Send your green card process to the USCIS service center that covers your state, not to a local office

Your green card process goes to one of four USCIS service centers based on where you live, not to the nearest immigration office. The four centers are Nebraska Service Center, Texas Service Center, Vermont Service Center, and California Service Center. Each one handles applications from specific states. You do not choose which center; your state determines it.

The address you use depends on whether you are filing by mail or online. Most green card applications now go through the online system USCIS ELIS (Electronic Immigration System), which means you upload documents instead of mailing them. If you must mail your process because you do not have online access, the mailing address for your service center appears on the form instructions for the specific form you are filing — usually Form I-485 (process to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) or Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker).

Key Takeaways

  • Your process goes to the USCIS service center that serves your state, determined by where you live or where your employer is located.
  • Most green card applications are now filed online through USCIS ELIS rather than by mail, so you upload documents instead of printing and mailing them.
  • If you must mail your process, the correct mailing address is printed in the instructions for your specific form, and using the wrong address delays processing.
  • The four service centers are Nebraska, Texas, Vermont, and California; each handles a different set of states and has different processing times.
  • You can check which service center handles your state on the USCIS website before you file.

How to find which service center handles your state

USCIS publishes a list on its website showing which service center processes applications from each state. Go to uscis.gov, search for "service center," and look for the page titled "Service Center Operations." This page lists all 50 states and US territories and shows which of the four centers handles each one.

Your state assignment is based on where you live if you are adjusting status inside the United States, or where your employer is located if your employer filed the petition for you. If you move after you file, you do not need to notify USCIS of the address change for routing purposes — your case stays with the service center that received it originally.

Filing online versus mailing your process

USCIS now requires most green card applicants to file through USCIS ELIS. You create an account, fill out your forms online, upload scanned copies of your documents, and pay the filing fee electronically. You do not mail anything. The system tells you when ready whether your documents were received and accepted.

A small number of applicants may still mail paper applications if they cannot access the online system or if USCIS specifically instructs them to mail. If you are in this situation, the form instructions will tell you the mailing address for your service center. The address is usually a PO Box or a street address in a specific city. Using the wrong address causes your process to be returned or delayed.

What to include if you are mailing your process

If you must mail your process, include the original signed forms, copies of all supporting documents, the filing fee (check or money order made out to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security"), and a cover letter listing what you are sending. Do not use staples or paper clips; use a binder clip or rubber band so USCIS can separate the pages for scanning.

Mail your process via a trackable method such as certified mail or a courier service so you have proof of delivery. Keep a copy of everything you send. The service center will send you a receipt notice (Form I-797) within two to three weeks if your process was accepted. If you do not receive a receipt notice within that time, contact USCIS to confirm they received your package.

Processing times vary by service center

Each service center processes applications at a different speed. Nebraska Service Center typically processes green card applications faster than the others, while California Service Center usually has longer wait times because it handles more applications. Texas and Vermont fall in the middle.

USCIS publishes current processing times on its website. Go to uscis.gov, search for "processing times," and select your service center from the list. The times shown are estimates based on recent cases and change monthly. Processing time is measured from the date USCIS receives your process to the date they make a decision, not from the date you mail it.

What happens after you send your process

Once USCIS receives your process, they will send you a receipt notice with a case number. Use this number to check the status of your case on the USCIS website. You can also request a case status update by phone or through the USCIS online portal.

The service center will review your process, may request additional documents (called a Request for Evidence or RFE), schedule you for a biometrics appointment if required, and eventually send you a decision. Some applicants are interviewed; others are not. The service center will notify you of any appointments or next steps by mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I move after I file my green card process?

Notify USCIS of your new address by filing Form AR-11 (Alien's Change of Address) online or by mail. Your case stays with the original service center, but USCIS will mail notices to your new address. You can file AR-11 on the USCIS website or print it and mail it to the address shown on the form.

Can I hand-deliver my process instead of mailing it?

No. USCIS does not accept hand-delivered applications at service centers. You must file online through USCIS ELIS or mail your process to the address provided in the form instructions. Some USCIS field offices accept in-person filings for certain forms, but green card applications are not among them.

What if I file my process to the wrong service center?

If you mail your process to the wrong address, it will be returned to you or forwarded to the correct service center, which delays processing by several weeks. If you filed online, the system routes your process to the correct service center automatically based on your state. Double-check the mailing address in your form instructions before you mail anything.

How do I know if USCIS received my mailed process?

Mail your process via certified mail or a courier service that provides tracking. You will receive a delivery confirmation. USCIS will send you a receipt notice (Form I-797) within two to three weeks if they accepted your process. If you do not receive a receipt notice, contact USCIS using your tracking number to confirm delivery.