Tag Archives: #h1bprevailingwage

Categories Department of Labor News & Updates USCIS

H-1B Cap Lottery System Modification – Final Rule

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Tomorrow, January 8, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security will publish a final rule modifying the H-1B lottery ahead of Cap season, which starts in March. The rule modifies the manner in which the lottery is conducted by prioritizing applications received on the basis of the wage level of the position in relation to similar positions in the geographic area. This rule would eliminate the random selection process that has historically been used. Instead, cases that show a higher prevailing wage according to the corresponding LCA would be given preference over cases filed using lower prevailing wage levels.

The rule is set to go into effect 60 days from being published, which means it would apply to this year’s H-1B cap season.

The rule is likely to be challenged and could potentially be set aside for failure to follow the required administrative procedure for rulemaking. However, the Biden Administration has expressed support for the concept of H-1B cap allocation based on wage level, so we will be monitoring this situation closely and will provide updates as they become available.

Categories Compliance Department of Labor News & Updates USCIS

Federal Court Sets Aside the DOL Wage Increase and the DHS H-1B Restrictions Rules

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Yesterday, December 1, 2020, a federal judge in California issued an order setting aside two new rules from the Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security, respectively. The first rule from the Department of Labor had gone into effect immediately and dramatically increased the prevailing wages that were required for H-1B and PERM applications. That rule has been set aside by the court as having improperly bypassed the normal notice and comment period required under federal law. It will likely take the Department of Labor a few days to revert back to the lower prevailing wage requirements. It is unclear as to whether the government will appeal this decision, but we do anticipate that even if there is an appeal that the rule will not be in effect while an appeal works its way through the court system. This was a widely expected outcome and will be welcome news to employers and employees alike.

The second rule from the Department of Homeland Security was set to go into effect next week, and it was also set aside by the federal judge in California. The rule would have enacted new restrictions and requirements around H-1B petitions. This outcome was also widely expected and is good news for employers who use the H-1B program.

Please reach out to your Graham Adair attorney if you have any questions and we will continue to provide updates as they become available on this situation.

Categories Department of Labor News & Updates USCIS

Insights on Proposed H-1B Regulation Changes

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The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has published some information on the possible regulatory changes that could be coming in the near future for the H-1B classification.  According to AILA, we can anticipate several proposed changes to the H-1B regulations.  These changes could include redefining “specialty occupation” to make it more restrictive than the current definition.  Changes to the rules around “employer-employee” relationships as it relates to 3rd party worksite placements, including changes to LCA requirements to make the 3rd party host part of the LCA process, are apparently being considered.  It is also anticipated that the Department of Labor will adjust prevailing wage requirements, which would impact H-1B petitions.

It is anticipated that these rules will be published as interim final rules and will go into effect immediately upon publishing.  It is also anticipated that there will be lawsuits filed to challenge the new regulations, which could lead to injunctions that would delay implementation of these new rules.

AILA anticipates that these rules are likely to be rolled out within the next 30 days.

Graham Adair is monitoring these rules very closely and will provide additional information as it becomes available.

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