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(h) *  *  *

(2) *  *  *

(i) *  *  *

(B) Service or training in more than one location. A petition that requires services to be performed or training to be received in more than one location must include an itinerary with the dates and locations of the services or training. The itinerary must be submitted to USCIS with the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, or successor form, as provided in the form instructions. The address that the petitioner specifies as its location on the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker must be where the petitioner is located for purposes of this paragraph (h)(2)(i)(B). This paragraph (h)(2)(i)(B) does not apply to H-1B petitions.

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(4) *  *  *

(i) *  *  *

(B) *  *  *

(7)(i) The information provided on an H-1B petition and the evidence submitted in support of such petition may be verified by USCIS through lawful means as determined by USCIS, including telephonic and electronic verifications and on-site inspections. Such inspections may include, but are not limited to, a visit of the petitioning organization's facilities, interviews with the petitioning organization's officials, review of the petitioning organization's records related to compliance with immigration laws and regulations, and interviews with any other individuals or review of any other records that USCIS may lawfully obtain and that it considers pertinent to verify facts related to the adjudication of the H-1B petition, such as facts relating to the petitioner's and beneficiary's H-1B eligibility and compliance. An inspection may be conducted at locations including the petitioning organization's headquarters, satellite locations, or the location where the beneficiary works or will work, including third-party worksites, as applicable.

(ii) USCIS may conduct on-site inspections or other compliance reviews as described in paragraph (h)(4)(i)(B)(7)(i) of this section at any time after the filing of an H-1B petition. If USCIS decides to conduct a pre-approval inspection, satisfactory completion of such inspection will be a condition for approval of any petition.

(iii) USCIS conducts on-site inspections or other compliance reviews to verify facts related to the adjudication of the petition and compliance with H-1B petition requirements. If USCIS is unable to verify such facts due to the failure or refusal of the petitioner or a third-party worksite party to cooperate in an inspection or other compliance review, then such failure or refusal to cooperate and allow USCIS to verify facts may result in denial or revocation of any H-1B petition for H-1B workers performing services at the location or locations which are a subject of inspection or compliance review, including any third-party worksites.

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(ii) *  *  *

Employer-employee relationship means the conventional master-servant relationship consistent with the common law. The petitioner must establish that its offer of employment as stated in the petition is based on a valid employer-employee relationship that exists or will exist. In considering whether the petitioner has established that a valid “employer-employee relationship” exists or will exist, USCIS will assess and weigh all relevant aspects of the relationship with no one factor being determinative.

(1) In cases where the H-1B beneficiary does not possess an ownership interest in the petitioning organization or entity, the factors that USCIS may consider to determine if a valid employment relationship will exist or continue to exist include, but are not limited to:

(i) Whether the petitioner supervises the beneficiary and, if so, where such supervision takes place;

(ii) Where the supervision is not at the petitioner's worksite, how the petitioner maintains such supervision;

(iii) Whether the petitioner has the right to control the work of the beneficiary on a day-to-day basis and to assign projects;

(iv) Whether the petitioner provides the tools or instrumentalities needed for the beneficiary to perform the duties of employment;

(v) Whether the petitioner hires, pays, and has the ability to fire the beneficiary;

(vi) Whether the petitioner evaluates the work-product of the beneficiary;

(vii) Whether the petitioner claims the beneficiary as an employee for tax purposes;

(viii) Whether the petitioner provides the beneficiary any type of employee benefits;

(ix) Whether the beneficiary uses proprietary information of the petitioner in order to perform the duties of employment;

(x) Whether the beneficiary produces an end-product that is directly linked to the petitioner's line of business; and

(xi) Whether the petitioner has the ability to control the manner and means in which the work product of the beneficiary is accomplished.

(2) In cases where the H-1B beneficiary possesses an ownership interest in the petitioning organization or entity, additional factors that USCIS may consider to determine if a valid employment relationship will exist or continue to exist include, but are not limited to:

(i) Whether the petitioning entity can hire or fire the beneficiary or set the rules and parameters of the beneficiary's work;

(ii) Whether and, if so, to what extent the petitioner supervises the beneficiary's work;

(iii) Whether the beneficiary reports to someone higher in the petitioning entity;

(iv) Whether and, if so, to what extent the beneficiary is able to influence the petitioning entity;

(v) Whether the parties intended that the beneficiary be an employee, as expressed in written agreements or contracts; and

(vi) Whether the beneficiary shares in the profits, losses, and liabilities of the organization or entity.

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Specialty occupation means an occupation that requires:

(1) The theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge in fields of human endeavor, such as architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine and health, education, business specialties, accounting, law, theology, or the arts; and

(2) The attainment of a U.S. bachelor's degree or higher in a directly related specific specialty, or its equivalent, as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States. The required specialized studies must be directly related to the position. A position is not a specialty occupation if attainment of a general degree, such as business administration or liberal arts, without further specialization, is sufficient to qualify for the position. While a position may allow a range of degrees or apply multiple bodies of highly specialized knowledge, each of those qualifying degree fields must be directly related to the proffered position.

Third-party worksite means a worksite, other than the beneficiary's residence in the United States, that is not owned or leased, and not operated, by the petitioner.

United States employer means a person, firm, corporation, company, or other association or organization in the United States which:

(1) Engages the beneficiary to work within the United States, and has a bona fide, non-speculative job offer for the beneficiary;

(2) Has an employer-employee relationship with respect to employees under this part; and

(3) Has an Internal Revenue Service Tax identification number.

Worksite means the physical location where the work actually is performed by the H-1B nonimmigrant. A “worksite” will not include any location that would not be considered a “worksite” for Labor Condition Application (LCA) purposes.

(iii) *  *  *

(A) Criteria for specialty occupation position. A proffered position does not meet the definition of specialty occupation in paragraph (h)(4)(ii) of this section unless it also satisfies at least one of the following criteria:

(1) A U.S. baccalaureate or higher degree in a directly related specific specialty, or its equivalent, is the minimum requirement for entry into the particular occupation in which the beneficiary will be employed;

(2) A U.S. baccalaureate or higher degree in a directly related specific specialty, or its equivalent, is the minimum requirement for entry into parallel positions at similar organizations in the employer's United States industry;

(3) The employer has an established practice of requiring a U.S. baccalaureate or higher degree in a directly related specific specialty, or its equivalent, for the position. The petitioner must also establish that the proffered position requires such a directly related specialty degree, or its equivalent, to perform its duties; or

(4) The specific duties of the proffered position are so specialized, complex, or unique that they can only be performed by an individual with a U.S. baccalaureate or higher degree in a directly related specific specialty, or its equivalent.

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(iv) *  *  *

(C) The petitioner must establish, at the time of filing, that it has actual work in a specialty occupation available for the beneficiary as of the start date of the validity period as requested on the petition. When a beneficiary will be placed at one or more third-party worksites, the petitioner must submit evidence such as contracts, work orders, or other similar corroborating evidence showing that the beneficiary will perform services in a specialty occupation at the third-party worksite(s), and that the petitioner will have an employer-employee relationship with the beneficiary. In accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(b) and paragraph (h)(9) of this section, USCIS may request copies of contracts, work orders, or other similar corroborating evidence on a case-by-case basis in all cases, regardless of where the beneficiary will be placed.

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(9) *  *  *

(i) *  *  *

(B) Where the petition is approved with an earlier validity period end date than requested by the petitioner, the approval notice will provide or be accompanied by a brief explanation for the validity period granted.

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(iii) *  *  *

(A)

(1) H-1B petition in a specialty occupation. The maximum validity period for an approved petition classified under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Act for an alien in a specialty occupation is 3 years. However, where the beneficiary will be working at a third-party worksite, the maximum validity period for an approved petition is 1 year. In all instances, the approved petition may not exceed the validity period of the labor condition application.

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(24) Severability.

(i) [Reserved]

(ii) The following provisions added or revised by the changes made to the H-1B nonimmigrant visa classification program, as of December 7, 2020, are intended to be implemented as separate and severable from one another: paragraphs (h)(2)(i), (h)(4)(i)(B)(7), (h)(4)(ii) (definitions of employer-employee, specialty occupation, third-party worksite, U.S. employer, and worksite), (h)(4)(iii)(A), (h)(4)(iv)(C), (h)(9)(i)(B), and (h)(9)(iii)(A)(1) of this section. If one or more of the paragraphs in the preceding sentence is not implemented, DHS intends that the remaining paragraphs will remain valid and be implemented to the greatest extent possible.

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