I-485 status message

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

On an I-485, USCIS shows Case Was Transferred And A New Office Has Jurisdiction[1][2]

The cited memo says this update frequently occurs in I-485 and N-400 cases.[1]

Sources for this meaning

What it means

USCIS moved the case to another service center or field office. The receipt number stays the same.[1][2]

The memo we cite says USCIS regularly transfers cases to offices with more capacity.[1]

What usually happens next

USCIS publishes I-485 processing times per field office, so check the time for the office that now has your case.[3][2]

For how long cases usually take, see USCIS processing times. We do not state a timeline on this page.

What to do

Compare your wait with the published processing time of the receiving office, which now applies.[2][3]

Related event codes

The NIEM code list words IP as “TRANSFER NOTICE SENT”, which matches this message in meaning. USCIS has not published a table that links status messages to event codes, so read the link as a reading, not a confirmed mapping.[4][5]

Forms it commonly appears for

This page covers the I-485. Read the general page for this message or follow the whole case on the I-485 Tracker.

Questions about this message

Is a transfer common on an I-485?

The memo we cite says this update frequently occurs in I-485 and N-400 cases.

Source[1]

Which processing time applies after my I-485 is transferred?

The time of the office that now has the case. USCIS publishes I-485 processing times per field office.

Source[2][3]

Sources

USCIS publishes no list of its status messages, so the titles come from the sources below. Checked . USCIS can change the wording without notice.

  1. [1]USCIS Case Status Overview (memo, October 2025)Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  2. [2]What Your USCIS Case Status Actually Means, Message by MessageHeadman Law Group
  3. [3]Check Case Processing TimesUSCIS
  4. [4]NIEM 5.0 BenefitDocumentStatusCategoryCodeSimpleTypeNIEM
  5. [5]Checking Your Case Status OnlineUSCIS

Not legal advice. CaseTicker is not affiliated with USCIS. A code is a short system label, not a decision: your notices from USCIS are what count. For a Request for Evidence, a deadline or a denial, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative. Read the disclaimer. CaseTicker is not affiliated with USCIS. Not legal advice.

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