NIW Service Center Comparison
AAO appeal approval rates for the four USCIS service centers, from 6,362 real decisions. Where your case is adjudicated visibly moves the odds.
| Service Center | AAO Approval Rate | Cases in Dataset |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Service Center (TSC) | 4.7% | 180 of 3,798 |
| Nebraska Service Center (NSC) | 7.2% | 144 of 1,996 |
| California Service Center (CSC) | 11.3% | 12 of 106 |
| Vermont Service Center (VSC) | 13.4% | 38 of 284 |
Approval rates are AAO-level appeals — cases already denied once by USCIS. First-pass approval rates are significantly higher. Rates are computed directly from the case counts shown.
Texas Service Center
TSCAdjudicates the largest share of NIW cases and reverses the smallest fraction on appeal. A petition routed through Texas needs to be airtight the first time — the appeal stage here is the most unforgiving of the four.
Nebraska Service Center
NSCThe second-highest NIW volume. Its appeal approval rate runs above Texas but well below the two smaller centers.
California Service Center
CSCA small NIW caseload — 106 appeals in the dataset. The rate is real but noisy on a sample this size; read it as directional, not precise.
Vermont Service Center
VSCThe highest appeal approval rate in the dataset, but on only 284 cases. The sample is thin enough that the figure should be treated as a rough signal.
Processing time and backlog
USCIS does not publish I-140 processing times broken out by service center in a form we can verify. What the real quarterly data does show is the national picture, and it is the more honest number to plan around.
The implied processing time is an estimate — pending caseload divided by quarterly throughput (Little's Law), from USCIS I-140 data for 2024 Q1 - 2025 Q4. It is not an official USCIS figure. For the official per-form processing time, see the USCIS processing-times tool.
Premium processing
Premium processing — a 15-business-day adjudication commitment — is available for I-140 NIW petitions. It does not change the odds, only the speed.
Consider it if
- Your visa status is expiring soon
- You need the approved I-140 for a downstream filing
- The petition is strong and unlikely to draw an RFE
Skip it if
- Evidence gaps could trigger an RFE
- You are not in a rush for status
- Budget is a constraint
Fee
Premium processing carries a separate USCIS fee. Confirm the current amount on uscis.gov before filing.
See how your own case scores
Service center is one factor. A case review scores your petition against 6,362 AAO decisions and shows which prong is weakest before you file.
Other free tools: