USCIS Now Accepting Bundled L-1 Petitions

USCIS announced last week that it will accept and consider bundled petitions for L-1 nonimmigrant classification. While each L-1 petition must still be considered on its own merits, USCIS hopes to streamline and improve the adjudication process by accepting petitions grouped together.

Petitions may be included in the bundle if they meet the following requirements:

1. Petitions are from the same petitioner;
   
         
2. Petitions are filed 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;
   
         
3. Petitions are filed under the same service (either all premium processing or non-premium processing);
   
         
4. Petitions are filed on behalf of L-1A managers if they will be managing the L-1B beneficiaries who will be working on the project.

USCIS will also consider Forms I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, filed for a beneficiary’s qualifying dependents included in the bundle. USCIS issued further guidelines, advising, inter alia, that each petition should be packaged separately with its own fees and supporting evidence and include a cover sheet with information to be used in processing the related filings.

For additional tips and guidelines on filing bundled L-1 petitions please contact Bill Flynn, Board Certified Immigration and Nationality Law attorney.