Most temporary and immigrant visa petitions are adjudicated by the four regional service centers and the national benefit center of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (USCIS).  For the most part, these regional service centers handle petitions and applications based on the geographic location of the company or individual.  However, certain types of petitions are consolidated and handled by certain regional service centers altogether, regardless of the geographical location of the company or individual.

 

The local offices of the USCIS are responsible for the interview and final adjudication of petitions filed by applicants seeking residency through a family member and by applicants for naturalization.  Typically these applications are filed initially with a regional service center or the national benefits center, and are then forwarded to the local office serving the geographical location of the applicant once the interview is scheduled.