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Mar 27,2024 News

Navigating the 2024 H-1B Visa Landscape: USCIS Forms, Filing Locations and other useful updates for FY 2025

Introduction

As the global economy evolves, so do the needs of businesses for highly skilled talent. The H-1B visa program has long been a cornerstone of the United States’ strategy for attracting foreign professionals in specialized fields. In a recent announcement dated March 26, 2024, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) detailed several important updates and reminders for the FY 2025 H-1B cap season, including changes in the filing location for Form I-129 and adjustments to fees and forms. Let’s delve into the intricacies of these updates and their implications for employers, petitioners, and foreign workers.

H-1B Initial Registration Period Closure

The initial registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap season came to a close at noon Eastern on March 25, 2024. USCIS is now poised to randomly select enough unique beneficiaries from properly submitted registrations to meet the FY 2025 H-1B numerical allocations, including the master’s cap exemption. Selected beneficiaries will receive notifications, signaling their eligibility for filing H-1B cap-subject petitions. USCIS will issue further alerts upon completion of this selection process.

H-1B Form I-129 Filing Location Change

Effective April 1, 2024, USCIS will implement a significant change in the filing location for H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) Form I-129 petitions. Instead of submitting these petitions at USCIS service centers, all paper-based filings must be directed to USCIS lockbox locations. This shift applies to cap, non-cap, and cap-exempt H-1B filings.

USCIS will reject H-1B or H-1B1 (HSC) petitions received at a USCIS service center on or after April 1, 2024. There will be no grace period provided.

Failure to adhere to this change may result in petition rejection, emphasizing the importance of correctly determining the filing location. USCIS has provided specific mailing addresses for H-1B cap-subject cases to facilitate accurate submissions.

To determine the correct mailing address, please see the table below:

ALL H-1B, H-1B2, AND H-1B3 PETITIONS FOR FILED WITH A REQUEST FOR                         PREMIUM PROCESSING:

Use these filing locations only when filing Form I-129 and Form I-907 together:

Petitioner’s State

Filing Location

·         Alabama

·         Alaska

·         Arizona

·         Colorado

·         Florida

·         Georgia

·         Guam

·         Hawaii

·         Idaho

·         Iowa

·         Louisiana

·         Minnesota

·         Mississippi

·         Missouri

·         Montana

·         Nevada

·         New Mexico

·         Northern Mariana Islands

·         Oregon

·         Texas

·         Utah

·         Washington

·         Wyoming

USCIS Dallas Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: Premium I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 650679
Dallas, TX 75265-0679

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: Premium I-129 H-1B (Box 650679)
2501 S. State Hwy. 121
Business Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067-8003

·         California

·         Michigan

USCIS Phoenix Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: Premium I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 21509
Phoenix, AZ 85036-1509

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: Premium I-129 H-1B (Box 21509)
2108 E. Elliot Rd.
Tempe, AZ 85284-1806

·         Arkansas

·         Armed Forces

·         Illinois

·         Indiana

·         Kansas

·         Kentucky

·         Nebraska

·         North Carolina

·         North Dakota

·         Ohio

·         Oklahoma

·         Puerto Rico

·         South Carolina

·         South Dakota

·         Tennessee

·         U.S. Virgin Islands

·         Virginia

·         West Virginia

·         Wisconsin

USCIS Chicago Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: Premium I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 88781
Chicago, IL 60680-1781

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: Premium I-129 H-1B (Box 88781)
131 S. Dearborn St., 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

·         Connecticut

·         Delaware

·         District of Columbia

·         Maine

·         Maryland

·         Massachusetts

·         New Hampshire

·         New Jersey

·         New York

·         Pennsylvania

·         Rhode Island

·         Vermont

USCIS Elgin Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: Premium I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 4204
Carol Stream, IL 60197-4204

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: Premium I-129 H-1B (Box 4204)
2500 Westfield Drive
Elgin, IL 60124-7836

 

H-1B AND H-1B3 CAP-SUBJECT (REGULAR CAP AND ADVANCED DEGREE EXEMPTION)       NON-PREMIUM

If you are filing:

  • H-1B and H-1B3 petitions subject to  the regular H-1B cap of 65,000; or
  • H-1B and H-1B3 petitions subject to the H-1B advanced degree exemption (master’s cap) of 20,000.

See the table below for where to file your Form I-129:

Petitioner’s Primary Office State

Filing Location

·         Alabama

·         Arkansas

·         Florida

·         Georgia

·         Iowa

·         Louisiana

·         Minnesota

·         Mississippi

·         Missouri

·         Texas

USCIS Dallas Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 650542
Dallas, TX 75265-0542

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B (Box 650542)
2501 S. State Hwy. 121
Business Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067-8003

·         Alaska

·         Arizona

·         California

·         Colorado

·         Guam

·         Hawaii

·         Idaho

·         Kansas

·         Michigan

·         Montana

·         Nebraska

·         Nevada

·         New Mexico

·         North Dakota

·         Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

·         Oklahoma

·         Oregon

·         South Dakota

·         Utah

·         Washington

·         Wyoming

USCIS Phoenix Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 20000
Phoenix, AZ 85036-0099

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B (Box 20000)
2108 E. Elliot Rd.
Tempe, AZ 85284-1806

·         Armed Forces

·         Illinois

·         Indiana

·         Kentucky

·         North Carolina

·         Ohio

·         Puerto Rico

·         South Carolina

·         Tennessee

·         U.S. Virgin Islands

·         Virginia

·         West Virginia

·         Wisconsin

USCIS Chicago Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 88777
Chicago, IL 60680-1777

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B (Box 88777)
131 S. Dearborn St., 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

·         Connecticut

·         Delaware

·         District of Columbia

·         Maine

·         Maryland

·         Massachusetts

·         New Hampshire

·         New Jersey

·         New York

·         Pennsylvania

·         Rhode Island

·         Vermont

USCIS Elgin Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B 
P.O. Box 4016
Carol Stream, IL 60197-4016

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B (Box 4016)
2500 Westfield Drive
Elgin, IL 60124-7836

 

ALL OTHER H-1B, H-1B1 (HSC), AND H-1B3 PETITIONS (EXTENSION OF STAY, CHANGE OF STATUS, CONCURRENT EMPLOYMENT, POE/PFI/CONSULAR NOTIFICATION, AND AMENDED PETITIONS) – NON-PREMIUM

If you are filing:

  • All other H-1B and H-1B3 petitions including H 1B and H-1B3 extensions, concurrent employment and amendments, and petitions from the same employer without change.

This includes:

  • A continuation of previously approved employment from the same employer without change;
  • A change in previously approved employment;
  • New concurrent employment;
  • A change of employer;
  • A change of status to H-1B;
  • Notification to a U.S. consulate, POE, or PFI; or
  • To amend a petition.
  • All H-1B1 petitions eligible for filing with USCIS. Note that USCIS does not accept H-1B1 petitions requesting consular processing.

Petitioner’s Primary Office State

Filing Location

·         Alabama

·         Arkansas

·         Florida

·         Georgia

·         Iowa

·         Kansas

·         Louisiana

·         Minnesota

·         Mississippi

·         Missouri

·         Montana

·         Nebraska

·         New Mexico

·         North Dakota

·         Oklahoma

·         Oregon

·         South Dakota

·         Texas

·         Utah

·         Washington

·         Wyoming

USCIS Dallas Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 650542
Dallas, TX 75265-0542

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B (Box 650542)
2501 S. State Hwy. 121
Business Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067-8003

·         Alaska

·         Arizona

·         California

·         Colorado

·         Guam

·         Hawaii

·         Idaho

·         Michigan

·         Nevada

·         Northern Mariana Islands

USCIS Phoenix Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 20000
Phoenix, AZ 85036-0099

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B (Box 20000)
2108 E. Elliot Rd.
Tempe, AZ 85284-1806

·         Armed Forces

·         Illinois

·         Indiana

·         Kentucky

·         North Carolina

·         Ohio

·         Puerto Rico

·         South Carolina

·         Tennessee

·         U.S. Virgin Islands

·         Virginia

·         West Virginia

·         Wisconsin

USCIS Chicago Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 88777
Chicago, IL 60680-1777

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B (Box 88777)
131 S. Dearborn St., 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

·         Connecticut

·         Delaware

·         District of Columbia

·         Maine

·         Maryland

·         Massachusetts

·         New Hampshire

·         New Jersey

·         New York

·         Pennsylvania

·         Rhode Island

·         Vermont

USCIS Elgin Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B
P.O. Box 4016
Carol Stream, IL 60197-4016

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-129 H-1B (Box 4016)
2500 Westfield Drive
Elgin, IL 60124-7836

 

For more information regarding the lockboxes, please use the following link:

https://www.uscis.gov/i-129-addresses

NEW FEES AND FORM EDITION

USCIS published a final rule on January 31, 2024, adjusting fees for most immigration applications and petitions, effective April 1, 2024. Petitions postmarked on or after this date must include the new fees; otherwise, they will not be accepted. Additionally, USCIS will introduce a new edition of Form I-129 dated April 1, 2024. There will be no grace period for transitioning to the new form edition, as it must align with the new fee structure.

What to Know About Sending Us Your Form I-129:

  • We will accept the 05/31/23 edition of this form if it is postmarked before April 1, 2024;
  • We will not accept the 05/31/23 edition of this form if it is postmarked on or after April 1, 2024; and
  • We will only accept the 04/01/24 edition of this form if it is postmarked on or after April 1, 2024.

Understanding the correct version of Form I-129 and associated fees is crucial for timely and compliant petition submissions. USCIS will utilize the postmark date to determine the appropriate form version and fees, but the received date will govern regulatory or statutory filing deadlines.

Conclusion

The USCIS updates and reminders for the FY 2025 H-1B cap season herald a new era in the administration of the H-1B visa program. From changes in filing locations and fee structures to the introduction of online filing options and organizational accounts, stakeholders must navigate a dynamic landscape.

Employers, petitioners, and foreign workers must stay abreast of these developments to ensure compliance and maximize their chances of success in securing H-1B visas. As USCIS continues to innovate and streamline processes, the H-1B program remains a vital conduit for attracting top global talent, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth in the United States.

By: Felipe Jimenez

Felipe Jimenez is an Associate Attorney at Reddy Neumann Brown PC He works in the Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Department where he assists clients through all phases of the non-immigrant visa process.

Reddy Neumann Brown PC has been serving the business community for over 20 years and is Houston’s largest immigration law firm focused solely on US. Employment-based immigration. We work with both employers and their employees, helping them navigate the immigration process quickly and cost-effectively.

 

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