Check your Form I-129 for errors before you file

An employer's petition to hire a foreign worker temporarily in a nonimmigrant classification (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and others). A single missed signature or blank field gets the whole package returned — and the $1,015 filing fee is generally non-refundable. Here is exactly what to verify on your completed I-129 before it goes to USCIS.

How do I check my I-129 for errors?

1. Confirm you have the current edition

USCIS accepts only the current edition of I-129 — filing a superseded version is an automatic rejection. The current edition is dated 02/27/26; the date is printed at the bottom of every page. All pages must come from the same edition. Download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file.

2. Verify every signature block

Unsigned or wrongly-signed forms are rejected outright — stamped or typewritten names are not accepted. I-129 has 2 signature blocks to check:

3. Make sure no required section is incomplete

Leaving required fields blank (instead of writing “N/A” or “None”) is one of USCIS's most common rejection reasons. On I-129, pay special attention to:

• Part 1, Items all: Petitioner (employer) information
• Part 2, Items 2: Requested nonimmigrant classification (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E, etc.) — the choices are itemized; select the one that matches the supplement filed
• Part 2, Items 4: Requested action (new employment, continuation, change of employer, amendment...) — choose only ONE
• Beneficiary section, Items incl. 5: Beneficiary identity details (sex per birth certificate, names, DOB, travel/status documents)
• Classification supplement, Items —: Complete the supplement that MATCHES the requested classification (Part 2): H Classification Supplement for H-1B/H-2A/H-2B/H-3; L Classification Supplement for L-1; O and P Classification Supplement for O-1/O-2/P-1/P-2/P-3; R-1 Classification Supplement for R-1; E/Trade Agreement (Free Trade) Supplement for E-1/E-2/E-3/H-1B1/TN. ADDITIONALLY, H-1B and H-1B1 petitions require the H-1B Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement plus a certified LCA. The supplement referenced must not contradict the requested classification.
• H-1B registration consistency, Items —: H-1B cap petitions: the petition must MATCH the selected registration — USCIS may reject or deny if registration and petition information do not match

4. Check every date — format and consistency

Dates must be written mm/dd/yyyy and must agree with your supporting documents and any other forms in the package. The date fields that most often cause problems on I-129:

• Requested employment start/end dates — Must fit the classification’s limits and (for H-1B) the LCA validity.
• Beneficiary status/I-94 expiry vs filing date — Extensions/changes of status must be filed before the current stay expires.

5. Re-check the known I-129 rejection triggers

From USCIS's own instructions and rejection criteria, these are the specific triggers to rule out on I-129:

• Petition not signed by an authorized signatory, or invalid signature
• Fee errors — base fee plus classification-specific fees (Asylum Program Fee, Fraud Prevention, ACWIA, Pub. L. 114-113) wrong or missing
• H-1B petition information not matching the cap registration — may be rejected or denied
• Requested classification does not match the classification supplement completed (e.g., H-1B requested but an L Classification Supplement referenced), or the required supplement is missing
• More than one requested action selected in Part 2 Item 4
• Missing LCA (H-1B) or other classification prerequisites

Related

Form I-129 error check — frequently asked questions

How do I check my Form I-129 for errors before filing?

Work through the checklist on this page: confirm you have the current 02/27/26 edition, verify every signature block is signed and dated by the right person, make sure no required field is blank (write "N/A" or "None" instead), check every date is in mm/dd/yyyy format and consistent across your documents, and re-read the rejection triggers below. Or upload your completed I-129 to FormGuard and get an automated line-by-line error report in about a minute for $39.

What errors get Form I-129 rejected most often?

Petition not signed by an authorized signatory, or invalid signature; Fee errors — base fee plus classification-specific fees (Asylum Program Fee, Fraud Prevention, ACWIA, Pub. L. 114-113) wrong or missing; H-1B petition information not matching the cap registration — may be rejected or denied; Requested classification does not match the classification supplement completed (e.g., H-1B requested but an L Classification Supplement referenced), or the required supplement is missing; More than one requested action selected in Part 2 Item 4.

Which edition of Form I-129 is current?

The current edition of Form I-129 is dated 02/27/26. USCIS rejects forms filed on a superseded edition, so download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file and confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of every page matches.

What happens if my I-129 is rejected?

USCIS returns the entire package unprocessed and the filing fee ($1,015 by paper for I-129) is generally non-refundable — you correct the error, pay again, and lose weeks or months. That is why a careful pre-filing check is the cheapest step in the whole process.