20 16 what's the new policy of the us h 1b work visa immigration office?

USCIS, the US Immigration Bureau, issued the latest regulations on October 20161810, aiming at improving the relevant regulations of professional immigrants (EB 1, EB2, EB3) and amending relevant laws to help American employers better hire and retain high-tech foreign employees. Non-immigrant visa applicants such as H- 1B in the United States benefit the most. The latest policies related to the H- 1B visa include:

1. Mobility of foreign workers

Foreign workers holding H- 1B can apply for changing their employers.

2. Extend the validity of the H- 1B visa.

From 20 17 65438+ 10/7, holders of H 1B will have a grace period of up to 60 days in order to find a new employer or extend their legal status after unemployment.

3.H- 1B quota exemption

According to the current regulations, non-immigrant workers working in the following institutions are not subject to the H- 1B quota:

(1) institutions of higher learning;

(2) Non-profit entities related to or affiliated with higher education institutions;

(3) government or non-profit research institutions.

In the new regulations, DHS further expands the definition of item (2) above, allowing non-profit entities to sign written agreements with higher education institutions, which must prove the following relationships between them: (1) working relationship related to research or education; (2) The basic work of non-profit organizations directly promotes the research or educational tasks of higher education institutions.

In addition, DHS further revised the definition of "government research institutions" in item (3) to include research entities of federal, state and local governments.

4. Work permit application in case of force majeure

The I- 140 applicants approved by DHS under special circumstances are H- 1B, H- 1B, L- 1, O- 1, E-3 and H-respectively.

Note: DHS does not give a specific definition of "special circumstances", but indicates that EAD may be obtained under the following circumstances, including but not limited to: serious illness or disability; Employer disputes or protection; The applicant and his family will suffer great damage; Major interference with employers, etc.