On October 12, 2017, USCIS changed the direct filing addresses for certain petitioners of the H-1B Visa. The changes are as follows:
- Petitioners file Form I-129 according to the state where the company or organization’s primary office is located. Previously, petitioners filed Form I-129 based on the beneficiary’s temporary employment or training location.
- Petitioners located in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas file Form I-129 at the California Service Center.
USCIS may reject Form I-129s that are filed at the wrong service center.
California Service Center
If the petitioner (where the company or organization’s primary office is located) is located in: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, or Wyoming – then file with the California Service Center.
New Petition – Regular Bachelor Degree Cap. Regular Processing:
USCIS – California Service Center
Attn: H-1B Bachelor Cap
24000 Avila Road, 2nd Floor, Room 2312
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
New Petition – US Master Degree Cap. Regular Processing:
USCIS – California Service Center
Attn: H-1B US Master’s Cap
24000 Avila Road, 2nd Floor, Room 2312
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
H-1B Change in previously approved employment / New concurrent employment / Change of employer / Amended petition:
USCIS – California Service Center
Attn: H-1B Renewal/ Extension
24000 Avila Road, 2nd Floor, Room 2312
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Vermont Service Center
If the petitioner (where the company or organization’s primary office is located) is located in: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, or West Virginia – then file with the Vermont Service Center.
New Petition – Regular Bachelor Degree Cap. Regular Processing:
USCIS-VSC
Attn: H-1B Bachelor Cap
4 Lemnah Drive
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001
New Petition – US Master Degree Cap. Regular Processing:
USCIS-VSC
ATTN: H-1B U.S. Masters Cap
4 Lemnah Drive
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001
H-1B Change in previously approved employment / New concurrent employment / Change of employer / Amended petition:
USCIS – Vermont Service Center
Attn: H-1B Renewal/Extension
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001
Cap Exempt Cases:
“Cap exempt” petitioners should indicate their cap exempt status on the Form I-129 by checking question 3, box a, b, c or d in Part C of the I-129 H-1B Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement (page 20). Such “cap exempt” petitioners should file their Form I-129 petitions as follows:
For Direct Mail:
U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services
California Service Center
ATTN: Cap Exempt H-1B Processing Unit
P.O. Box 30040
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-3004
For non-United States Postal Service (USPS) deliveries (e.g. private couriers):
U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services
California Service Center
ATTN: CAP EXEMPT H-1B Processing Unit
24000 Avila Road, Room 2312
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Nebraska Service Center Filings:
H-1B petitions filed by an employer requesting a “Continuation of previously approved employment without change with the same employer” (Box b. on Part 2, Question 2, Page 2 of the current Form I-129) with a concurrent request to:
Notify the office in Part 4 so each beneficiary can obtain a visa or be admitted. (Box a. on Part 2, Question 4, Page 2 of the current Form I-129); or
Extend the stay of each beneficiary because the beneficiary now holds this status. (Box c. on Part 2, Question 4, Page 2 of the current Form I-129).
These petitions are only accepted at the NSC:
USPS:
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87129
Lincoln, NE 68501-7129
Courier deliveries:
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
850 S Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
I-129/I-907 Premium Processing
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
850 S Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
*Excludes same employer without change petitions if the previous employer is statutorily exempt from the cap or if the beneficiary was previously employed at a qualifying cap exempt institution, entity, or organization. (See H-1B cap exempt petitions)
Related Links:
H1B Visa Cap / Quota for FY 2020
H-1B Visa Overview
H-1B Visa Renewal / Extension
H-1B Visa Transfer
Amended H-1B Visa
New H-1B Visa, Cap Exempt
H-1B Visa for Entrepreneurs
H-1B Visa for Teachers
H-1B Visa Attorney Fee
H-1B Visa Complete Do it Yourself Kit