Is H-1B renewal processed at the same Service Center?

Not necessarily. There is no fixed rule requiring that an H-1B renewal (extension) be processed by the same Service Center that handled the original petition. The center that will receive the new filing is determined by current USCIS guidelines, not by the case history.

When the employer files the extension petition using Form I-129, it is necessary to follow the current instructions from USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), which indicate the appropriate Service Center based on the worksite location and the type of request. That filing address can change due to jurisdictional shifts, workload distribution among centers, or internal administrative adjustments.

In practice, the renewal often ends up at the same center, but that is not guaranteed. What matters is verifying where the petition should be sent at the time it is being prepared.

Because these procedures are reviewed periodically, the safest approach is to consult the official I-129 instructions directly on the USCIS website and, if the case has any particularities, seek guidance from a specialist before filing.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.