Texas Service Center I-485 Cases with CSC Case Numbers? Don't Panic!
Posted Jul 09, 2000

The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. recently noted that some I-485 applications filed with the Texas Service Center (TSC) of INS have been issued receipts from the California Service Center (CSC). Considering that TSC now has the fastest I-485 processing time and CSC has the slowest, we were taken aback. When we called TSC to inquire about this, however, we were informed that the cases would still be processed at the TSC, and that the CSC was just helping with the initial data entry.

About one week later, we received official word from the American Immigration Lawyers Association that the TSC had provided information on the above practice to the Association's TSC liaison. The TSC reported having sent about 7,000 I-485 applications to the CSC to process receipts. These cases will later be returned to TSC for all further processing.

The fact that the cases will be handled by the TSC is good news, especially with respect to employment authorization cards (EADs). On the other hand, the problem is that a person may not be able to obtain case status information from the computer systems by calling the TSC after hours, as the case numbers beginning with the CSC code "WAC" may not be recognized on the TSC telephone system. TSC case numbers begin with the code "SRC."

EAD Processing at TSC :
While some Service Centers are taking at least 90 days to process EAD applications, we have seen many completed through the TSC in as little as 2 to 3 weeks. The processing time guideline for an EAD at the TSC is 75 days. Furthermore, the TSC now has an agreement with the American Immigration Lawyers Association to consider requests for expedited processing for EAD applications pending for over 75 days. If your immigration attorney is an AILA member, and your EAD application has been pending for at least 75 days at the TSC, ask the attorney if you are eligible to benefit from this policy guidance. If you do not have an attorney, please consult with The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. on the matter.