Houston Immigration Attorneys │Better Adjudication Process By Filing Bundled L-1 Petitions

USCIS is constantly making changes in effort to improve its service and provide better adjudication process of the thousands of petitions and applications that are filed. Many changes appear to improve the system while some efforts fail to achieve the objective. In a recent policy change, USCIS announced that it will permit employers to petition for their employees to obtain an L-1 nonimmigrant classification by filing Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker by grouping or bundling petitions related to a similar subject. If you have a Houston Immigration Attorney they will probably talk to you about the process and will prepare the L-1 petitions to obtain proper and timely adjudication of the bundled petitions.

USCIS indicated the need that often times employers have multiple employees which must be relocated for a similar project. In its memo from the Office of Public Engagement, USCIS stated that "to the extent possible, if petitioners bundle multiple L-1B petitions related to the same project, where the location and the specialized knowledge duties of the beneficiaries are the same, USCIS will consider them together. USCIS will also consider petitions for L-1A managers included with the bundle if such persons will be managing the L-1B beneficiaries who will be working on the project. In addition, USCIS will consider Forms I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, filed for a beneficiary’s qualifying dependents included in the bundle."

USCIS has provided the filing tips below for bundling L-1 Petitions:
■ From the same petitioner;
■ On behalf of beneficiaries employed at the same foreign entity who will be seeking initial L-1 status or an extension of their L-1 status, and who will be working on the same project at the same location performing the same specialized knowledge duties;
■ Filed under the same service (either all premium processing or non-premium processing);
■ Package each petition separately with its own fees and supporting evidence.  
■ Flag the bundle by, for example, including a cover sheet for each petition with information the petitioner believes may be useful to assist USCIS in processing the related filings as a bundle. On behalf of L-1A managers if they will be managing the L-1B beneficiaries who will be working on the project.
■ If using a cover sheet, it would be helpful if petitioners could write, "L-1 Bundle" in large, bold print at the top of the cover sheet. It would also be helpful if petitioners could list the name of the petitioner and the name and location of the project and number each cover sheet included in the bundle (e.g., 1 of 10 petitions, 2 of 10 petitions, etc.).

If you need the assistance of a Houston immigration attorney call 713-222-2828 for a free consultation or by visiting our web site at www.bsfirm.com