I-485: What “Case Was Transferred And A New Office Has Jurisdiction” Means

Your case moved to a different USCIS office, and that office now has jurisdiction. Transfers are usually workload balancing: USCIS shifts batches of cases to offices with more capacity, and the receiving office picks up where the file left off.

I-485 transfers between service centers and the National Benefits Center are common and routinely precede interview scheduling.

Good to do now

• Note the new office named in the transfer notice; future processing-time lookups should use it.
• No action is required from you for the transfer itself.
• Keep tracking the case. Timelines can change (either direction) under the new office.

Live numbers

Frequently asked questions

Why was my case transferred?

Most transfers are routine workload balancing between offices, done in batches. They are about queue management, not about the merits of your case.

Does a transfer reset my place in line?

Your filing date still anchors the case. The receiving office works its own queue, so observed waits can shift, but the case does not start over.

Will my interview location change?

If an interview is required, it is normally scheduled at the office with jurisdiction over your address at that time, which may differ from the processing office.

Related

• I-485: Case Was Received and A Receipt Notice Was Sent
• I-485: Case Is Still Being Processed By USCIS
• I-485: Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken
• I-485: Biometrics Appointment Was Scheduled
• I-485: Request for Additional Evidence Was Sent
• I-485: Response To USCIS' Request For Evidence Was Received
• Where does a I-485 filed on your date sit in the approval line?
• I-485 case tracker: full timeline and what to expect
• All USCIS case statuses by form

MyCasesHub is not affiliated with USCIS. Statistics are measured from cases tracked on MyCasesHub, not all USCIS filings. This page is general information, not legal advice.