Off-axis excitation of hydrogenlike atoms by twisted photons

We show that the twisted-photon states, or photon states with large (>(h) over bar) angular momentum projection (m(gamma)) in the direction of motion, can photoexcite atomic levels for a hydrogenlike atom that are novel and distinct and are not restricted by m(gamma), when the symmetry axis of the twisted-photon beam does not coincide with the center of the atomic target. Selection rules are given and interesting implications and observables for the above process are pointed out.