On occasion, USCIS transfers cases between five service centers in order to balance workload and promote timely processing. This page provides up to date information on any workload transfers that USCIS make. Unless USCIS note otherwise, below is the general information for a workload transfer.
How You Will Be Affected If USCIS Transfers Your Case
If USCIS transfers your case, USCIS 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 USCIS 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, USCIS 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 National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 800-375-5283 (TYY 800-767-1833). When asking about your case status, please provide USCIS with your receipt number and specify that your case was transferred to a new location.
If USCIS sends 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 USCIS website or by calling the NCSC. It is important that you notify USCIS of any address change as soon as possible, so that you continue to receive notifications from USCIS.
May 25, 2017
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
March 28, 2017
USCIS 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
March 4, 2017
USCIS 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
February 28, 2017
USCIS 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
February 7, 2017
USCIS 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
January 5, 2017
USCIS 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.
December 19, 2016
USCIS transferred some of the following case load 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
March 29, 2016
USCIS 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
March 29, 2016
USCIS 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
March 28, 2016
USCIS 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)
March 3, 2016
USCIS 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
March 1, 2016
USCIS 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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