U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (immigration office) has made new updates to its nonimmigrant worker application form, with these changes effective April 1, 2026.
After the modification, USCIS will no longer accept the previous version of Form I-129. Petitioners must submit a new version of the form starting on April 2. However, if submitted before March 31, 2026, the older version applies.
Form H-1B allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary, non-immigrant basis. Requirements for applicants state that they must have expertise in the relevant field or at least a bachelor’s degree.
The revised form has been changed to H1 Classification section. The changes were introduced under the new salary lottery system and will apply from the 2027 financial year.
mandatory disclosure
Employers must also disclose more detailed information on the application’s minimum qualifications for the job, wages offered, industry wage levels or labor conditions (life cycle assessment), work location and employment arrangements. The form also requires mandatory disclosure of the employee’s immigration history. Applications will be subject to more rigorous review.
Affected visa categories
While the major visa categories remain the same, the changes are not limited to H-1B visas. It allows applicants to request an extension of stay or a change in visa status. Classes that allow employers to bring nonimmigrant workers to the United States include H-2A, H-2B, H-3, L-1, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, and R-1.
Applicants can also use this form to extend or change visa status to E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B1, TN, or other designated categories. This form also allows students to apply for transition from a study visa to a work visa. However, under the new guidelines, U.S. employers will not be allowed to hire F-1 students under the H-1B program.
Employers and countries that provide services, training, and labor to the United States will feel the significant impact of the reforms.
