U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published a final policy memorandum entitled “Clarifying Guidance on ‘O’ Petition Validity Period” [PM 602-0003]. The policy memorandum provides guidance for processing and adjudicating Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, filed on behalf of O nonimmigrants, with regard to determining the appropriate validity period of an approvable petition when a gap exists between two or more events reflected in the itinerary.

The draft memorandum was posted for public comment on the USCIS website from May 10 – May 24, 2010. USCIS received 81 comments and approved the final policy memorandum on July 20, 2010.