When and Where to Mail Your H-1B Petition
When to File an FY 2017 H-1B Cap-Subject Petition
We will begin accepting H-1B petitions that are subject to the FY 2017 cap on April 1, 2016. You may file an H-1B petition no more than six months before the employment start date requested for the beneficiary.
Where to Mail Your H-1B Petition
You must file your petition with the correct service center, depending on the H-1B beneficiary’s work location(s) as specified in the petition. We have specific mailing addresses for cases that are subject to the H-1B cap.
Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
Regular Processing
Except for the classifications listed below, Form I-129 is filed at the California Service Center or Vermont Service Center, depending on the location of the temporary employment or training.
Filing for Temporary Employment or Training in More Than One Location
When the temporary employment or training will be in different locations, the state where your company or organization’s primary office is located will determine the appropriate Service Center to which you should send your Form I-129 package, regardless of where in the United States the various worksites are located. For example, if the beneficiary will work in Arizona and Texas, and your company’s primary office is in New York, file Form I-129 with the Vermont Service Center. If the beneficiary will work in Florida and Georgia, and your company’s primary office is in California, file Form I-129 with the California Service Center.
When the temporary employment or training will be in different locations within the same state, the state where your company or organization’s primary office is located will still be used to determine the appropriate Service Center to which you should send your Form I-129 package. For example, if the beneficiary will work in two or more different locations in the state of Arizona, and your company’s primary office is in New York, you would file Form I-129 with the Vermont Service Center.
Listing your Organization’s Primary Address
Your company or organization’s primary office should be listed on page 1 part 1. If you are listing a home office in part 5, question 3, we will consider this a separate and distinct worksite location.
Providing Additional Information
In addition to part 5 questions 3, you may also use part 9 of Form I-129 (with a revision date of 10/23/2014) to list additional worksite locations if you need extra space.
Submitting Your H-1B Package
Two versions of Form I-129 are available for use (one with the revision date of 11/23/2010, and one with a revision date of 10/23/2014); however, only use one version of the form when submitting an H-1B package. Please do not combine two versions of the form as doing so may impact the data entry process.
Except for the classifications listed below, Form I-129 is filed at the California Service Center or Vermont Service Center, depending on the location of the temporary employment or training.
Before submitting your form(s), note the different addresses.
Exceptions: Regardless of work locations, always send the following types of petitions to the California Service Center:
- H-2A
- R-1
- H-1B petitions where the employer is statutorily exempt from the cap
- E-1 and E-2, petitions for extension of stay or change of status only
Regardless of work locations, always send the following types of petitions to the Vermont Service Center:
- H-1C
- E-3, Petitions for extension of stay or change of status only
- Free Trade Nonimmigrants (H-1B1 aliens from Chile/ Singapore and TN aliens from Canada or Mexico), petitions for extension of stay or change of status only
- P-1, Major League Sports Organizations
Failure to follow these instructions may result in the rejection, delay, or denial of your petition.
California Service Center Filings
File Form I-129 with the California Service Center if the beneficiary is or will be employed temporarily or receiving training in:
|
|
|
Vermont Service Center Filings
File Form I-129 with the Vermont Service Center if the beneficiary is or will be employed temporarily or receiving training in:
|
|
|
Premium Processing
If you are requesting Premium Processing Services for a Form I-129, you must also file a Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Services. Before you file the I-129/I-907 package, check www.uscis.gov to ensure that the requested classification is eligible for premium processing.
Mailing Addresses
The mailing addresses provided below reflect the most current information as of the date this form was last printed. If you are filing this form more than 30 days after the edition date printed this form (shown in the lower right-hand corner), check before you file to confirm that this is the most current version of the Form I-129 to use by either (1) visiting the "Forms and Fees" section at www.uscis.gov or (2) if you do not have Internet access, call Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283.
California Service Center
Petition Type | Regular Mailing | Courier Mailing |
|---|---|---|
All CNMI I-129 Petitions (filed for any classification included on this form for employment in the CNMI) | USCIS California Service Center (Note the nonimmigrant classification requested in the attention line.) | USCIS California Service Center (Note the nonimmigrant classification requested in the attention line.) |
Guam H-1B and H-2B Petitions | USCIS California Service Center (Note the nonimmigrant classification requested in the attention line.) | USCIS California Service Center (Note the nonimmigrant classification requested in the attention line.) |
H-1B Extension of Stay Petition | USCIS California Service Center | USCIS California Service Center |
H-2A Petitions |
| USCIS California Service Center ATTN: H-2A Processing Unit 24000 Avila Road 2nd Floor, Room 2312 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 |
All Other I-129 Petitions, Including H-1B Cap Subject Petitions | USCIS California Service Center ATTN: I-129 P.O. Box 10129 Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-1012 (Note the nonimmigrant classification requested in the attention line) | USCIS California Service Center ATTN: I-129 24000 Avila Road 2nd Floor, Room 2312 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 (Note the nonimmigrant classification requested in the attention line) |
Premium Processing I-129/I-907 Packages | Premium Processing Service USCIS California Service Center ATTN: I-129 P.O. Box 10825 Laguna Niguel, CA 92607 (Note the nonimmigrant classification requested in the attention line.) | Premium Processing Service USCIS California Service Center ATTN: I-129 24000 Avila Road 2nd Floor, Room 2312 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 (Note the nonimmigrant classification requested in the attention line.) |
| Premium Processing E-Mail address: CSC-Premium.Processing@dhs.gov | |
Vermont Service Center
Petition Type | Regular & Courier Mailing | Premium Processing I-129/I-907 Packages |
|---|---|---|
H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions | USCIS Vermont Service Center ATTN: H-1B Cap 4 Lemnah Drive St. Albans, VT 05479-0001 | Premium Processing Service USCIS Vermont Service Center ATTN: H-1B Cap 30 Houghton Street St. Albans, VT 05478-2399 |
H-1B U.S. Master's Cap Petitions | USCIS Vermont Service Center ATTN: H-1B U.S. Master's Cap 4 Lemnah Drive St. Albans, VT 05479-0001 |
Premium Processing Service USCIS Vermont Service Center ATTN: H-1B U.S. Master's Cap 30 Houghton Street St. Albans, VT 05478-2399 |
All Other I-129 Petitions | USCIS Vermont Service Center ATTN: I-129 75 Lower Welden Street St. Albans, VT 05479-0001 (Note the nonimmigrant classification requested in the attention line) | Premium Processing Service USCIS Vermont Service Center ATTN: I-129 30 Houghton Street St. Albans, VT 05478-2399 (Note the nonimmigrant classification requested in the attention line) |
Note: We have a separate mailing address for certain types of educational or nonprofit organizations that file cap-exempt H-1B petitions.
Please read the filing instructions very carefully. If you file your petition incorrectly, we will reject it. Rejected petitions will not retain a filing date and will not be counted toward the H-1B cap.
