DHS Expands Comment Period for Proposed Rule on Fee Schedule and Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements.

On December 9, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security extended the Notice and Comment period for its proposed rule from December 16, 2019 to December 30, 2019. As stated in our previous Business Immigration Update, the proposed rule will adjust the fee schedule by a weighted average increase of 21% to cover the agency’s increased costs to adjudicate immigration benefit requests, detect and deter immigration fraud, and thoroughly vet applicants, petitioners, and beneficiaries. In addition, the USCIS plans to change certain requirements for applications, including changes to premium processing and establishing different fees and different I-129 petition forms for nonimmigrant workers under H, L, TN, E and O.