H-1B cap petitions may be filed as of April 1

IPINAHAYAG ng USCIS noong Abril 1, 2020 na ang mga H-1B cap-subject petition para sa fiscal year (FY) 2021 na napili sa mga nag-electronic registration ay maaari nang i-file. Kasama sa H-1B cap-subject petition ang mga visa numbers na may “statutory cap” na 65,000 na empleyado bawat FY, pati na rin ang karagdagang 20,000 “master’s exemption” visa numbers para sa mga dayuhang empleyadong may master’s degree o mas mataas pa sa master’s degree mula sa mga kwalipikadong colegio o unibersidad sa U.S.

Dahil sa implementasyon ngayong FY 2021 ng H1B registration process para sa H-1B cap-subject petitions, ang petitioner ay eligible lamang mag-file ng H-1B petition kung ang petitioner ay nag-electronic registration ng beneficiary sa H-1B registration process at ang registration ay napili ng USCIS sa pamamagitan ng random selection process. Ang USCIS ay magbibigay ng registration selection notice kung saan nakalagay ang panahon kung kailan dapat mai-file ang H-1B Petition, na hindi bababa sa 90 araw. Walang online filing ng mga H-1B Petition kaya’t ang mga ito ay kailangang ipadala sa USCIS sa pamamagitan ng USPS, Fedex o UPS. Kailangang kasama sa H-1B Petition ang kopya ng registration selection notice.

Ang H-1B Petitioners ay kailangan pa ring magpakita ng eligibility para sa approval ng H-1B Petition mula sa filing hanggang sa ito ay madesisyonan ng USCIS. Ang selection sa H-1B registration process ay nagbibigay lamang ng eligibility sa filing ng H-1B Petition. Hindi ibig sabihin na ang mga napili sa electronic registration ay maaprubahan na ng USCIS.

Para masabing ang trabaho ay isang specialty occupation, kailangangang ipakita ng U.S. employer na ang trabaho ay pumapasok sa isa sa apat na criteria na ito: (1) ang bachelor’s degree, o mas mataas na degree, o katumbas ng degree na ito, ang karaniwang minimum requirement para matanggap sa posisyong ito; (2) ang degree requirement ay karaniwan sa industriya para sa magkatulad na posisyon at magkatulad na kumpanya. Maaari rin ipakita ng U.S. employer na ang partikular na posisyon ay kakaiba at mahirap, kaya’t kinakailangan ang isang empleyadong may bachelor’s degree o mas mataas na degree, o katumbas ng degree na ito; (3) ang U.S. employer ay karaniwang nangangailangan ng may degree para sa posisyon; o (4) ang katangian ng katungkulan para sa trabaho ay napaka-dalubhasa at mahirap kaya’t ang kaalaman na kailangan para magawa ang mga katungkulan sa trabaho ay karaniwang kabakas sa pagkamit ng bachelor’s degree o mas mataas na degree.

Ang dayuhang empleyado naman ay kailangang may kalidad para magtrabaho sa specialty occupation dahil siya ay mayroong bachelor’s degree or mas mataas na degree, o katumbas ng degree na ito, sa specialty occupation. Mapapatunayan ang kalidad ng dayuhang empleyado sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita na siya ay: (1) may bachelor’s degree o mas mataas na degree na kailangan para sa specialty occupation, na galing sa isang accredited na unibersidad sa U.S.; (2) may foreign degree na napatunayang katumbas ng U.S. degree; (3) may unrestricted state license, registration o certification para mag-practice ng specialty occupation sa lugar ng trabaho; o (4) may edukasyon, dalubhasang pagsasanay, at/o may progresibong karanasan sa trabaho, na tinuturing na katumbas ng U.S. bachelor’s degree o mas mataas na degree.

USCIS announced on April 1, 2020 that H-1B cap-subject petitions for fiscal year (FY) 2021 may already be filed based on a valid selected registration. This includes the H1B visa numbers subject to the “statutory cap” of 65,000 workers per fiscal year, as well as the 20,000 additional “master’s exemption” visa numbers for foreign workers with a master’s degree or a higher degree from a qualified U.S. college or university.

Based on the implementation this FY 2021 of the H1B registration process for H1B cap-subject petitions, a petitioner is only eligible to file an H-1B petition if they electronically registered the beneficiary in the H-1B registration process and USCIS selected the registration submitted for the beneficiary through the random selection process. The relevant registration selection notice given by USCIS will indicate the period within which the H-1B Petition must be filed. This period will be at least 90 days. As online filing of H-1B Petitions is not available, the H-1B Petitions must be mailed to USCIS. The H-1B Petition must include a copy of the printed registration selection notice.

Petitioners filing the H-1B cap-subject petitions must still establish eligibility for approval at the time the H-1B petition is filed and through adjudication. Selection in the registration process only pertains to eligibility to file the H-1B cap-subject petition for FY 2021.

The H1b visa category applies to alien workers who wish to perform services in a specialty occupation. The job must meet the following criteria to qualify as a specialty occupation: (1) bachelor’s or higher degree or its equivalent is normally the minimum entry requirement for the position; (2) the degree requirement for the job is common to the industry or the job is so complex and unique that it can be performed only by an individual with a degree; (3) the employer normally requires a degree or its equivalent for the position; (4) the nature of the specific duties is so specialized and complex that the knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with the attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree.

For the alien worker to qualify to accept a job offer in a specialty occupation, the alien worker must meet the following criteria: (1) have completed a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher degree required by the specialty occupation from an accredited college or university; (2) hold a foreign degree that is the equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree or a higher degree in the specialty occupation; (3) hold an unrestricted state license, registration or certification which authorizes the alien worker to fully practice the specialty occupation and be engaged in that specialty in the state of intended employment; (4) have education, training or progressively responsible experience in the specialty that is equivalent to the completion of such a degree, and have recognition of expertise in the specialty through progressively responsible positions directly related to the specialty.

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ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for over 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School. She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005). SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C., 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Phone: (213) 274-4561; Email: [email protected].