Employee visa petitions: the November 9 Form I-129 cutoff

Which petition packages are affected?

Form I-129 is the employer petition used for H-1B and L-1 workers, among other temporary classifications. USCIS released its 09/09/26 edition on September 9. It will reject the 02/27/26 edition when postmarked or submitted electronically on or after November 9.

Two November dates with different instructions

The mailing-location notice was issued October 7. Its transition ends differently from the form-edition transition.

A separate fee change already applies

DHS’s final rule, effective September 9, expanded the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee to covered employers’ H-1B and L-1 extensions of status, including extensions with the same employer. The change no longer makes that fee depend on whether the fraud prevention fee is also due.

An employer is covered if it has at least 50 employees in the United States and more than half are in H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status. The additional amount is $4,000 for an H-1B petition and $4,500 for an L-1 petition. It is not a charge on every U.S. sponsor.

An amended petition that does not request an extension of the worker’s authorized status is exempt from this fee. The rule applies to filings through September 30, 2027. These amounts are separate from the ordinary petition fees.

Where to find the current filing instructions

The USCIS links below provide the form, edition notice and mailing destinations. The final rule explains the covered-employer test and fee exceptions. Check the instructions for the specific classification and request being filed.