Workload Transfer Updates

When necessary, we transfer cases between our five service centers in order to balance our workload and promote timely processing. This page provides up to date information on any workload transfers that we make. You can also subscribe to the Alerts GovDelivery distribution list to receive an email each time cases are transferred. Unless we note otherwise, below is the general information for a workload transfer.

How You Will Be Affected If We Transfer Your Case

If we transfer your case, we will send you a transfer notice. Your receipt number will not change, and the transfer will not delay the processing of your case.

You should continue to file your forms according to the existing form instructions. You can find the correct filing address listed under the “Where to File” section in the form instructions and on the form Web page.

If your pending petition is eligible for premium processing and you want to request premium processing after your petition or application was transferred, you must:

  • File your Form I-907 with the service center where your petition or application is currently pending, and
  • Submit a copy of the Form I-797, Receipt Notice, for your pending petition or application.

If you do not do both, we may reject your Form I-907.

How to Track the Status of Your Case

Check your case status online with your receipt number. You can also sign up to receive automatic case status updates by email.

If you do not receive a decision on your case within the published processing time for the new service center, you may submit an inquiry online or call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability: TTY 800-767-1833. When asking about your case status, please provide us with your receipt number and specify that your case was transferred to a new location.

If we send you any notice (such as a Request for Evidence), please read the notice carefully and follow the instructions provided.

If you move while your case is pending, you must inform USCIS of your address change. You may file a change of address on our website or by calling the USCIS Contact Center. It is important that you notify us of any address change as soon as possible, so that you continue to receive notifications from USCIS.

Transfers in 2020

We transferred some of the following cases from the Texas Service Center (TSC) to the National Benefits Center (NBC):

  • Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center and the Texas Service Center, and from the California Service Center to the Texas Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for H-1B cap-subject petitioners requesting H-1B nonimmigrant classification for FY 2021 (regular cap and advanced degree exemption)

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Vermont Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners seeking O and P nonimmigrant classification

We transferred some of the following cases from the Nebraska Service Center to the Potomac Service Center, the Texas Service Center, the California Service Center and the Vermont Service Center:

  • Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, IMMEDIATE RELATIVE PETITIONS

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Potomac Service Center, the Texas Service Center, the Nebraska Service Center and the Vermont Service Center:

  • Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES (F2A) for spouses and children of permanent residents

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center:

  • Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for U-based nonimmigrants
  • Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, filed concurrently with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for U-based nonimmigrants

We transferred some of the following cases from the Texas Service Center to various USCIS Field Offices:

  • Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Potomac Service Center:

  • Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

Transfers in 2019

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Texas Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for H-1B petitioners requesting an Extension of Stay (EOS)

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Vermont Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for H-1B cap-subject petitioners requesting H-1B nonimmigrant classification 

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for H-1B petitioners requesting an Extension of Stay (EOS)

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for H-1B petitioners requesting an Extension of Stay (EOS)

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Potomac Service Center, the Texas Service Center, the Nebraska Service Center and the Vermont Service Center.

  • Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES (F2A) for spouses and children of permanent residents.

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Potomac Service Center:

  • I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Potomac Service Center:

  • I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

Transfers in 2018

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Texas Service Center, Nebraska Service Center, California Service Center, and Potomac Service Center:

  • Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, for F, M, J, or B nonimmigrants 

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners requesting H-1B nonimmigrant classification

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Texas Service Center:

  •  I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Vermont Service Center:

  •  I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

We transferred some of the following cases from the Nebraska Service Center to the Potomac Service Center:

  • Form I-601A, Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Texas Service Center and Nebraska Service Center:

  • I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

We transferred some of the following cases from the Texas Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center:

  • N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document

We transferred some of the following cases from the National Benefits Center to the Nebraska Service Center:

  • Form I-601A, Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center and California Service Center to the Texas Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners seeking L nonimmigrant classification

Transfers in 2017

We transferred some of the following cases from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center:

  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed by some applicants with a pending asylum application seeking a renewal of their Employment Authorization Document

We began sending all of the following cases from the Nebraska Service Center to the Lockbox:

  •    N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 (Military applications only)
  •    N-400, Application for Naturalization (Military applications only)

We transferred some of the following cases from the Nebraska Service Center to the California Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners requesting an Extension of Stay (EOS) for the H-1B classification
  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed together with Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, for petitioners requesting an Extension of Stay (EOS) for an H-1B worker to continue with the same employer

We transferred some of the following cases from the Nebraska Service Center to the Potomac Service Center:

  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed by some applicants with a pending asylum application

We transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center, the Nebraska Service Center and the Vermont Service Center to the Potomac Service Center:

  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for F, M or J nonimmigrants

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the California Service Center:

  • Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, for F, M, J or B nonimmigrants

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the California Service Center

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners requesting H-1B nonimmigrant classification

We transferred some of the following cases from the Nebraska Service Center to the Potomac Service Center and the Texas Service Center:

  • Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for immediate relatives

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the California Service Center

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners seeking L, O, and P nonimmigrant classification (except for major league sports-related P petitions, which will remain with the VSC)
  • Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, for L nonimmigrant classification
  • Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, for applicants seeking the L-2, O-3, and P-4 nonimmigrant classifications that are filed together with Form I-129 (except for major league sports-related P applications, which will remain with the VSC)
  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for applicants seeking L-2 spouse.

Transfers in 2016

We transferred some of the following cases from the Nebraska Service Center and the Texas Service Center to the Potomac Service Center:

  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed by some applicants with a pending asylum application

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the California Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners requesting L-1 Intracompany Transferee nonimmigrant classification
  • Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, for the L-2 nonimmigrant classification
  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for L-2 nonimmigrants applying for employment authorization

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center:

  • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners requesting H-1B nonimmigrant classification
  • Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, for the H-4 nonimmigrant classification
  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for H-4 nonimmigrants applying for employment authorization

We began sending all of the following cases from the Lockbox to the Potomac Service Center:

  • Newly filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed by F-1 and M-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT)

We transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Texas Service Center:

  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed by an asylum applicant with a pending asylum application filed on or after Jan. 4, 1995

We transferred some of the following cases to the Potomac Service Center from all other service centers:

  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed by F-1 and M-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and J-1 dependents
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