Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements

USCIS Announcements of Workload Transfers

10/28/20 AILA Doc. No. 19072206. Business Immigration, Family Immigration, Family-Based Immigrants, H-1B & H-1B1 Specialty Occupation, L-1 Intracompany Transferee, Naturalization & Citizenship, O & P Visas, Students & Schools
On occasion, USCIS transfers cases between its service centers to manage workload and processing capacity. This page provides up to date information on USCIS workload transfers.

October 28, 2020

USCIS announced that it 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

Please visit USCIS’s Workload Transfer Updates page for more information.

May 6, 2020

USCIS announced that it transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Nebraska 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)

USCIS also 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

Please visit USCIS’s Workload Transfer Updates page for more information.

April 24, 2020

USCIS announced that it recently 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

Please visit USCIS’s Workload Transfer Updates page for more information.

January 30, 2020

From the USCIS website:

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

  • 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

January 17, 2020

From the USCIS website:

USCIS 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

USCIS 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

USCIS 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

USCIS transferred some of the following cases from the Texas Service Center to the Potomac Service Center:

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

USCIS 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

July 17, 2019

From the USCIS website:

USCIS 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)

July 11, 2019

From the USCIS website:

USCIS 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

July 11, 2019

From the USCIS website:

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 H-1B petitioners requesting an Extension of Stay (EOS)

June 20, 2019

From the USCIS website:

USCIS 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)

June 11, 2019

From the USCIS website:

USCIS 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, for immediate relatives

May 6, 2019

From the USCIS website:

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

  • I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

February 19, 2019

From the USCIS website:

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

  • I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence


December 21, 2018

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

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

December 4, 2018

USCIS 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

October 30, 2018

USCIS 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

October 1, 2018

USCIS 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

September 17, 2018

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

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

September 4, 2018

USCIS transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Potomac Service Center and the Nebraska Service Center:

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

July 26, 2018

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

  • I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

July 19, 2018

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

July 19, 2018

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

  • I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

May 7, 2018

USCIS 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

March 7, 2018

From the USCIS website:

USCIS 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

January 31, 2018 and February 1, 2018

From the USCIS website:

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

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

January 29, 2018

From the USCIS website:

USCIS 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

January 2, 2018

From the USCIS website:

USCIS 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


August 17, 2017

USCIS 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

August 1, 2017

USCIS 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 an initial Employment Authorization Document

June 12, 2017

USCIS 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)

June 1, 2017

USCIS 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

May 25, 2017

USCIS 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

From the USCIS website:

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

From the USCIS website:

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

From the USCIS website:

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

From the USCIS website:

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, through March 28, 2017

USCIS began sending some cases between service centers in order to balance workloads.

  • Some Forms I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for F, M, and J nonimmigrants went from the California Service Center (CSC), the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) and the Texas Service Center (TSC) to the Potomac Service Center (PSC).
  • Some Forms I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, for F, M, J, or B nonimmigrants went from the VSC to the CSC
  • Some Forms I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners requesting H-1B nonimmigrant classification went from the VSC to the CSC
  • Some Forms I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for immediate relatives went from the NSC to the PSC and the TSC
  • Some Forms I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for petitioners seeking L, O, and P nonimmigrant classification went from the VSC to the CSC (except for major league sports-related P petitions which will remain with the VSC)
  • Some Forms I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, for L nonimmigrant classification when from the VSC to the CSC
  • Some Forms 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 went from the VSC to the CSC (except for major league sports-related P petitions which will remain with the VSC)
  • Some Forms I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for applicants seeking L-2 status went from the VSC to the CSC

January 5, 2017

From the USCIS website:

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

From the USCIS website:

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

From the USCIS website:

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


December 29, 2015

USCIS recently began transferring certain casework from the Vermont Service Center (VSC) to the California Service Center (CSC)and Nebraska Service Center (NSC) to balance workloads. The CSC will now process Form I¬539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. The NSC will process Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed by an asylum applicant with a pending asylum application filed on or after Jan. 4, 1995. The eligibility category for the application is (c)(8).

August 24, 2015

USCIS announced that it recently began transferring some Form I-130 and Form I-751 cases from the Vermont Service Center (VSC) to the California Service Center (CSC) in order to balance workloads. Transfer notices will be sent for cases that were moved.

March 26, 2015

USCIS announced that, effective March 27, 2015, it will transfer the adjudication of some cases to balance our overall workload. The affected cases include those filed with the following forms:

  • I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)
  • I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
  • I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (employment and asylum-based only)
  • I-821D/I-765, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals/ Application for Employment Authorization (initial and renewal requests)


November 6, 2014

USCIS announced that it recently began transferring some casework from the Vermont Service Center to the California Service Center to balance workloads. The affected casework includes:

  • Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence


December 23, 2013

USCIS announced that it recently began transferring some extension of stay casework from the Vermont Service Center to the California Service Center to balance workloads. The affected casework includes the following form:

  • I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, filed by an employer to extend the stay of an alien to perform services as an H-1B specialty occupation worker

October 21, 2013

USCIS announced that it began transferring some casework from the National Benefits Center to the Nebraska, Texas and California Service Centers to balance overall operational workload. The affected casework includes the following form:

  • I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, filed by U.S. citizens for their eligible immediate relative (spouse, child, or parent)

August 8, 2013

USCIS announced that is has begun transferring casework within service centers to balance workload processing capacity, including the transfer of Forms I-129F, I-130 F2A category, I-821D and the accompanying Form I-765, and I-751.

March 8, 2013

USCIS announced that on March 8, 2013, it transferred some casework from the California Service Center to the Texas Service Center to balance overall workload with processing capacity at the centers. The affected casework includes the following forms:

  • I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
  • I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (when filed concurrently with the I-821D)
  • I-765 Worksheet (PDF) (when filed concurrently with the I-821D)

February 13, 2013

USCIS announced that it transferred some casework from the Vermont Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center to balance overall workload with processing capacity at the centers. The affected casework includes the following forms:

  • I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
  • I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (when filed concurrently with the I-821D)
  • I-765 Worksheet (when filed concurrently with the I-821D)


October 1, 2012

USICS announced that some work that USCIS performs at the four USCIS service centers (Vermont, Nebraska, Texas and California) will be transferred to a Field Office or the National Benefits Center (NBC) in order to balance the overall workload with processing capacity.

  • I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
  • Stand-Alone Immediate Relative (IR) I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
  • Interview-Waivable Family-Based I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status


October 23, 2006

USCIS announced that since October 23, 2006, the NBC has been transferring Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé?(e), (petitions for K-3-spouses of U.S. citizens only), to the California Service Center (CSC) and the Vermont Service Center (VSC), depending on the location of the related Form I-130.

October 1, 2006

USCIS issued a notice that the National Benefits Center transferred Cuban Adjustment Act Applications received on or after October 1, 2006 to the Texas Service Center.

September 29, 2006

USCIS issued a notice about recent case transfers between Service Centers. The VSC transferred 20,000 cap-subject H-1Bs to the TSC and 6,000 cap-subject H-1Bs to the NSC. The VSC also transferred 20,000 I-130s to the CSC. In addition, all pending I-360s have been transferred to the CSC.


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