The first time Wage Level I RFEs were reported were in early June 2017 and targeted H-1B petitions filed in April 2017 under the annual H-1B cap. Initially, most of the RFEs were issued by the Vermont Service Center although it appears that California is also catching up and issuing their own version of this RFE. The Wage Level I RFEs seem to raise some kind of variation of the arguments that:
(1) The duties described in the petition appear to go beyond entry-level position and, as a result, the LCA with its Wage Level I salary does not appear to match the position; and/or
(2) A position described in Wage Level 1 LCA is not specialty occupation because it is entry-level position where a bachelors degree is not normally required for entry into the occupation.
While we do not know the exact number of such RFEs issued over the last few months, anecdotal evidence and reports point to thousands (if not tens of thousands?) of such RFEs issued and outstanding.
The motivation and legal justification behind this RFE is also unclear, but it is very possible that USCIS is relying on (1) the March 31, 2017 policy memorandum Rescission of the December 22, 2000 Guidance memo on H-1B computer related positions which seeks to clarify that not all computer positions are presumed to require a bachelors degree for entry into the occupation and which also touches upon the wage level structure as a way of addressing the seniority of a position and (2) the April 18, 2017 Executive Order Buy American and Hire American to seek to strengthen the H-1B program.
What Kind of H-1B Petitions Are Most Likely to Get the Wage Level I RFE?
It appears that most, if not all, H-1B petitions filed on or after April 2017 where the petition is supported by an Labor Condition Application (LCA) where the prevailing wage is set to exceed Wage Level I are getting this RFE. It appears that the Wage Level I RFEs mostly affect H-1B cap cases filed in early April 2017 but we have seen RFEs for extensions or amendments. Initially, most of the RFEs started coming from the Vermont Service Center but the California Service Center has promptly caught up. There are not so many RFEs being issued by the Nebraska Service Center since they process H-1B extensions (which are more likely to be for higher-level positions with non-Wage Level I salaries).
The Wage Level I RFEs target both in-house and third-party worksite location placements.
Best Strategies to Handle Wage Level I RFEs
Our office has been in close contact with USCIS, other practitioners and affected clients and we have been working on a strategy to handle this kind of RFE responses. Unfortunately, because this is a brand new type of an RFE and because there are not many USCIS decisions of Wage Level I RFEs (at least at the time of this article), we do not know which arguments will be more persuasive to USCIS. We are hoping that with the anticipated reinstatement of premium processing service in October 2017 to be able to get more data on H-1B Wage Level 1 RFE adjudications.
Below are some arguments and documents that may be helpful to overcome a Wage Level I RFE. Stating the obvious, the suitability of these points and argument depend on each individual case and should be altered and adjusted to fit each cases particular details.
USCIS Misinterprets the Wage Level Rules. One of the key legal arguments is to carefully analyze the Department of Labor (DOL) Wage Guidance which essentially states that all positions start with Wage Level I for entry-level positions and that a position which normally requires a bachelors degree (attorneys, doctors, and architects are some clear examples, but there are many more) will have, by definition, an entry-level Wage Level I and just because an employer has hired an entry-level professional at a salary consistent with Wage Level I does not mean that the position