If you’ve ever filed an immigration petition, you’ve probably tracked your case using a USCIS receipt number. But behind those numbers is an entire system most applicants never hear about: SCOPS USCIS, short for the Service Center Operations Directorate.

This little-known directorate plays one of the most important roles in the U.S. immigration system. While local USCIS field offices handle interviews and face-to-face appointments, SCOPS USCIS is responsible for processing millions of applications that don’t require in-person interaction. In other words, SCOPS is the quiet backbone of USCIS operations.

SCOPS	USCIS Service Center Operations Directorate, handles non-interview applications through various service centers.
Service Centers	CSC, NSC, PSC, TSC, VSC, + HART (humanitarian-focused virtual center)
Case Types	Business, Family, Humanitarian, Students/Exchange Visitors, Security Screening
Receipt Codes	First three letters of the receipt number identify the processing center
Workload Balancing	Transfers may occur for efficiency; receipt number remains unchanged
Processing Times	Vary by center; tracked now under "Service Center Operations (SCOPS)"

What Is SCOPS USCIS?

SCOPS oversees multiple service centers across the country. Each one processes specific types of applications, from family petitions to work visas to humanitarian relief requests. Currently, the SCOPS network includes:

• California Service Center (CSC)

• Nebraska Service Center (NSC)

• Potomac Service Center (PSC)

• Texas Service Center (TSC)

• Vermont Service Center (VSC)

• HART Service Center – the newest, created to focus on humanitarian cases such as VAWA, asylee, and refugee petitions.

If your receipt number starts with EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, IOE, or MSC, that code tells you which SCOPS service center is handling your file.

What Cases Does SCOPS USCIS Handle?

The workload of SCOPS is broad and touches on nearly every immigration category:

• Family-based petitions (e.g., I-130 for relatives, I-129F for fiancés)

• Employment and business petitions (e.g., I-140 immigrant workers, I-129 nonimmigrant workers)

• Humanitarian relief (e.g., TPS, DACA, U visa, VAWA)

• Students and exchange visitors (e.g., I-539 status changes, I-765 work authorization)

• Adjustment of status and related forms when an interview isn’t required

By handling these applications in bulk, SCOPS USCIS helps keep the overall system moving and ensures that local field offices can focus on interviews and direct applicant services.

Why SCOPS USCIS Matters for Applicants

• Processing Times Differ by Service Center - Each SCOPS center has its own caseload. That’s why two applicants filing the same form may see different wait times.

• Receipt Numbers Start the Trail - Your USCIS receipt number not only confirms your filing but also identifies the SCOPS service center in charge.

• Workload Balancing - Cases are sometimes shifted between centers to reduce backlogs. If your petition is transferred, you’ll get a notice, but your receipt number stays the same.

• HART Brings a Humanitarian Focus - With the creation of the HART Service Center, SCOPS USCIS has put more resources into humanitarian and sensitive cases, improving consistency and response times.

What Is HART?

Adding to SCOPS, the HART Service Center was established to better focus on humanitarian-related cases. It processes cases like:

• I‑601A (Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver)

• I‑918 BFD (U non-immigrant status)

• I‑730 (Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition)

• VAWA-related I‑360 petitions

HART was launched in 2023, initially using a hybrid model (partially virtual), with plans to evolve into a fully virtual service center, improving efficiency and consistency in humanitarian adjudications.

Final Thoughts

Most applicants never interact directly with SCOPS USCIS, but its work shapes the entire immigration journey. Whether you’re filing for a green card, work authorization, or humanitarian relief, chances are your paperwork will pass through one of these service centers.

Understanding SCOPS USCIS means you’ll know how your receipt number connects to the bigger system, what timelines to expect, and why processing can vary depending on the center.

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