Page 13 - KATALYST BULLETIN - Q4 (1)

APRIL EDITION

10 days of the move. You can use the online change of address to complete Form AR-11 or submit the completed AR-11
form to USCIS. For mailing address, please refer to the USCIS.gov site for updated mailing address. AR-11 forms can be
obtained at https://www.uscis.gov/forms

5. H1B Renewals/Extensions:
a. We will begin all extension/renewal processes, 6 months in advance of expiration.
b. Ensure that your passports are valid for a minimum of 6 months, but the preference is to have it valid for the entire duration
of the extension that we typically seek (which is 3 years).
c. We will work closely with you and your account executive for obtaining client/vendor letters, as these have become critical
for approvals and avoiding RFE’s and showing the validity of projects.

6. Record Keeping:
a. Ensure that you save and keep a copy of your H1b approval notice (or receipt notice), certified LCA copies and paystubs at
your work location
b. Ensure that your passport is renewed 6 months prior to the expiration. We will be calling you for renewed passport so the
I9s are updated and compliant.
c. Reach out to us with any questions/concerns.

PREMIUM PROCESS UPDATES:
Starting April 2, 2018 USCIS will begin accepting H1B petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 cap. USCIS will suspend
premium processing for all FY 2019 cap-subject petitions, including petitions seeking an exemption for individuals with a U.S
master’s degree or higher. This suspension is expected to last until Sept. 10, 2018. During this period, USCIS will continue
to accept premium processing requests for h-1b Petitions that are not subject to the FY 2019 CAP.
This temporary suspension will reduce overall H-1B processing times.
• Process long-pending petitions, which we have currently been unable to process due to the high volume of incoming
petitions and the significant surge in premium processing requests over the past few years; and
• Prioritize adjudication of H-1B extension of status cases that are nearing the 240-day mark.

USCIS Strengthens Protections to Combat H-1B Abuses:
On February 22, 2018 USCIS released a Policy memorandum, “Contracts and itineraries Requirements for H-1B Petitions
Involving Third – Party Worksites, which outlines the documentation required by USCIS for H-1B workers placed at Third-
Party worksites (End Client Locations).
As we are aware, to be eligible for H1B classification, the petitioner must establish to USCIS, by a preponderance of evidence,
that the beneficiary will be employed in a specialty occupation assignment for the duration of the requested period, and the
petitioner will maintain the employer-employee relationship with the beneficiary through the requested period.
When there is a third-party, off-site placement, with multiple vendors, USCIS will require evidence of the placement through
the contracts, work orders, and itineraries. USCIS has stated that this detailed documentation will help USCIS to determine
whether there is specialty occupation assignment at the third-party worksite and confirm the existence of the employer-
employee relationship.
The following is a list of documentation USCIS sets forth in the policy memorandum as required documentation for third party
placements confirming the failure to submit this specific evidence may result in H-1B denial:
• Evidence of work assignment (technical documentation, milestone tables, marketing analysis, brochures, project
documentation)

www.katalysttech.com