U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a new edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, which will be mandatory for all petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2026. This update coincides with the start of the fiscal year (FY) 2027 H-1B cap-subject filing period and aligns with the agency's new wage-weighted lottery system.
The revised form requires employers to provide significantly more granular detail about the offered position. Petitioners must now explicitly spell out the position's minimum degree level, field of study, required years of experience, specialized skills, and supervisory duties in newly added fields. Crucially, the form also requires employers to state the wage level they selected during the initial electronic registration process.
Immigration experts warn that any inconsistencies between the details provided on the new Form I-129 and the underlying Labor Condition Application (LCA) could lead to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) or outright petition denials. Employers are urged to review their job descriptions and wage data carefully to ensure strict compliance with the updated requirements.