Texas Service Center Reopened and Effect on Premium Processing Cases

On May 28, 2024, the intake of petitions, applications, and other benefit requests at the Texas Service Center was temporarily suspended due to widespread and severe weather. The Texas Service Center reopened on June 3, 2024, and the intake of petitions, applications, and other benefit requests has resumed.  In most instances, courier services will reattempt delivery now that the Texas Service Center has reopened; no further action from petitioners or applicants is required.  If your petition or application is returned to you, you should refile at your earliest convenience. Petitioners or applicants affected by the intake disruption or by severe weather may request filing flexibilities, which USCIS can consider on a case-by-case basis. 

Due to the severe weather events that led to closure and disruption of operations at the Texas Service Center, USCIS is exercising its authority under 8 CFR 106.4(e)(22),which states that the premium processing clock does not run on any business day when a federal office is closed, including closures due to “weather-related” events.   The closure may be nationwide or in the region where the adjudication of the benefit for which premium processing is sought will take place. Premium processing cases that were received but were not yet transferred to an adjudicating office before the Texas Service Center closed, or cases that could not be delivered by courier services, may see the premium processing clock paused due to this period of operational closure.