What is the ‘USCIS Lockbox’?

The USCIS Lockbox is a designated intake facility used by USCIS where applicants mail petitions, forms, and payments for a variety of immigration benefits, including cases related to the H-1B visa.

Rather than going directly to the officer who evaluates the merits of a case, paperwork first passes through this initial screening stage. At the Lockbox, preliminary matters are checked, such as proper fee payment and documentation completeness, and cases are organized and recorded before being forwarded for detailed review at other units.

• Receives petitions, forms, and payments sent by mail.
• Performs the initial check and registration before the merits review.
• Routes cases to the units responsible for evaluating each petition.

Because sending documents to the wrong address can cause delays or even result in the petition being returned, it is important to always verify the current official USCIS mailing address for your specific form before submitting, and to consult an immigration professional if in doubt.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

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.