USCIS Houston field office: address, appointments and the counties it serves

The office at a glance

Which counties go to the Houston office

USCIS assigns every ZIP code to one field office. In its own data file (August 28, 2026 edition), 531 active ZIP codes in 30 Texas counties are assigned to Houston, and no county is split with another office:

• Angelina
• Austin
• Brazoria
• Chambers
• Colorado
• Fort Bend
• Galveston
• Grimes
• Hardin
• Harris
• Jasper
• Jefferson
• Liberty
• Madison
• Matagorda
• Montgomery
• Nacogdoches
• Newton
• Orange
• Polk
• Sabine
• San Augustine
• San Jacinto
• Shelby
• Trinity
• Tyler
• Walker
• Waller
• Washington
• Wharton

Two surprises that send people to the wrong building. Brazos County (Bryan and College Station) belongs to the San Antonio field office, and so do Victoria, Fayette and Burleson. And Houston County, around Crockett, belongs to Dallas. Your notice always wins over any list, this one included: USCIS can transfer a case to balance the workload.

Houston has the biggest citizenship backlog in the country

USCIS publishes how many naturalization applications (Form N-400) each office has waiting. On June 30, 2026, Houston was first of 93 offices.

Two readings. The line is long, so file as soon as you're eligible (USCIS accepts the N-400 up to 90 days before you reach the residence requirement) and keep your address current. And Houston approves a larger share of the cases it decides than the country as a whole, so a well-prepared file has good odds. The figure in USCIS's processing-time tool changes every month; in October 2026 sites that track it reported about 12 months for 80% of Houston's citizenship cases.

What's confirmed and what's only reported

• OfficialAddress 810 Gears Road, Suite 100, and the 30 counties. USCIS field office locator and ZIP data file, Aug 28, 2026.
• OfficialSince May 18, 2026, attorneys and accredited representatives must attend field office interviews in person, except in limited circumstances. Remote participation is over. USCIS field offices page.
• OfficialThe Houston Asylum Office stopped giving in-person information on April 6, 2026. USCIS asylum office page.
• Official31,057 naturalization applications pending in Houston on June 30, 2026, the most of any office. USCIS N-400 data, FY2026 Q3.
• ReportedAbout 12 months for a citizenship case in Houston (80% of cases), as read from USCIS's tool on October 5, 2026. ImmigrationDirect.

Before your interview, step by step

1. Read the notice, not a website

   Your interview notice (Form I-797C) has the address, the time and the list of documents to bring. If it says Houston, it's Gears Road; if it names another office, go there. Check USCIS's office closings page the morning of the interview, because Houston closes for storms and flooding.

2. If you have a lawyer, they come in person

   Since May 18, 2026 your attorney or accredited representative can't join by phone or video, except in limited cases. Confirm the date with them as soon as the notice arrives.

3. Translate every document that isn't in English

   Birth and marriage certificates, police records, court papers: each needs a full English translation and the translator's signed certification that they're competent and the translation is accurate (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)). See how to do it right.

4. Bring an interpreter only if you need one

   If you'll use one, bring them and Form G-1256. You both sign it in front of the officer, not before. For citizenship, the English test is part of the interview unless you qualify for an exemption.

5. Arrive early, carry nothing sharp

   Everyone goes through security. Federal law bans firearms, knives, pepper spray and ammunition at any USCIS office, even with a carry permit; USCIS also asks you to leave scissors, nail clippers and aerosols at home. Photos, video and audio recordings aren't allowed inside, except during naturalization ceremonies.

How to get an appointment without an interview notice

On My Appointment, people in the U.S. can request a field office appointment online for four things: an ADIT stamp (temporary proof of permanent residence), emergency advance parole, documents after an immigration judge granted you status, and "other". If none fits, the Contact Center can book it. For an information appointment, USCIS asks you to arrive 15 minutes early, not earlier; if you're late, the appointment is cancelled. Bring only the people who need to be there.

Biometrics: three support centers, not Gears Road

Fingerprints, photo and signature are taken at Application Support Centers (ASC). USCIS assigns one by ZIP code and prints it on your biometrics notice: you can't choose. All three are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bring the notice and a valid photo ID. To reschedule for a good reason, use your USCIS online account at least 12 hours before, or call 800-375-5283. Missing biometrics without rescheduling can get your application denied.

The Houston Asylum Office is a different building

Affirmative asylum interviews are at 16855 Northchase Drive, Second Floor, Houston, TX 77060, by appointment only, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. It covers Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming. Since April 6, 2026 it gives no in-person information; questions go to Houston.Asylum@uscis.dhs.gov. Park in the CityNorth shopping center on Greenspoint Drive. If you're Venezuelan and lost TPS, read why the asylum deadline is running.

Free and low-cost legal help in Houston

These Houston organizations are recognized by the Justice Department, which means their accredited representatives can represent you before USCIS, like a lawyer, usually free or for a small fee. From the official roster updated October 18, 2026. It doesn't say which cases each one takes, so call first.

The roster lists 17 recognized organizations in Houston; these are seven of them. If your case is already in immigration court rather than at USCIS, the court has its own list: which Houston court is yours and who helps for free. In South Florida? See which of the four Miami-area USCIS offices is yours.