THE US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the launch of a Known Employer pilot program on Thursday, March 3, assessing a new process for employers who seek to hire workers through employment-based visa categories.
Modifying the process US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) already uses to review an employer’s eligibility to sponsor individuals (under certain employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant classifications), the Known Employer pilot is expected to streamline paperwork, reduce costs and delays in the processing of these benefit requests.
According to a release from the DHS press office, USCIS will oversee the pilot program, in collaboration with the DHS Office of Policy, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the US Department of State (DOS).
“Last year, DHS announced it would explore a Known Employer pilot to modernize and streamline the process for U.S. employers seeking to employ certain foreign workers,” said USCIS Director León Rodríguez. “Today, we’re partnering with a select group of representative organizations across a variety of industries to determine how we can improve efficiency and cut costs. If successful, we will continue to build on this trial program and promote robust trade, travel, and economic prosperity.”
DHS first announced in January 2015 that it would explore a Known Employer pilot program, under the United States-Canada Beyond the Border initiative. The pilot also was highlighted as a recommendation in a report from federal agencies, “Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century,” that was submitted to the President in July 2015.
The Known Employer pilot aims to make the employment eligibility adjudication process more efficient, while reducing delays for businesses and employers who wish to employ foreign workers under certain immigrant and non-immigrant visa programs.
Goals of the program include: reducing the amount of paperwork filed by employers and retained by USCIS; promoting consistency in the adjudication of employment-based petitions and applications; streamlining the adjudicative process to achieve greater efficiency within USCIS; and providing greater support to CBP and DOS in support of greater efficiency and consistency at ports of entry and consular posts.
Under the Known Employer pilot, up to nine pre-selected employers can file applications requesting that USCIS predetermine that they meet the requirements relating to certain immigrant and non-immigrant visa classifications. When making this request, employers will create a profile in the Web-based Known Employer Document Library (KEDL), and can upload documents relating to the requirements.
USCIS officers will swiftly review and predetermine whether a prospective employer has met certain requirements relating to the visa classifications. If the predetermination request is approved, the employer may then file petitions or applications for individual employees, without needing to resubmit company information with each petition or application.
According to the process, employers will not be charged any additional fees to participate in the Known Employer pilot, which is scheduled to last for up to one year. The DHS reports that USCIS may terminate or extend the pilot at any time.
DHS and DOS will solicit ongoing feedback on the program from its participants. More information and a list of participating employers can be found on the Known Employer pilot page.
