USCIS will REJECT petitions using the old form. New mandatory fields for education requirements, supervisory duties, and third-party worksites.
If you were selected in the FY2027 lottery, your employer must file Form I-129 using the new 02/27/2026 edition starting April 1, 2026. USCIS has confirmed that petitions submitted on the old 2025 edition will be REJECTED -- not returned for correction, but outright rejected with fees forfeited. The new form adds significant new sections covering educational requirements, supervisory structure, and third-party worksite details. Employers and attorneys must prepare NOW.
URGENT -- April 1, 2026 Deadline: The new Form I-129 (edition date 02/27/2026) is MANDATORY for all FY2027 H-1B petitions. The filing window opens April 1 and closes June 30, 2026. Petitions using any prior edition will be rejected. New required fields include: (1) detailed education-to-job mapping, (2) supervisory chain documentation, (3) third-party worksite attestations, and (4) beneficiary social media handles. Employers must update their templates immediately.
| Company | H-1B Filings | I-129 Filing Readiness |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 | Dedicated immigration team, likely day-1 ready |
| Microsoft | 34,626 | Fragomen handles bulk filings, templates updating |
| 33,416 | In-house team + outside counsel, prepared | |
| Infosys | 32,840 | Third-party worksite fields add complexity |
| Tata Consultancy | 28,950 | Client-site attestations now mandatory |
| Cognizant | 26,700 | High third-party worksite volume |
| Deloitte | 18,200 | Consulting model requires extra worksite docs |
| Apple | 15,800 | Direct employment, simpler filing |
The 02/27/2026 edition of Form I-129 adds four major new sections that did not exist on previous versions. First, the education-to-occupation mapping section requires employers to explain exactly how the beneficiary's specific degree relates to the specialty occupation duties -- not just a generic statement, but a course-by-course analysis for non-directly-related degrees. This is USCIS's response to years of specialty occupation RFEs being overturned in court.
Second, the supervisory chain section requires employers to identify the direct supervisor by name, title, and immigration status (yes, USCIS wants to know if the supervisor is also on H-1B). Third-party worksite employers must also identify the end-client supervisor. This section is particularly challenging for consulting companies where supervisory structures at client sites are complex and fluid.
Third, social media handle disclosure is now baked directly into the I-129 form rather than being a separate DS-160 field. Beneficiaries must list all social media accounts used in the past 5 years. This connects directly to the expanded social media vetting that goes into effect March 30, 2026.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →USCIS will reject the petition outright. Unlike a Request for Evidence where you can correct and resubmit, a rejection means the filing fee is forfeited and the employer must refile on the correct form with new fees. Given the June 30 deadline, a rejection wastes critical time. Ensure your employer and attorney are using edition date 02/27/2026 -- verify the edition date in the bottom-left corner of page 1.
The new education-to-occupation mapping is specifically designed to scrutinize non-directly-related degrees. If you have a degree in, say, English Literature but are applying for a Software Engineer role, the employer must provide detailed course-by-course analysis showing how your education relates to the specialty occupation. This is where credential evaluation services and supplemental coursework documentation become critical.
Significantly. The new I-129 requires listing every worksite, the end-client supervisor at each site (by name and title), and attestations about the nature of supervision. If your assignments change frequently, the employer may need to provide an itinerary covering the entire 3-year petition period. This is the most impactful change for consulting companies and their employees.
Yes. The new I-129 includes a mandatory social media disclosure section requiring all platforms used in the past 5 years. This includes LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, and any other platforms. This information will be cross-referenced with the expanded social media vetting that begins March 30, 2026. Ensure your social media profiles are consistent with your petition details -- especially job titles, employer names, and employment dates.