Form I-140 at Texas Service Center — Processing Time, Approval Rate & RFE Risk
The Texas Service Center (TSC) processes a large share of nationwide I-140 immigrant-petition filings alongside the Nebraska Service Center; as of August 2026, regular processing runs roughly 2.5 months for PERM-based EB-2 and about 4 months for EB-3, with premium processing available at 15 business days for most categories. National approval rate is approximately 94%.
Processing Time Snapshot
Data as of August 2026 · Source: USCIS Processing Times (egov.uscis.gov)
| Category | Regular Processing (80% of cases) | Premium Processing |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) | ~30 months | 15 business days |
| EB-1B (Outstanding Researcher) | ~15.5 months | 15 business days |
| EB-1C (Multinational Executive) | ~26.5 months | 45 business days |
| EB-2 (PERM-based) | ~2.5 months | 15 business days |
| EB-2 NIW | ~28 months | 45 business days |
| EB-3 (Skilled Worker) | ~4 months | 15 business days |
| EB-3 (Unskilled Worker) | ~6 months | 15 business days |
USCIS does not let petitioners select TSC vs. Nebraska Service Center — cases are auto-assigned by workload, so the categories above reflect the national processing-time bands most TSC filings fall into.
Approval Rate & RFE Risk
Data as of August 2026 · Source: USCIS I-140 adjudication statistics (approximate, national)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| National I-140 approval rate | ~94% |
| Estimated RFE issuance rate | ~15-20% of filings |
| Top RFE triggers | Ability-to-pay documentation (PERM-based EB-2/EB-3), specialty-occupation/degree-equivalency gaps, wage-level mismatch between LCA/PERM and I-140 job duties |
Green Card Timeline Context
Data as of August 2026 · Source: DOS Visa Bulletin (August 2026)
An approved I-140 only fixes your priority date — it does not grant a visa number. Visa Bulletin availability by chargeability (Aug 2026): EB-2 Rest of World Current, EB-2 China September 1, 2021, EB-2 India Unavailable; EB-3 Rest of World September 1, 2024, EB-3 China January 1, 2022, EB-3 India January 1, 2014.
FAQs
Q: Can I choose to have my I-140 processed at the Texas Service Center? A: No — USCIS assigns cases to Texas or Nebraska based on internal workload balancing; petitioners and attorneys cannot request a specific center.
Q: Does premium processing guarantee approval? A: No — it guarantees a decision (approval, denial, or RFE) within the premium window, not a favorable outcome.
Q: What''s the single biggest RFE risk for a PERM-based I-140? A: Ability-to-pay documentation — USCIS checks whether the employer could pay the certified PERM wage from the priority date forward, using tax returns, audited financials, or net-current-assets calculations.
Q: If my I-140 is approved but my priority date isn''t current, can I file I-485? A: No — you can only file I-485 once your priority date is current under the relevant Visa Bulletin chart (or the Dates for Filing chart, when USCIS permits its use).
Q: How does an I-140 denial affect my H-1B status? A: It does not directly terminate H-1B status, but it removes the underlying green card sponsorship basis and can affect eligibility for H-1B extensions beyond the 6-year limit (which depend on a pending or approved I-140/PERM).
Related Pages
- /visa-requirements/form-i-485-national-benefits-center-processing-time-approval-rate-rfe-risk
- /visa-requirements/software-engineer-at-tcs-h1b-wage-perm-green-card
- /visa-requirements/data-engineer-at-tcs-h1b-wage-perm-green-card
- /visa-requirements/software-engineer-at-hcl-america-h1b-wage-perm-green-card
Model your own I-140 → I-485 timeline free at VisaSherpa.ai.