This Week in Immigration News: USCIS Transfers Certain H-1B Petitions to the California Service Center, and USCIS Webinar to Address Current Backlogs on June 22nd at 1 pm ET

We kickoff the start of a brand new week with some new developments in the world of immigration.

USCIS Transfers Certain H-1B Petitions to the California Service Center

On June 16, 2022, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that certain H-1B petitions, including fiscal year (FY 2023) cap subject H-1B petitions, going through the intake process at the Vermont Service Center (VSC) will be transferred to the California Service Center (CSC) where they will go through data intake and adjudication.

The transfer of cases was initiated due to H-1B receipt issuance delays occurring at the Vermont Service Center. Despite this announcement, USCIS has said that H-1B petitions should continue to be filed according to the instructions indicated on the USCIS Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, webpage.

According to USCIS, the transfer of cases should speed up the issuance of receipt notices for properly filed H-1B petitions. USCIS asks for patience while the California Service Center processes transferred cases. Petitioners should not submit duplicate petitions, out of concern that their prior submission was not received or was misplaced.

How will I know if my petition was transferred?

USCIS will be issuing receipt notices for all petitions transferred to the California Service Center once the cases complete the intake process. Transfer notices will not be issued, rather the receipt notice will be evidence of the pending case at the California Service Center, where the case will go through adjudication.

Furthermore, USCIS has said that the agency is experiencing receipt issuance delays in other service centers, and the agency is actively working to reduce the delays.

CIS Ombudsman to Host Webinar on USCIS Backlog Reduction Efforts

We would like to take this opportunity to notify our readers that the CIS Ombudsman will be hosting a webinar on June 22, 2022, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm (ET) to discuss the agency’s backlog reduction efforts.

During the session, the CIS Ombudsman and senior leadership at USCIS will discuss the extent of the current backlog, and the efforts being taken to reduce such backlogs.

This webinar will serve as an information sharing and gathering session. Participants may submit questions and comments during the engagement.

The CIS Ombudsman will use the public’s feedback to assist USCIS in its backlog reduction efforts.

If you would like to join you can click here to register for the event.

Questions? If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-483-4549 or call 619-819-9204.

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