On January 17, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will release a revised version of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (edition date: 01/17/25). This update aligns with the recently implemented H-1B and H-2 modernization final rules.
The new 01/17/25 edition will replace the 04/01/24 edition, with no grace period for transitioning between versions. Effective January 17, 2025, USCIS will reject any Form I-129 petitions submitted using the 04/01/24 edition.
To assist petitioners in preparing for the transition, USCIS has made a preview version of the updated Form I-129 and its instructions available in PDF format. However, petitioners should not file the 01/17/25 edition before January 17, 2025. USCIS will only accept the revised form if it is received on or after this date.
For petitioners filing Form I-129 by mail, please take note of the following key points:
- USCIS will accept the 04/01/24 edition of Form I-129 only if it is received before January 17, 2025.
- USCIS will not accept the 04/01/24 edition if it is received on or after January 17, 2025.
- Only the 01/17/25 edition of Form I-129 will be accepted for petitions received on or after January 17, 2025.
Contact HSD Immigration Lawyer Chicago office for additional information about this recent announcement.
At HSD Immigration Lawyer, we specialize in complex employment-, investment- and family-based immigration matters. We will continue to monitor and share additional updates as USCIS releases related to H-1B cap-gap extension.