Interesting facts about L-1B denials by Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)
A recent study released by the National Foundation for American Policy notes that L-1B (specialized knowledge) denials have increased from 9% in 2003 to 34% in 2013. The study also notes that this increase occurred over ten years when there were no changes in the L-1 statue, regulations or precedent case law.
Even more telling is the data from the years 2003 to 2007 with an average of 7% or so of denials and the years from 2008 to 2013 with an annual denial rate of around 27%. In one year, the denial rate went from 7% to 22%. That year was the change in Administrations from Republican to Democratic (2007-2008). Nothing else of any importance on this issue changed from 2007 to 2008 and yet there was an increase of 15% in denials in that year alone.
For long time immigration watchers this is eerily similar to the Clinton Administration when Hs and Ls were denied at much higher rates than either of the Bush Administrations which preceded and followed Clinton’s. It certainly gives one pause when considering the Democrats claim to be in favor of immigration as a policy when their actual decisions say otherwise.
The report is available at the Foundation’s website, www.nfap.com, as well as other reports on different visa categories.