I have noticed that there is some confusion out there about what our National Benefits Center (NBC) is and what it does. The NBC serves a unique role within our organization as part of the Field Operations Directorate. The NBC was founded in 2001 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri and was originally called the Missouri Service Center (which is why receipt notices from the NBC will begin with the letters “MSC”).
The NBC’s primary mission is to prepare applications for adjudication that require an interview at a USCIS Field Office. The NBC’s largest workload is Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
The NBC does not determine processing times of I-485 and N-400 application. NBC does not conduct final adjudication of those cases—a USCIS Local Field Office does. To check the processing times on I-485 and N-400 applications, go to local USCIS Office processing times.