Some information and Insight from a visit to the USCIS TSC

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    Hooyou 173.***.206.145 5918

    On April 15, 2014, two of our attorneys, Attorney Jerry Zhang and Attorney Andrew McCusker attended a round table meeting at the Texas Service Center (TSC), one of the main USCIS offices where they adjudicate cases. During the conference, we were given a tour of the TSC building, talked with USCIS officers extensively and learned about the inner workings and processes of USCIS.

    Upon arrival, security officers will check cars and escort visitors to the TSC building located at 8001 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75247. Visitors will be issued ID’s and visitor bags with name tags. An immigration officer must swipe his identity card to enter the building and even had escorts when they were inside the building.

    Once inside, they visited the EB division which occupies the entire fourth floor. The immigration officers work in their own cubicles with no independent offices and a majority of them work at home and telecommute to work. About 150 USCIS officers work in the EB unit. In three months, they approved 18,000 I-485 cases based on EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3. Their goal is 19,000 I-485 approvals every three months. Among the 150 officers, 60 of them work at the premium processing units. TSC has an internal deadline of 30 days. The TSC officers, especially the managers, were very professional, articulate and helpful. Our attorneys talked with many officers and managers including Director Gregory Richardson, the premium processing unit chief and the counsel for EB-1.

    From the conference, we learned many things. For example, an approval takes one immigration officer’s judgment. However, it takes two officers to finalize a denial. TSC utilizes Six Sigma, a data driven methodology for eliminating defects, for its case processes. Moreover, USCIS officers at TSC usual process I-140 cases within four weeks after the cases are assigned to them. On average, it takes officers 2.5 hours to adjudicate an EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-1C and NIW case. A concise and good petition letter is always helpful and supportive to the cases. For a NIW case, an officer will look at the specific number of citations. We also learned that premium processing is available for I-140 application downgraded from a PERM under EB-2 where the I-140 was approved a long time ago. Also according to the TSC officer, a period of unemployment after an alien changes their job will not affect their I-485 if the alien has a job offer from another employer when a RFE is issued. And finally after talking with the EB-1C Chief Officer, we learned that the length of time spent in the U.S as a B-1 visitor will not be deducted from an alien’s work time to meet the one year limit.

    During the conference, when a USCIS officer learned that Attorney Jerry Zhang is from Zhang & Associates, P. C., he said, “I know that we have many EB-1 and NIW cases from Zhang and Associates and your guys’ work are outstanding.”

    In another occasion, when Attorney Andrew McCusker introduced himself to one officer, the officer said, “You’re with Zhang? I like Zhang!”

    Moreover, Attorney Kristin Whitaker, a former USCIS officer at the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) of the USCIS has worked for Zhang & Associates, P.C. since February 4, 2013 as a Senior Attorney and Training Manager.

    For the past five years before she joined us, Kristin had served as an attorney for the USCIS working in the AAO, handling a wide range of appeals cases. This experience has given her a unique insight into the USCIS which she utilizes to assist clients in obtaining the best possible results.

    If you are interested in filing a NIW or EB-1 but not sure if you are qualified, please contact Attorney Jerry Zhang at @hooyou.com">jzhang@hooyou.com. He will provide you with a free evaluation.

    Founded in 1996, Zhang & Associates, P.C. offers legal services to clients nationwide in all aspects of U.S immigration law. We have successfully handled thousands of immigration cases.

    At Zhang & Associates, P.C., our attorneys and supporting professionals are committed to providing high-quality immigration and non-immigration visa services. We specialize in NIW, EB-1, PERM, and I-485 cases. In the past eighteen years, we have successfully helped thousands of clients get green cards. If you plan to apply for a green card, please send your CV to Attorney Jerry Zhang (info@hooyou.com) for a free evaluation.

    Zhang & Associates, P.C.

    Silicon Valley • New York • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Austin • Seattle

    Tel: 1-800-230-7040, 713-771-8433
    Email: @hooyou.com">info@hooyou.com
    website: http://www.hooyou.com

    • eb 134.***.139.72

      EB 케이스 일인당 하루에 2건 정도 처리하는거네요.. 많은건지 적은건지.. 여튼 재밌게 잘 읽었습니다.