Reference Citation

Sec. 214.2(e) Treaty Traders and Investors --

(1) Treaty trader. An alien, if otherwise admissible, may be classified as a nonimmigrant treaty trader (E-1) under the provisions of section 101(a)(15)(E)(i) of the Act if the alien:

(i) Will be in the United States solely to carry on trade of a substantial nature, which is international in scope, either on the alien's behalf or as an employee of a foreign person or organization engaged in trade principally between the United States and the treaty country of which the alien is a national, taking into consideration any conditions in the country of which the alien is a national which may affect the alien's ability to carry on such substantial trade; and

(ii) Intends to depart the United States upon the expiration or termination of treaty trader (E-1) status.

Sec. 214.2 (h)

(2) Petitions--

(i) Filing of petitions--

(A) General. A United States employer seeking to classify an alien as an H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, or H-3, temporary employee shall file a petition on Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, only with the USCIS Service Center which has jurisdiction in the area where the alien will perform services, or receive training, even in emergent situations, except as provided in this section or as specifically designated by USCIS via notice in the Federal Register.

Sec 214.2(l)

(2) Filing of petitions --

(i) Except as provided in paragraph (l)(2)(ii) and (l)(17) of this section, a petitioner seeking to classify an alien as an intracompany transferee shall file a petition on Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, only at the Service Center which has jurisdiction over the area where the alien will be employed, even in emergent situations. The petitioner shall advise the Service whether it has filed a petition for the same beneficiary with another office, and certify that it will not file a petition for the same beneficiary with another office, unless the circumstances and conditions in the initial petition have changed. Failure to make a full disclosure of previous petitions filed may result in a denial of the petition.

Sect. 214.2(o)

(2) Filing of petitions.--

(i) General. Except as provided for in paragraph (o)(2)(iv)(A) of this section, a petitioner seeking to classify an alien as an O-1 or O-2 nonimmigrant shall file a petition on Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, with the Service Center which has jurisdiction in the area where the alien will work. The petition may not be filed more than one year before the actual need for the alien's services. An O-1 or O-2 petition shall be adjudicated at the appropriate Service Center, even in emergency situations. Only one beneficiary may be included on an O-1 petition. O-2 aliens must be filed for on a separate petition from the O-1 alien. An O-1 or O-2 petition may only be filed by a United States employer, a United States agent, or a foreign employer through a United States agent. For purposes of paragraph (o) of this section, a foreign employer is any employer who is not amenable to service of process in the United States. A foreign employer may not directly petition for an O nonimmigrant alien but instead must use the services of a United States agent to file a petition for an O nonimmigrant alien. A United States agent petitioning on behalf of a foreign employer must be authorized to file the petition, and to accept services of process in the United States in proceedings under section 274A of the Act, on behalf of the foreign employer. An O alien may not petition for himself or herself.

Sec. 214.2(p)

(2) Filing of petitions --

(i) General. A P-1 petition for an athlete or entertainment group shall be filed by a United States employer, a United States sponsoring organization, a United States agent, or a foreign employer through a United States agent. For purposes of paragraph (p) of this section, a foreign employer is any employer who is not amenable to service of process in the United States. Foreign employers seeking to employ a P-1 alien may not directly petition for the alien but must use a United States agent. A United States agent petitioning on behalf of a foreign employer must be authorized to file the petition, and to accept service of process in the United States in proceedings under section 274A of the Act, on behalf of the foreign employer. A P-2 petition for an artist or entertainer in a reciprocal exchange program shall be filed by the United States labor organization which negotiated the reciprocal exchange agreement, the sponsoring organization, or a United States employer. A P-3 petition for an artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program shall be filed by the sponsoring organization or a United States employer. Essential support personnel may not be included on the petition filed for the principal alien(s). These aliens require a separate petition. Except as provided for in paragraph (p)(2)(iv)(A) of this section, the petitioner shall file a P petition on Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, with the Service Center which has jurisdiction in the area where the alien will work. The petition may not be filed more than one year before the actual need for the alien's services. A P-1, P-2, or P-3 petition shall be adjudicated at the appropriate Service Center, even in emergency situations.

Sec. 214.2(q)

(3) International cultural exchange program. -- (i) General. A United States employer shall petition the Attorney General on Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for approval of an international cultural exchange program which is designed to provide an opportunity for the American public to learn about foreign cultures. The United States employer must simultaneously petition on the same Form I-129 for the authorization for one or more individually identified nonimmigrant aliens to be admitted in Q-1 status. These aliens are to be admitted to engage in employment or training of which the essential element is the sharing with the American public, or a segment of the public sharing a common cultural interest, of the culture of the alien's country of nationality. T

Sec. 214.2(r)

(3) Initial evidence. An alien seeking classification as a nonimmigrant religious worker shall present to a United States consular officer, or, if visa exempt, to an immigration officer at a United States port of entry, documentation which establishes to the satisfaction of the consular or immigration officer that the alien will be providing services to a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the United States or to an affiliated religious organization as defined in paragraph (r)(2) of this section, and that the alien meets the criteria to perform such services. If the alien is in the United States in another valid nonimmigrant classification and desires to change nonimmigrant status to classification as a nonimmigrant religious worker, this documentation should be presented with an application for change of status (Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker). The documentation shall consist of:

(i) Evidence that the organization qualifies as a non-profit organization, in the form of either:

(A) Documentation showing that it is exempt from taxation in accordance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as it relates to religious organizations (in appropriate cases, evidence of the organization's assets and methods of operation and the organization's papers of incorporation under applicable state law may be requested); or

(B) Such documentation as is required by the Internal Revenue Service to establish eligibility for exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as it relates to religious organizations; and

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