USCIS Director Joseph Edlow issued an interim final rule in August 2026. This rule requires online form filing, with a 60 day notice period.
E-filing would reduce USCIS processing costs. It would also reduce the volume of avoidable form reworks and rejections for applicants.
This rule took effect on November 9th, 2026. However as of today, November 11th, 2026, the form still has not been updated on the USCIS website.
Form I-129 is a petition for non-immigrant workers in the United States. It is a basic form needed by almost all applicants seeking a work visa in the US.
Immigration lawyers point out that the online form filing is riddled with issues. It is highly inefficient and difficult to use for applicants.
However, all of that could be forgiven if the promise of lesser rejections due to incorrect form versions was kept. However, not updating the form on the USCIS website even after the date of the rule taking effect has passed has already caused significant delays and confusion.
Without the updated form, applicants are unable to submit the I-129 petition. US immigration is an extremely time-sensitive activity, and even a single day’s delay can lead to major difficulties in an applicant’s immigration journey.
