The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will begin rejecting certain visa applications starting April 1, 2026, as new rules governing Form I-129 come into effect.
Under the updated policy, USCIS will no longer accept applications submitted using the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-129 if they are received on or after April 1. Only the newly released 02/27/26 edition will be accepted from that date onward.
Form I-129 is used by US employers to petition for nonimmigrant workers across several visa categories, including H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, L-1, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-2, P-3, Q-1 and R-1.
What changes in the new Form I-129?
The updated version introduces key modifications, particularly to the H Classification Supplement for the FY2027 H-1B cap season under the proposed wage-weighted lottery system.
Employers are now required to provide more detailed job-related information, including:
- Minimum educational qualifications
- Specific field of study
- Required work experience
- Whether the role involves supervisory responsibilities
These factors align with criteria used by the US Department of Labor to determine wage levels (Level I to Level IV) in the Labor Condition Application (LCA).
The revised form will also capture two wage-related data points:
- The wage level listed on the LCA
- The wage level selected during the H-1B registration process
USCIS said this added information will help verify whether the appropriate wage level has been chosen.
USCIS advisory
In its official alert issued on February 27, 2026, USCIS clarified:
- The 01/20/25 edition of Form I-129 will be accepted only if received on or before March 31, 2026
- Any submission using the older form received on or after April 1, 2026, will be rejected
Applicants are advised to check the edition date at the bottom of the form before filing to avoid processing delays or rejections.
