Employers can use Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition to petition for an employee to be classified as an L-1 nonimmigrant intracompany transferee under a blanket L petition (LZ) approval. That’s a mouthful. But what does this mean?
Basically, the government acknowledges that many people travel to and from the United States for work. For instance, a businessperson may frequently travel from their home country to the United States for business. In this situation, rather than apply for full-time residency, they can file Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition.
Petitioners and Beneficiaries of Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an employer must first secure an approved blanket L-1 petition to become a petitioner. Then, they can file Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition to classify a beneficiary as either:
- An executive
- A manager
- A specialized knowledge professional
Furthermore, employers seeking to extend a beneficiary’s stay must also submit Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.
For a free case review with a nonimmigrant petition lawyer serving Phoenix, call
The Process of Filling Out Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition
Filling out immigration forms can be tedious since they require extensive documentation. Additionally, there are other seemingly minor details that must be considered, such as the requirement for handwritten signatures.
A simple mistake on these forms can cost your company time and money. Consider the following key elements in completing Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition:
Signatures
This form requires a handwritten signature in ink, not a stamp or a typed signature. If there are documents you have to submit copies of, these copies must have the original handwritten signatures.
Filing Fees
There are several fees that may apply in your case, such as:
- A $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee
- A $500 fee for the Secretary of State
- A $500 fee for the Secretary of Homeland Security
You may also have to pay a Public Law 114-113 Fee of $4,500 for certain L-1 petitions if:
- The petitioner employs 50 or more individuals in the United States;
- More than 50 percent of those employees are in H-1B, L-1A, or L-1B nonimmigrant status; and
- The petition is filed before October 1, 2025.
Evidence
You must submit ample evidence with Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition. Along with proof of your approval notice for the blanket L petition, you must also submit a letter from the beneficiary’s foreign qualifying employer. This letter must detail the beneficiary’s:
- Dates of employment
- Job duties
- Qualifications
- Salary
The beneficiary must have also worked for the employer for at least one continuous year out of three years as an executive, a manager, or a specialized knowledge professional.
Specific Instructions
The nuts and bolts of Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition require great attention to detail. You must provide the following information:
- Your organization’s name
- Your mailing address
- Your physical address
- Your contact information
- Your employees in the United States
You must also provide the following information about the beneficiary, the person you wish to employ:
- Alien Registration Number (A-Number) if they have one
- USCIS Online Account Number if they have one
- U.S. Social Security number if they have one
- Full name
- Foreign mailing address
- Foreign physical address
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Birthplace
- Country of citizenship or nationality
- The position you wish to hire the beneficiary for
- Dates of their proposed employment
- Their prior periods of stay in the United States
This form also requires information about your beneficiary’s foreign employment. All these details must be accompanied by documentation, as well. A simple spelling error could raise a flag during the review process. Instead of sweating over the details, an immigration lawyer can help you get it right the first time around.
How the USCIS Processes Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition
After you fill out and submit Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, the USCIS may respond in different ways. Generally, your petition will undergo a four-step decision process. These steps include:
Assessing Your Initial Petition
Upon initial processing, the USCIS will review your petition for completeness and accuracy. At this point, it may deny your petition if it’s not complete or has wrong information.
Requesting More Information
Even if you fulfilled the requirements of Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, the USCIS can ask for more information before making its decision. For example, it may ask to see the original copies of supporting documents. It will usually return them after review.
Requesting an Interview
The USCIS may request an interview. You may have to appear at a USCIS office and verify your identity or update background checks.
Issuing a Decision
Finally, the USCIS will issue its final decision in writing. This process proves time-consuming, though. It could take anywhere from two to four months for authorities to review and process your employee’s petition. No business can afford the delays a denied immigration form can bring. The last thing you want is to have to halt production and put an expensive project on hold.
An immigration lawyer can navigate this process while you attend to other important business matters.
Our Nonimmigrant Petition Lawyers
Our Lawyers Can Help With Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition
We understand that filling out Form I-129S Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition can be confusing. A mistake can cause you to miss an important deadline and cost your company productivity. You can get back to focusing on business and let our legal team deal with your petition.
The attorneys with New Frontier Immigration Law can handle the paperwork for you and answer any questions you may have. Call us for a strategic session today!