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.  USCIS has specific mailing addresses for cases that are subject to the H-1B cap. 

USCIS has a separate mailing address for certain types of educational or nonprofit organizations that file H-1B petitions for beneficiaries who are exempt from the cap. Please read the filing instructions very carefully. If you file your petition incorrectly, USCIS will reject it.  Rejected petitions will not retain a filing date and will not be counted toward the H-1B cap. 

The chart below provides the direct filing addresses for Form I-129, which become effective on September 10, 2009.  Please note the filing addresses below and the filing exceptions for certain classifications.

H-1B employers filing petitions which are cap exempt must file such petitions exclusively at the California Service Center at one of the addresses provided below.  Petitions that are filed in error at the Vermont Service Center will be rejected.

In this instance, the term "cap exempt" refers only to those petitioners who are exempt from the numerical limitations identified in 8 CFR 214.2 (h)(8)(i)(A). "Cap exempt" petitioners are those described in 8 CFR 214.2(h)(19)(iii), and include:

• Institutions of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1001(a);


• Nonprofit organizations or entities connected or associated with institutions of higher education, as described in 8 CFR 214.2(h)(19)(iii)(B);


• Nonprofit research organizations or governmental research organizations as defined in 8 CFR 214.2(h)(19)(iii)(C); and


• Petitioners who otherwise would not be “cap exempt,” but will be employing the beneficiary to perform job duties at a qualifying cap exempt institution (see three bullets above), provided that the beneficiary’s duties will directly or predominantly further the normal, primary, or essential purpose, mission, objectives or function of the qualifying cap exempt institution, namely higher education or government research.

“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 H-1B Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement (pages 18-19).  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

 Exceptions

• Form I-129 Filed 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 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.


• H-1C Classification for Nurses:Mail the I-129 package to the Vermont Service Center, regardless of where the temporary H-1C nurse will be employed.


• R Classification for Temporary Religious Workers:  Mail the I-129 package to the California Service Center, regardless of where the temporary religious worker will be employed.


• Major League Sports:  Mail the I-129 package to the Vermont Service Center, regardless of place of temporary employment.  This covers major league athletes, minor league sports and any affiliates associated with the major leagues in baseball, hockey, soccer, basketball, and football.  Support personnel includes coaches, trainers, broadcasters, referees, linesmen, umpires, and interpreters.


• E-1 and E-2 Classifications for Treaty Traders, Treaty Investors and their eligible employees:  Mail the I-129 package to the California Service Center, regardless of where the temporary worker will be employed.

Change of Status or Extension of Stay Under Certain Free Trade Agreements:  Mail Form I-129 to the Vermont Service Center, regardless of the place of temporary employment, if Form I-129 is filed to request a change of status or extension of stay under one of the Free Trade Agreements listed below.  

• Change of Status to TN or TN Extension of TN Stay under Trade NAFTA for Nationals of Canada or Mexico.


• Change of Status to H-1B1 or Extension of H-1B1 Stay for Nationals of Singapore and Chile.


• Change of Status to E-3 or Extension of E-3 Stay for Nationals of Australia.  

Initial Classification Under Certain Free Trade Agreements: DO NOT use Form I-129 to apply for initial classification under the Free Trade Agreements listed below:

• Initial TN Classification for Nationals of Mexico (outside the United States):Formore information on the application process for initial TN classification, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s website. 


• Initial H-1B1 Classification Under the Singapore/Chile Free Trade Agreement: For more information on applying for initial H-1B1 classification, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s website.


• Initial E-3 Classification Under the Australian Free Trade Agreement: For more information on applying for initial E-3 classification, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s website.

Initial TN Classification for Nationals of Canada (outside the United States): Please see 8 CFR 214.6 for information on applying for initial TN admission at a U.S. port of entry. A link to Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations can be found under "Related Links." Alternatively, a prospective TN employer may choose to file on behalf of a Canadian citizen who is outside the United States by submitting a Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, to our Vermont Service Center. Premium Processing Service is available for this form.

 Following are more tips and knowledge about H-1B petition, PLEASE READ!

• Additional Documents Required for H-1B Petition


• Organizing Your H-1B Package, preferred order of documents


• H-1B Petition Premium Processing Service, process within 15 calendar days   


• H-1B Petition Required Fees, depending on the type of H-1B petition


• Where to Mail Your H-1B Petition


• More H1-B Petition Filing Tips