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PrintI-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Alert: On March 20, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the immediate and temporary suspension of premium processing service for all Form I-129 and I-140 petitions until further notice due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
ALERT: On Feb. 21, 2020, the Supreme Court lifted the statewide injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois affecting Illinois filers. USCIS implemented the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule nationwide, including in Illinois, on Feb. 24, 2020. USCIS will apply the final rule to all applications for adjustment of status, and applications and petitions for extension of nonimmigrant stay or change of nonimmigrant status postmarked (or, if applicable, submitted electronically) on or after that date. For applications and petitions that are sent by commercial courier (for example, UPS, FedEx, or DHL), the postmark date is the date reflected on the courier receipt. USCIS will reject any affected application or petition that does not adhere to the final rule, including those submitted by or on behalf of aliens living in Illinois, if postmarked on or after Feb. 24, 2020.
The final rule requires certain applicants and petitioners seeking extension of stay and change of status to report certain information related to public benefits. Due to litigation-related delays in the final rule’s implementation, USCIS is applying this requirement as though it refers to Feb. 24, 2020, rather than Oct. 15, 2019. Please read all references to Oct. 15, 2019 as though they refer to Feb. 24, 2020.
USCIS will not consider, and applicants and petitioners submitting applications and petitions for extension of stay and change of status do not need to report the receipt of any public benefits received before Feb. 24, 2020.
Certain classes of aliens are exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility (such as refugees, asylees, certain VAWA self-petitioners, U petitioners, and T applicants) and therefore, are not subject to the final rule.
Read the final rule (PDF).
USCIS has updated the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, H-1B “All Other” classifications.
Please refer to the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for information on where to file petitions for H-1B “All Other” classifications. These classifications include extensions of stay, changes of status, concurrent employment requests, POE/PFI/consular notifications, and amended petitions.
Please note, USCIS will allow a 30-day grace period in which affected petitioners may file Form I-129 at the previously designated service centers. The grace period will end on April 11. After this date, USCIS may reject those petitions sent to the incorrect service center.
Petitioners use this form to file on behalf of a nonimmigrant worker to come to the United States temporarily to perform services or labor, or to receive training, as an H-1B, 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 or R-1 nonimmigrant worker. Petitioners may also use this form to request an extension of stay in or change of status to E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B1 or TN, or one of the above classifications for an alien.
Number of Pages
Form 36; instructions 29.
Edition Date
01/27/20. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
Dates are listed in mm/dd/yy format.
Where to File
See Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker.
Filing Tips for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Complete all sections of the form.
Don’t forget to sign your form! We will reject any unsigned form.
Filing Fee
$460.
When you send a payment, you agree to pay for a government service. Filing and biometric service fees are final and non-refundable, regardless of any action we take on your application, petition, or request, or if you withdraw your request.
Checklist of Required Initial Evidence (for informational purposes only)
View the checklist of required initial evidence.
Special Instructions
Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule implementation
Petitioners requesting an extension of stay or change of status on behalf of aliens who are subject to the new public benefit condition do not need to report the receipt of public benefits on Form I-129 if such benefits are received before Feb. 24, 2020. Please read all references to Oct. 15, 2019, as though they refer to Feb. 24, 2020.
Duplicate Copies:
Please provide a duplicate copy of Form I-129 and all supporting documentation at the time of filing if the beneficiary is seeking a nonimmigrant visa abroad, a change of status, or an extension of stay. Additionally, please provide duplicate copies of all documents sent to us in response to a Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny. We will not make duplicate copies.
Failure to submit duplicate copies may cause a delay in the Department of State issuing a visa abroad. To speed processing, copies should be double-sided and bound with a single binder clip. Please do not include staples, ribbons, or tabbed dividers in the duplicate copy.
Extension of Stay Requests for Beneficiaries Who Entered the United States Based on an Approved Blanket L Petition:
All petitioners requesting an extension of stay for a beneficiary who entered the United States based on an approved blanket L petition must file the following:
- Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker,
- Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition (the 06/02/16 edition only), and
- A copy of their previously approved Form I-129S.
We may reject any Form I-129 for an L-1 blanket extension of stay request that does not also include Form I-129S.
Change of Status Request for Beneficiaries Who are in the United States:
All petitioners requesting a change of status to L-1 based on an approved blanket L petition for a beneficiary who is currently in the United States must file the following:
- Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, and
- Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition (the 06/02/16 edition only).
We may reject any Form I-129 for an L-1 blanket change of status request that does not also include Form I-129S.
Evidence of Petition Approval Needed When Traveling:
Along with a valid passport and visa (if applicable), the alien beneficiary should carry the following documents when traveling to the United States:
- Form I-797 USCIS petition approval notice; or
- A copy of the approved Form I-129S (if applicable)
The beneficiary should present this documentation to U.S. Customs and Border Protection when seeking entry or re-entry into the United States in the approved Form I-129 employment classification.
Evidence of a petition approval is not a visa and the beneficiary must possess the appropriate nonimmigrant visa, if one is required, before applying for admission into the United States.
Form I-94 Validity:
When the beneficiary with an approved Form I-129 is admitted to the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection grants the beneficiary a period of stay documented on Form I-94 or as noted in the passport or travel document.
If the expiration date on Form I-94 ends before the end of Form I-129's validity period (as shown on Form I-797 approval notice) one of the following must occur before the expiration date on Form I-94 or as noted in the passport or travel document:
- A petitioner must file a request for an extension of stay on behalf of the beneficiary using Form I-129; or
- An application for some other immigration benefit that would allow the beneficiary to remain in the United States must be filed; or
- The beneficiary must depart the United States.
If the nonimmigrant worker’s stay is limited as described above, any dependent family members who accompanied or followed to join the beneficiary must also:
- Request an extension of stay using Form I-539;
- Apply for some other immigration benefit that would allow the family member to remain in the United States; or
- Depart the United States, before the expiration date on the family member’s Form I-94 or the date noted in the family member’s passport or travel document.
Part 6 - Certification Regarding the Release of Controlled Technology or Technical Data to Foreign Persons in the United States:
Petitioners must complete Part 6 of Form I-129 if they are seeking to classify a nonimmigrant worker as H-1B, H-1B1 Chile/Singapore, L-1, and O-1A. Part 6 is not required for petitions for all other classifications, including but not limited to blanket L petitions (LZ). See our Part 6 of Form I-129: Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Troubled Asset Relief Program:
Employers who received funds through the Troubled Asset Relief Program or under section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act (“covered funding”) are no longer required to answer question 1d in Part A of the H-1B Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement.
For Residence in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI):
You must follow additional guidance if you are requesting an initial grant of nonimmigrant status in the CNMI. For more information, please visit the grants of status webpage.
When completing Form I-129, please list your CNMI P.O. box when asked for a street or physical address. File your petitions for employment or services in the CNMI, regardless of classification, with the California Service Center.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
California Service Center
P.O. Box 10698
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-1098
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:
California Service Center
24000 Avila Road, 2nd Floor, Room 2312
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
