Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition

What is I-129S?

Who needs to file I-129S?

When to file I-129S

Documents you need

• A copy of the approval notice for the blanket L petition; required with every Form I-129S.
• A letter from the beneficiary's foreign qualifying employer giving the dates of employment, job duties, qualifications, and salary, and showing at least one continuous year out of three years in an executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge professional capacity.
• Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, when the beneficiary is in the United States and you request a change of status or an extension of stay.
• A copy of the beneficiary's previously approved Form I-129S, for an extension of stay of a beneficiary admitted under an approved blanket L petition.
• A full English translation with the translator's signed certification, for any document in a foreign language; the certification must state the translation is complete and accurate and the translator is competent.
• Form G-28 or Form G-28I, only if an attorney or accredited representative represents the petitioner; the form has a box to mark when it is attached.

How to fill out I-129S

1. 1

   Enter the petitioner's information

   In Part 1, give the petitioning organization's full legal name (Item 1), its U.S. mailing address (2.a.-2.f.) and whether it matches the physical location (Item 3). If not, add the physical address in 4.a.-4.e., then phone, fax, email and website (5-8).

2. 2

   Answer the employee count questions

   Answer Item 9 (employs 50 or more individuals in the United States) and, if Yes, Item 10 (more than 50 percent in H-1B, L-1A, or L-1B status). If both are Yes, the form notes certain fees may apply; see Form G-1055.

3. 3

   Describe the proposed position

   In Part 2, check 1.a. Manager or Executive (L-1A) or 1.b. Specialized Knowledge Professional (L-1B), then enter start and end dates in mm/dd/yyyy in 2.a. and 2.b.

4. 4

   List prior periods of stay

   Answer Item 3 on whether the beneficiary was in the United States in the last seven years. If Yes, give each period of stay in work-authorized status with dates and nonimmigrant status (Items 4-7); use Part 10 for more space.

5. 5

   Provide the beneficiary's identity details

   In Part 3, enter the A-Number, USCIS Online Account Number and U.S. Social Security Number if any, the full legal name (4.a.-4.c.) and all other names used (5.a.-5.c.). Add the foreign mailing and physical addresses, date of birth, sex, place of birth and citizenship (Items 6-14).

6. 6

   Describe the U.S. employment

   In Part 4, enter the blanket L petition receipt number (Item 1), whether Form I-129 is filed with it (Item 2), the U.S. work address (3.a.-3.e.), wages, hours and other compensation (4-6), and the job title and daily duties with time percentages (7-8).

7. 7

   Answer the offsite worksite questions

   For L-1B status, answer Item 9 on primarily offsite work. If Yes, complete 10.a.-11. on who supervises, how the work is controlled, and why the placement is not labor for hire.

8. 8

   Complete the foreign employment section

   In Part 5, check Manager, Executive, or Specialized Knowledge Professional (1.a.-1.c.), name the qualifying foreign employer and its address (Items 2-3.f.), and list job titles, dates, duties, wages and hours for the required one continuous year out of three years (Items 4-13).

9. 9

   Select the export control certification

   In Part 6, select Item 1 if no license is required from the Department of Commerce or State, or Item 2 if a license is required and the petitioner will prevent access until it is received.

10. 10

    Sign as petitioner or signatory

    In Part 7, enter the signatory's name, title, phone numbers and email (Items 1-5), then sign and date in Item 6. A stamped or typewritten name is not acceptable.

11. 11

    Complete interpreter and preparer parts

    Part 8 is completed only if an interpreter read the form to the petitioner; Part 9 only if someone other than the petitioner prepared it. Each signs and dates; one person who did both completes both parts.

12. 12

    Add any additional information

    Use Part 10 for extra space. Enter the beneficiary's name and A-Number (if any), the page, part and item number each answer refers to, and sign and date each sheet.

13. 13

    Review, sign and download the PDF

    Check that every item is answered or marked "N/A" and that the signature is in place. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, add the required evidence, and keep a copy.

How to submit I-129S

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting the form unsigned or with a stamped or typewritten name; USCIS will reject a petition that is not signed or whose signature is not valid.
• Filing Form I-129S alone for a beneficiary who is in the United States and needs a change of status or extension; it must be filed with Form I-129.
• Using an older edition for an extension of stay; USCIS accepts only the 01/20/25 edition for these requests.
• Mailing a printed form with missing pages, or pages from different editions, or with the edition date and page numbers cut off; USCIS may reject it.
• Leaving out the blanket L approval notice copy or the foreign employer's letter; USCIS may reject or deny the petition for missing required evidence.
• Leaving a question that does not apply blank instead of typing or printing "N/A" (or "None" for a numeric zero answer).
• Sending original documents when the instructions do not require them; USCIS may destroy originals it did not request.
• Submitting foreign-language documents without a full English translation and the translator's certification.
• Putting extra answers on a separate sheet without the beneficiary's name, A-Number (if any), page, part and item numbers, and a signature and date.