In November 2016 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a new regulation in an effort to modernize certain aspects of employment based immigration. The goal of the new regulation was to improve the ability of U.S. employers to hire and retain highly skilled workers who are beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions and are waiting to become lawful permanent residents. Much of the regulation codifies the AC21 (American Competitiveness in the 21st Century) statute, however, there are also new immigration benefits and programs being implemented.