Earlier this year, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) California Service Center (CSC) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Blaine, Washington, port of entry (POE) announced a new pilot program for Canadian citizens seeking L-1 nonimmigrant status under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The program was designed to evaluate how long USCIS needs to adjudicate these petitions and whether USCIS can support CBP through remote adjudications. The ultimate goal of this program is to increase consistency in adjudication of L-1 petitions and facilitate the adjudication and admission process of Canadians traveling to the United States as L-1 nonimmigrants.
This program allows, but does not require, Canadian citizens to request that USCIS remotely adjudicate their petitioning employer’s Form I-129 or I-129S prior to their arrival or when they arrive at the Blaine POE. In order to participate in this program, petitioners must file Form I-129 or I-129S as well as supporting evidence and documents with the CSC. Next, USCIS will receive fees, issue a receipt notice, and adjudicate the Form I-129 or I-129S. If additional evidence is necessary, USCIS will issue a request of evidence (RFE) to the petitioner.
Originally, the pilot program was only set to last until October 31, 2018; however, USCIS and CBP decided to extend the program to April 30, 2019. It is important to note that this option is available only at the Blaine POE during the pilot program. Canadian citizens and petitioning employers are encouraged to provide feedback on their experience with this process.
If you are interested in working in the United States and would like to explore your options, please contact Berardi Immigration Law to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys today!
