WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a significant procedural shift, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today updates to their receipt issuance method for the L-1 intracompany transferee category. This includes executives, managers, and professionals with specialized knowledge.
Historically, when companies filed the Form I-129S, a Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, along with the Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, they would receive a single, stamped, and signed Form I-129S in tandem with the I-129 approval.
Now, petitioners will be presented with two distinct notices: a receipt notice followed by an approval notice (if the petition is approved). Crucially, the approval notice for the Form I-129S will stand as the official endorsement, eliminating the need for a separately stamped and signed document.
This newly introduced approval notice is not just procedural but also serves as a vital record. It confirms a USCIS officer’s judgment that the beneficiary qualifies for the L-1 status, based on a pre-approved blanket L petition. This is in adherence to the guidelines set by 8 CFR 214.2(l)(5)(ii)(E). Beneficiaries will also be given a copy of this notice, which they can then incorporate with their visa documentation or admission papers.
A key benefit of this overhaul is the improved efficiency it brings. By doing away with the requirement for USCIS to manually print, stamp, sign, and annotate the paper form, the process becomes faster, more streamlined, and secure.
The decision to update this procedure aligns with USCIS’s continuous efforts to enhance its operational processes and provide better service to its clientele.
