. Additionally, there will be a new 04/01/24 edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. There will be no grace period for filing the new version of Form I-129 because it must include the new fee calculation. What to Know About Sending Us Your Form I-129. We will accept the 05/31/23 edition of this form if it is postmarked before April 1, 2024; We will not accept the 05/31/23 edition of this form if it is postmarked on or after April 1, 2024; and We will only accept the 04/01/24 edition of this form if it is postmarked on or after April 1, 2024. We will use the postmark date of a filing to determine which form version and fees are correct but will use the received date for purposes of any regulatory or statutory filing deadlines. As a reminder, we recently announced a final premium processing fee rule that increased the filing fee for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, to adjust for inflation, effective Feb. 26, 2024. If we receive a Form I-907 postmarked on or after Feb. 26, 2024, with the incorrect filing fee, we will reject the Form I-907 and return the filing fee. For filings sent by commercial courier (such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL), the postmark date is the date on the courier receipt. Online Filing and Organizational Accounts On Feb. 28, 2024, we launched new online organizational accounts that allow multiple people within an organization and their legal representatives to collaborate on and prepare H-1B registrations, H-1B petitions, and any associated Form I-907. Information on organizational accounts is available on the Organizational Accounts Frequently Asked Questions page. We also launched online filing of Form I-129 and associated Form I-907 for non-cap H-1B petitions on March 25. On April 1, we will begin accepting online filing for H-1B cap petitions and associated Forms I-907 for petitioners whose registrations have been selected. Petitioners will continue to have the option of filing a paper Form I-129 H-1B petition and any associated Form I-907 if they prefer. However, during the initial launch of organizational accounts, users will not be able to link paper-filed Forms I-129 and I-907 to their online accounts. H-1B Form I-129 Filing Location Change to Lockbox Starting April 1, 2024, H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) Form I-129 petitions are no longer filed directly with the USCIS service centers. All paper-based H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) Form I-129 petitions are now filed at USCIS lockbox locations. This includes cap, non-cap, and cap-exempt H-1B filings. We will reject H-1B or H-1B1 (HSC) petitions received at a USCIS service center on or after April 1, 2024. There will be no grace period provided. USCIS has specific mailing addresses for cases that are subject to the H-1B cap. To determine the correct mailing address, please see our Form I-129 Direct Filing Addresses page. If a petition is filed at the wrong location, we may reject the petition. Rejected petitions will not retain a filing date. If we reject a petition because it was filed at the wrong location, it may be refiled at the correct location, or online. H-1B cap subject petitions may be refiled at the correct location, or online, as long as the petition is refiled during the designated 90-day filing window listed on the selection notice. No More Pre-paid Mailers As of March 25, 2024, we are no longer using prepaid mailers to send out any communication or final notices for any H-1B or H-1B1 (HSC) petitions. With H-1B intake now occurring at the lockbox or online, we will not be able to use any prepaid mailers for H-1B or H-1B1 (HSC) filings. The process of printing and mailing H-1B petition approval notices by first-class mail is fully automated. For petitions filed online, myUSCIS account holders will also receive an email or text message notification in their myUSCIS account when there is a case status change on a case in their account, followed by a paper notice by mail. Receipt Notice Delays When we receive a timely and properly filed H-1B cap subject petition, the petitioner (and, if applicable, the petitioner’s legal representative) will be provided a Form I-797, Notice of Action, communicating receipt of the petition. Due to increased filing volumes typically seen during H-1B cap filing periods, there are instances where a paper petition is timely and properly filed by mail, but issuance of the Form I-797 is delayed. If you are a petitioner and have confirmation from the delivery service that the petition was delivered, but you have not yet received a Form I-797 confirming receipt of the petition, you should not submit a second petition. If you have confirmation from the delivery service that the petition was delivered and you then submit a second H-1B cap petition for the same beneficiary, you will be considered to have submitted multiple H-1B cap petitions. This will result in denial or revocation of both petitions. If more than 30 days have passed since the confirmation of delivery and you have still not received a Form I-797, you may contact the USCIS Contact Center for assistance. If you receive notification from the delivery service, or your tracking information suggests that there may be a delay or damage to the package or that the package was misrouted, you should follow the Delivery Service Error Guidance on the H-1B Cap Season webpage.
    H-1B
    2024年04月02日
  • H-1B
    两个H1B Final Rules最全解读|一人一抽落地,申请费真的涨了! 一人一抽必然是打击滥用抽签的最好手段,但是基于移民局拖拖拉拉的性格,政策能否今年落地大家都在关注。终于!就在今天!(美国华盛顿1月30日)国土安全部公布了一份叫做Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity的文件,正式确认: 从今年2月2日起公告30天后,今年3月3日起,H-1B将采用“一人一抽”制度!Official response: DHS agrees with the need for prompt implementation of this rule. This rule will be effective in time for the FY 2025 H-1B cap season (the H-1B registration period and related selection process beginning in March 2024).国土安全部卡着最后时间节点走到这一步,想必有今年必须实行的决心,而且这一维护抽签公平的制度要想找个理由,在公示期内提出有效异议也比较困难。Final Rule说,今年H-1B怎么抽?必须用Passport/Travel Document来注册。往年没有护照也可以参与抽签,但是今年开始,受益人与护照信息绑定,防止一人多抽现象发生。How does it work? 今年之前的H-1B注册抽签都是基于雇主而非受益人,所以同一个受益人可以有多个抽签机会。但是改革之后是基于受益人来抽签,纵使您有上百个雇主注册抽签,也只能占用一个抽签名额。3月6日开始注册!之前不是还说要自动延长Cap-Gap时间到次年4月1日,还有要支持H-1B自主创业么? 不好意思,这两个政策Final Rule都没说,今年可能来不及落地。 如果我有多个offer怎么办? 所有的公司正常注册抽签,一人一抽不排斥多个公司sponsor同一个受益人。您可以中签后选择最心仪的公司递交H-1B申请。 中签后我可以递交多份H-1B申请提高批准率吗?可以,这一点移民局不禁止。今年H-1B申请费怎么涨?首先我们来明确涨价前H-1B申请费的组成部分:注册抽签费 + 基本申请费 + 反诈骗费 + 美国工人培训费 (+ 加急费,自选),我们来一个一个说明。今年的H-1B申请费怎么涨? 注册抽签费:移民局已经确认,不涨价!还是10刀! 基本申请费:根据最新的Final Rule,要对申请人(雇主)进行区分了!如果您的雇主是小公司/non-profit,那么基本申请费还保持在$460。如果您的雇主不属于前面两类,则基本申请费会涨价到$780,涨价幅度是70%!*小公司:雇佣25个或以下全职员工的公司。 反诈骗费:Final Rule里没说要涨价,所以维持在500刀。 美国工人培训费:没有涨价,还是25个全职员工以下的小公司及无需抽签的雇主缴纳750刀,其他雇主缴纳1500刀。 加急费:Final Rule没说涨价,但是2023年12月27日,移民局公告说:从2024年2月26日起,H-1B加急费将从原本的$2,500涨到$2,805,所以加急费不是不涨是刚涨过。 庇护费:USCIS说,要限制H-1B申请人交庇护费的频率。所以坏消息是,600刀庇护费要交了(小公司的庇护费减半,一共是300刀),好消息是仅应针对H-1B首次申请,后续的transfer、extension、renewals、change of status都不需要重新交。庇护费于今年4月1日生效。如果今年抽签H-1B,涨价是躲不掉的,但是如果您申请H-1B transfer、extension之类的,或者不用抽签,只要您能在4月1日前递交H-1B申请,涨价的镰刀就割不到! USCIS: The Asylum Program Fee should only be assessed for the initial petition filed by an employer, like the Fraud Prevention and Detection and Public Law 114-113 fees, and not subsequent transfers, extensions, renewals, and changes of status. Source 小敏话移民WeChat official account
    H-1B
    2024年01月30日
  • H-1B
    美国国务院发布 H-1B 国内签证续签标准 该计划最初仅限于持有加拿大和印度签证的工人 自2024年1月29日起,少数H-1B工人将有机会参加美国国务院的国内签证续签计划。 该计划将允许符合条件的申请人在美国续签 H-1B 签证,而无需前往美国驻外领事馆。有关资格标准和如何申请的完整详细信息已于 12 月 21 日发布。 该试点计划仅限于从以下机构获得 H-1B 签证且符合资格的外国人: 2020年1月1日至2023年4月1日期间美国驻加拿大领事馆。 2021年2月1日至2021年9月30日期间美国驻印度领事馆。 该试点项目仅限于 20,000 名 H-1B 员工(来自加拿大和印度各 10,000 名),并将于 2024 年 4 月 1 日或所有申请名额填满时结束(以较早者为准)。 2024年1月29日至2月26日期间,每周将发布约4,000个申请名额。 每个申请人必须首先填写一份自导式调查问卷以确定资格。如果符合资格,则必须提交 DS-160 表格并在线支付所需的 205 美元不可退还申请费。申请人将收到有关向国务院提交护照和所需申请文件的说明。 该计划仅限于免互惠费国家的国民。受抚养的 H-4 签证持有者(H-1B 工人的配偶和子女)和其他临时工人(例如 L-1 雇员)目前不符合国内签证续签的资格。然而,如果试点计划成功,政府的目标是将该计划的资格扩大到其他签证类别和个人。 利特勒华盛顿特区办公室律师乔治·迈克尔·汤普森 (George Michael Thompson) 表示:“启动此类计划是重要的一步,将大大减少美国驻外领事馆在签证续签面谈预约请求方面的积压情况。” 。“目前,所有希望续签美国[临时工作]签证的签证持有者都必须离开美国,并在美国驻外领事馆或大使馆预约面谈。虽然有些人有资格获得面试豁免,这可以减少等待时间,但他们仍然必须离开美国在国外办理签证续签并重新进入美国。这个过程对于签证持有者来说既耗时又繁重。” 在印度(H-1B 工人的最大来源国)等国家,等待时间可能会延长,从而给旅行计划带来不确定性,使一些工人在国外滞留数月,并阻止其他人出国。 Fisher Phillips 底特律办事处的律师亚历山德拉·拉科姆 (Alexandra LaCombe) 表示,目前的签证续签流程对于雇员和雇主来说成本高昂。 她说:“如果签证签发延误,员工必须留在国外,直到收到领事馆带回的带有签证印章的护照。” “此外,由于许多领事馆仍然受到大流行安排积压的困扰,甚至可能需要几个月的时间才能获得预约,从而阻止了一些签证即将到期或过期的员工代表雇主进行国际旅行。” 拉科姆解释说,美国国内签证重新生效并不是什么新鲜事。 “由于 9/11 事件后安全要求的提高,该服务于 2004 年停止,”她说。“在此之前,已经在美国持有有效但即将到期或过期签证的外国人可以将护照连同适当的请愿文件邮寄给政府。然后他们就可以在护照上盖章签证,而无需前往美国驻外领事馆。” 如何开始 预计该试点计划的需求将非常高,但申请名额有限。拉科姆表示,雇主可以通过以下步骤为申请流程做好准备: 确保所有符合资格的 H-1B 员工均持有最新的签证文件。彻底的审核将在时机成熟时简化申请流程。 评估员工来年的潜在旅行计划。拉科姆说:“如果他们希望在联邦政府持有护照的情况下进行重要的商务旅行,那么明智的做法是在可能的情况下调整签证续签的时间,或重新安排旅行。” 为您组织内的所有签证相关事宜建立专门的渠道或联系点。“确保人力资源团队、受影响的员工及其经理了解新流程,并知道该向谁寻求帮助,”她说。
    H-1B
    2024年01月12日