[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 217 (Friday, November 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63621-63622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21984]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[CIS No. 2433-07; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2007-0059]
RIN 1615-ZA63


Filing Location for H-2A Petitions

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces that employers petitioning for temporary 
or seasonal agricultural workers coming to the United States under the 
H-2A nonimmigrant classification must file their petitions at U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Service's California Service Center. 
Receiving all H-2A petitions at the designated California Service 
Center will enable U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to reduce 
overall petition processing times and better monitor the adjudication 
of H-2A petitions.

DATES: This Notice is effective December 10, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hiroko Witherow, Service Center 
Operations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of 
Homeland Security, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Suite 3000, 
Washington, DC 20529, telephone (202) 272-8410.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The H-2A nonimmigrant classification applies to alien workers 
coming to the United States temporarily to perform agricultural labor 
or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. Immigration and 
Nationality Act (INA) sec. 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), 8 U.S.C. 
1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a); see 8 CFR 214.1(a)(2) (H-2A classification 
designation). As part of the process to obtain H-2A nonimmigrant 
status, a U.S. employer must file Form I-129, ``Petition for 
Nonimmigrant Worker,'' on the workers'' behalf. On October 17, 2007, 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it was 
centralizing the processing of Forms I-129 filed under the H-2A 
nonimmigrant classification (hereinafter ``H-2A petitions'') to its 
California Service Center (CSC). See http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/H2AUpdate17Oct07.pdf. USCIS also issued Form I-129 
Supplemental Filing Instructions for filing H-2A petitions at the CSC.
    The October 17 announcement encouraged employers to begin filing H-
2A petitions at the CSC address. Previously, employers were required to 
file H-2A petitions either with USCIS' California Service Center (CSC) 
or Vermont Service Center (VSC), depending on the location of the 
temporary employment. See Form I-129 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07), at 
pages 13 through 16. The change in filing location of H-2A petitions to 
the CSC was prompted by USCIS' establishment of a special unit at the 
California Service Center dedicated to process all H-2A petitions. 
USCIS believes that receiving all H-2A petitions at the designated CSC 
address will help speed the fee-receipt, data-entry, and adjudication 
processes. In so doing, USCIS will be able to reduce overall petition 
processing times and better monitor the adjudication of H-2A petitions.
    USCIS has been forwarding H-2A petitions to the CSC for processing 
if a

[[Page 63622]]

different service center received the petitions. However, after 
December 10, 2007, USCIS will no longer continue to forward H-2A 
petitions filed at another service center. Instead, these petitions and 
accompanying fees will be returned to the petitioner for proper filing.

II. H-2A Filing Address at the CSC

    Beginning on December 10, 2007, employers must file H-2A petitions 
at the following address in accordance with the Supplemental Filing 
Instructions to Form I-129:
    For Direct Mail: U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 
California Service Center, ATTN: H-2A Processing Unit, P.O. Box 10140, 
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-1040.
    For non-United States Postal Service (USPS) deliveries (e.g. 
private couriers): U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 
California Service Center, ATTN: H-2A Processing Unit, 24000 Avila 
Road, Room 2312, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677.
    An H-2A petition also can be electronically filed. Instructions for 
electronically filing Form I-129 for the H-2A classification is 
available on USCIS' Web site at www.uscis.gov.

III. Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, 109 
Stat. 163 (1995), all Departments are required to submit to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB), for review and approval, any reporting 
or recordkeeping requirements. Accordingly, the supplemental 
instructions for the Form I-129 were submitted and approved by OMB. The 
OMB Control Number for this information collection is 1615-0009.

    Dated: November 5, 2007.
Emilio T. Gonzalez,
Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
[FR Doc. E7-21984 Filed 11-8-07; 8:45 am]
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