On February 1, 2008, the USCIS published a USCIS Update designating the California Service Center as the place to file petitions by institutions of higher education and organizations and affiliated entities, and non-profit and governmental research institutions. Petitions for cap-exempt individuals (e.g., petitions for physicians to serve in shortage areas) and petitions for individuals already counted are to be filed according to established jurisdictional rules.

Therefore, effective January 30, 2008, all H-1B Petitions filed by “cap-exempt” petitioners/organizations, must be filed with the California Service Center to the following address:

For Direct Mail:

U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

California Service Center

ATTN: CAP EXEMPT H-1B Processing Unit

P.O. BOX 30040

Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-3004

For non-United States Postal Service (USPS) deliveries (e.g. private couriers), use the following address:

U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

California Service Center

ATTN: CAP EXEMPT H-1B Processing Unit

24000 Avila Road, Room 2312

Laguna Niguel, CA 92607

If your "cap exempt" H-1B filing has been erroneously rejected by the CSC, please send it back to the CSC to the attention of CIS Review Supervisor:

USCIS California Service Center

Attn: CIS Review Supervisor

24000 Avila Road, 2nd Floor

Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

From AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 08021272 (posted Feb. 12, 2008).