DHS Launches Known Employer Pilot Program for Certain Foreign Worker Petitions | Practical Law

DHS Launches Known Employer Pilot Program for Certain Foreign Worker Petitions | Practical Law

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the launch of a Known Employer pilot program to streamline the process US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses to review an employer's eligibility to sponsor individuals under certain employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant classifications.

DHS Launches Known Employer Pilot Program for Certain Foreign Worker Petitions

Practical Law Legal Update w-001-4978 (Approx. 3 pages)

DHS Launches Known Employer Pilot Program for Certain Foreign Worker Petitions

by Practical Law Labor & Employment
Published on 08 Mar 2016 • USA (National/Federal)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the launch of a Known Employer pilot program to streamline the process US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses to review an employer's eligibility to sponsor individuals under certain employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant classifications.
On March 3, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the launch of a Known Employer pilot program to streamline the process US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses to review an employer's eligibility to sponsor individuals under certain employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant classifications.
USCIS will oversee the pilot program, along with:
  • The DHS Office of Policy.
  • US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
  • The US Department of State (DOS).
Under the Known Employer pilot:
  • Up to nine preselected employers will:
    • file applications requesting that USCIS predetermine that they meet certain requirements relating to certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa classifications; and
    • create profiles in the web-based Known Employer Document Library and upload documents relating to the requirements.
  • USCIS officers will review and predetermine whether a prospective employer has met certain requirements relating to the visa classifications.
  • If USCIS approves the employer's predetermination request, employers may then file petitions or applications for individual employees without having to resubmit company information with each petition or application.
Employers will not be charged any additional fees to participate in the Known Employer pilot. The pilot is scheduled to last for up to one year although USCIS may terminate or extend it at any time. The DHS and the DOS will solicit ongoing feedback from the participants.