DHS Revela Proposta Para Aprimorar o Programa de Trabalhadores em Ocupações Especializadas H-1B
Kris Quadros-Ragar • May 16, 2024
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O Departamento de Segurança Interna dos Estados Unidos (DHS), por meio do Serviço de Cidadania e Imigração dos Estados Unidos (USCIS), divulgou uma Notificação de Regulamentação Proposta (NPRM, na sigla em inglês) com o objetivo de modernizar o programa de trabalhadores em ocupações especializadas H-1B. Esta revisão proposta tem a intenção de simplificar os requisitos de elegibilidade, aumentar a eficiência do programa, fornecer benefícios e flexibilidades melhorados tanto para empregadores quanto para trabalhadores, e reforçar medidas para garantir a integridade do programa.
O programa H-1B desempenha um papel vital ao permitir que empregadores dos EUA recrutem o talento necessário para atender às demandas empresariais e manter sua competitividade no cenário global, enquanto cumprem as proteções legais dos trabalhadores dos EUA. Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretário de Segurança Interna, afirma que o DHS está comprometido em desenvolver e implementar regulamentações que simplifiquem os processos para empregadores e trabalhadores no sistema de imigração. A principal prioridade da Administração Biden-Harris é atrair talentos globais, reduzir ônus indevidos sobre os empregadores e combater fraudes e abusos no sistema de imigração.
No âmbito do programa de visto de não imigrante H-1B, os empregadores dos EUA podem temporariamente empregar trabalhadores estrangeiros em ocupações especializadas que exijam conhecimento altamente especializado e um diploma de bacharel ou superior no campo específico.
A regra proposta delineia mudanças significativas, incluindo uma modificação na forma como o USCIS conduz o processo de seleção de registro do H-1B para reduzir o potencial de uso indevido e fraude. O sistema atual permite uma maior chance de seleção na loteria para indivíduos com mais registros enviados em seu nome. No entanto, a proposta sugere que cada indivíduo com um registro enviado para eles deve ser incluído no processo de seleção apenas uma vez, independentemente do número de registros enviados. Essa mudança tem como objetivo nivelar o campo de jogo e reduzir o incentivo para enviar múltiplos registros para o mesmo beneficiário a fim de aumentar suas chances de seleção. Além disso, poderia expandir as oportunidades de emprego para beneficiários, já que cada registrante com um beneficiário selecionado teria a opção de apresentar uma petição de H-1B em seu nome.
A regra proposta também introduz várias outras disposições, incluindo:
- Simplificação dos critérios de elegibilidade ao revisar os critérios para posições de ocupação especializada, reduzindo confusão e esclarecendo que uma posição pode aceitar uma variedade de diplomas, desde que estejam diretamente relacionados às funções da posição.
- Aumento da eficiência do programa ao formalizar a prática de os adjudicadores se basearem em determinações anteriores quando não houver mudanças nos fatos subjacentes durante uma nova apresentação.
- Extensão de benefícios e flexibilidades para empregadores e trabalhadores, como a expansão de isenções ao limite do H-1B para certas entidades sem fins lucrativos, organizações de pesquisa governamentais e beneficiários não diretamente empregados por uma organização qualificada. Também oferece flexibilidade adicional para estudantes com visto F-1 que buscam mudar seu status para H-1B e introduz novos requisitos de elegibilidade para empresários emergentes.
- Fortalecimento das medidas de integridade ao impedir que entidades relacionadas enviem múltiplos registros para o mesmo beneficiário, capacitando o USCIS a realizar visitas ao local e esclarecendo que a não conformidade com visitas ao local pode levar à negação ou revogação da petição.
A NPRM (publicada aqui) convida comentários públicos por um período de 60 dias após sua publicação no Registro Federal. É crucial observar que essas mudanças propostas só se tornarão eficazes após passarem pelo processo de finalização e receberem aprovação por meio de revisão federal. Algumas dessas mudanças podem ser implementadas a tempo da temporada de limite do H-1B para o ano fiscal de 2025, esperada para começar no início de 2024. O USCIS indicou a possibilidade de implementar essas mudanças incrementalmente por meio de um ou mais lançamentos de regras finais.
Fonte:
Link NPRM:
Este blog não se destina a fornecer aconselhamento jurídico e nada aqui deve ser interpretado como estabelecimento de um relacionamento advogado-cliente. Por favor, agende uma consulta com um advogado de imigração antes de agir com base em qualquer informação lida aqui.
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