Recently, USCIS has transferred certain types of cases from the Vermont Service Center (VSC) to the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) or the California Service Center (CSC) to balance workload and decrease processing times.

The NSC will now process some of the following types of cases:

  • 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; and
  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for H-4 nonimmigrants applying for employment authorization.

The CSC will now process some of the following cases:

  • 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; and
  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for L-2 nonimmigrants applying for employment authorization.

USCIS issued transfer notices to the relevant parties on all affected cases. Per USCIS, receipt numbers will not change and the transfer will not delay the processing of any applications or petitions.

To facilitate this process, USCIS has also created a new Workload Transfer Updates page where customers can keep track of workload transfers between USCIS’ five service centers.  The new web page will list all of the transfers that USCIS makes as well as any additional information that customers should know about the transfer.