{"id":583,"date":"2021-02-18T13:34:01","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T13:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/?p=583"},"modified":"2021-02-18T13:34:04","modified_gmt":"2021-02-18T13:34:04","slug":"uscis-rescinds-controversial-guidance-on-h-1b-classification-for-computer-related-positions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/uscis-rescinds-controversial-guidance-on-h-1b-classification-for-computer-related-positions\/","title":{"rendered":"USCIS Rescinds Controversial Guidance on H-1B Classification for Computer-Related Positions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A USCIS policy memo from December 2000<\/strong>, supported granting H-1B classification for computer programmers<\/strong> and people in other related computer occupations, on the premise that at least a bachelor’s degree<\/strong> or equivalent was the normal minimum requirement for entry into these occupations. As illustrated in immigration regulations<\/strong>, occupations that require this threshold degree requirement for entry can qualify as a specialty occupation suitable for H-1B sponsorship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The December 2000 policy memo, which remained in effect from December 2000 until March 2017<\/strong>, relied on the U.S. Department of Labor\u2019s (DOL) occupational classification guidance. This expresses that most computer programmer positions <\/strong>require a four-year certification in computer science or a related field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 3rd February 2021<\/strong> U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) revoked a policy memorandum <\/strong>that, while in place, had negated long-standing agency guidance for the adjudication of H-1B petitions<\/strong> in computer programming and related occupations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March 2017, though the DOL’s occupational classification<\/strong> guidance has stayed steady. USCIS <\/strong>revoked the December 2000 policy memo, finding that it didn’t contain an accurate representation of the regulatory requirements for H-1B classification<\/strong>. USCIS determined that the DOL’s occupational guidance was inadequate to confirm that a position within the computer programmer occupational classification was a specialty occupation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, USCIS showed that since the DOL’s summary<\/strong> contained more data than most. However, not all, positions within this job classification require a bachelor\u2019s degree for entry.<\/strong> The agency\u2019s guidance did not categorically support H-1B classification <\/strong>for these occupations. The organization further took problem with the lack of a specific list of degree fields that were related to the occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H-1B Classification for Computer-Related Positions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a result of USCIS’s change in policy<\/strong>, employers faced increasing hurdles in sponsoring H-1B workers<\/strong> in computer programmer occupations. Just as related jobs in the computer technology field. Since employers were no longer able to depend on the DOL occupational guidance<\/strong>. USCIS frequently requested extra information from employers on their internal hiring and recruiting practices, data on industry recruiting standards. And the expert analysis on the sponsored employees\u2019 technical duties and qualifications. Also, the denial rates for H-1B petitions<\/strong> expanded during this period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Will the petition against H-1B visas harm you this year<\/span><\/a>]<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

February 3, 2021, USCIS policy memo<\/strong>, named \u201cRescission of 2017 Policy Memorandum PM-602-0142<\/strong>,” revokes the agency\u2019s March 2017 guidance. The agency made this move after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit <\/strong>overturned a USCIS decision as arbitrary and capricious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court overturned a USCIS denial of H-1B classification for a computer programmer occupation<\/strong>. Finding in part that USCIS’s characterization of the DOL’s occupational guidance was flawed. The court noticed that USCIS’s arguments followed the logic of the March 2017<\/strong> guidance and that this reasoning is not entitled to deference. USCIS <\/strong>has shown that extra guidance will be forthcoming on the issue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A USCIS policy memo from December 2000, supported granting H-1B classification for computer programmers and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":556,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[57],"tags":[361,232,341,359,28,360,292,42,22,104,59,310,93,11,362],"yoast_head":"\nUSCIS rescinds guidance on H-1B classification for Computer-Related jobs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A USCIS policy memo from December 2000, supported granting H-1B classification for computer programmers and people in other related computer occupations,\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/uscis-rescinds-controversial-guidance-on-h-1b-classification-for-computer-related-positions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta 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