USCIS announced today that the Texas Service Center will begin processing certain cap-exempt H-1B petitions. In addition to this announcement, USCIS also switched up other filing addresses and procedures. For example, prior to this announcement, all H-1B petitions requesting a continuation of previously approved employment without change with the same employer were adjudicated at the Nebraska Service Center. Now, all cap-exempt H-1B extensions and transfers (including continuation of previously approved employment without change) will be adjudicated at either the CSC, TSC, NSC, or VSC, depending on the physical locations of the petitioner’s primary office.
Copied from USCIS:
On May 20, 2019, the Texas Service Center will begin processing Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for certain H-1B cap-exempt petitions requesting:
- A change in previously approved employment;
- A change of employer;
- Concurrent employment;
- Amendments;
- A continuation of previously approved employment without change with the same employer;
- A change of status to H-1B; or
- Notification to a U.S. Consulate or inspection facility (port of entry or pre-flight inspection).
This does not include H-1B petitions for cap-exempt entities, petitions that are cap-exempt based on a Conrad/Interested Government Agency (IGA) waiver under Immigration and Nationality Act Section 214(l), or petitions where the employer is located in Guam or the beneficiary will be performing services in Guam.
The Texas Service Center will share this workload with the California Service Center, Vermont Service Center, and Nebraska Service Center to balance workloads and provide flexibility as USCIS works towards improving processing times and efficiency.
Petitioners filing any of the above H-1B petitions should file their Form I-129 at the address indicated on the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker page. Starting July 19, 2019 , USCIS may reject any of these petitions that are filed at the wrong service center.
Copied from USCIS Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129:
| I-129 Nonimmigrant Classification | Category Description | Filing Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All H-1B cap-exempt extension of stay, change of status, concurrent employment, POE/PFI/consular notification, and amended petitions
Note: Excludes H-1B petitions for cap-exempt petitioners or entities, petitions that are cap-exempt based on a Conrad/IGA waiver under INA Section 214(l), or petitions where the employer is located in Guam or the beneficiary will be performing services in Guam (see the relevant sections for filing details). |
H-1B cap-exempt petitions requesting:
This excludes petitions filed by cap-exempt petitioners or for cap-exempt entities, petitions that are cap-exempt based on a Conrad/IGA waiver, or petitions where the employer is located in Guam or the beneficiary will be performing services in Guam These petitions are accepted at the CSC, NSC, TSC, and VSC. Please refer to the service center charts below to determine which service center you must use. |
California Service Center
USPS: USCIS California Service Center FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries: USCIS California Service Center I-129/I-907 Premium Processing USPS: Premium Processing Service FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries: Premium Processing Service Premium processing email address: [email protected] Vermont Service Center USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries: USCIS Vermont Service Center I-129/I-907 Premium Processing Premium Processing Service USCIS Vermont Service Center Premium processing email address: [email protected] Nebraska Service Center USPS: USCIS Nebraska Service Center FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries: USCIS Nebraska Service Center I-129/I-907 Premium Processing: USCIS Nebraska Service Center Premium processing email address: [email protected] Texas Service Center USPS: USCIS Texas Service Center FedEx, UPS, and DHL: USCIS Texas Service Center I-129/I-907 Premium Processing USPS: Premium Processing Service USCIS Texas Service Center Mesquite, Texas 75185-1391 FedEx, UPS, and DHL:
Premium Processing Service USCIS Texas Service Center
Premium processing email address: [email protected]
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California Service Center Filings
File Form I-129 with the CSC if the petitioner’s primary office is located in:
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Vermont Service Center Filings
File Form I-129 with the VSC if the petitioner’s primary office is located in:
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Texas Service Center Filings
File Form I-129 with the TSC if the petitioner’s primary office is located in:
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Nebraska Service Center Filings
File Form I-129 with the NSC if the petitioner’s primary office is located in:
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