Starting April 1, 2024, all paper-based H-1B and H-1B1 Form I-129 petitions must be submitted to USCIS lockbox locations.
New I-129 Filing Rules
USCIS will now no longer accept Form I-129 petitions at their service centers. Any H-1B or H-1B1 petition received at a service center on or after April 1, 2024, will be rejected.
The specific mailing address for cap-subject H-1B petitions is listed on the Form I-129 Direct Filing Addresses page on the USCIS website.
There will be no grace period for forms filed at the wrong location. If USCIS receives a petition at the incorrect location, it will be rejected and must be refiled either online or at the correct location within the 90-day filing window indicated on the selection notice.
This change in filing location affects all Form I-129 petitions, including those that are cap-subject, cap-exempt, and non-cap petitions.
New Filing Fee and Revised Form I-129
Also starting April 1, 2024, new filing fees will apply. Petitions postmarked on or after this date must include the updated fees, or they will be rejected. The fee adjustments will impact most immigration applications and petitions.
From April 1, 2024, applicants must use a new version of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. The current edition (May 31, 2023) will be accepted only if postmarked before April 1, 2024. Any forms postmarked on or after April 1, 2024, must use the new, April 1, 2024, version, which includes the latest fees. USCIS has provided detailed instructions regarding the new Form I-129.
In addition to these changes, USCIS has recently increased the premium processing filing fee for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, effective February 26, 2024. Forms postmarked on or after this date with incorrect fees will be rejected. If sent via commercial courier, the postmark date will be the date on the courier receipt.
Prepaid Mailers
Effective March 25, 2024, USCIS will no longer use prepaid mailers for communication or final notices regarding H-1B and H-1B1 petitions. Approval notices will be delivered through an automated process. MyUSCIS account holders will receive notifications via email or text message if their case status changes, followed by a paper notice sent by mail.
Need assistance?
NNU Immigration specialize in US visa applications. Contact us for expert guidance of H-1b petitions and form I-129.
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.
