Texas Service Center Now Accepting Certain H1B Petitions

On May 20, 2019, the Texas Service Center (TSC) began accepting certain cap-exempt H1B petitions for processing. Beginning July 19, 2019, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may reject any petition not filed at the appropriate service center.

General H1B Filing Address and Other Information

Until recently, any H1B petition that requested a continuation of previously approved employment without change, had to be filed at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC). Now, any such petition is to be filed at the NSC, TSC, California Service Center (CSC), or Vermont Service Center (VSC), depending upon the state where the petitioning employer’s primary office is located.

Similarly, these four service centers are now all adjudicating petitions requesting a change in previously approved employment, new concurrent employment, change of employer, and H1B amendments. Again, the determination of the correct service center to file the H1B petition is determined by the location of the petitioner’s primary office. Detailed instructions are on the USCIS website.

Certain Cap-Exempt Petitions or H1B Petitions for Employment in Guam Must be Filed with the CSC

Different procedures apply to H1B petitions that are cap exempt based on a Conrad 30 / Interested Government Agency (IGA) waiver under INA Section 214(l), or H1B petitions where the employer’s location is in Guam or the beneficiary will be performing services in Guam. These petitions must be filed with the CSC.

Conclusion

Lengthy processing times are creating problems for both H1B workers and their respective employers. The hope is that the addition of the Texas Service Center in the adjudication of H1B petitions will help the USCIS in its stated goal of “improving processing times and efficiency.”

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