Local information for a Seattle immigration lawyer comes down to a few places that are easy to get wrong: the USCIS office is not downtown, there are two immigration courts, and asylum cases are also handled by an office in California.
We should explain that the offices of Lu Xin Law Offices are in Flushing, New York and West New York, New Jersey, and we have no office in Seattle or anywhere in Washington State. The responsible attorney, Michael R. Curran, is licensed in New York and New Jersey and does not hold a Washington State license. The phrase "Seattle immigration lawyer" in this article is only a search term readers commonly use and does not mean that any attorney of the firm holds a license in that state. Immigration is a matter of federal law. Clients in Seattle communicate with us mainly remotely, and in-person representation at court or interviews is arranged case by case under the applicable rules. The information below is current as of November 6, 2026.
USCIS goes by ZIP code, with four offices in the state
The Seattle office's address is 12500 Tukwila International Boulevard, near the airport, not downtown. Under USCIS's August 2026 table, the ZIP codes of King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties are all assigned here, including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Renton and Tacoma.
The rest of the state is different:
- The east is assigned to the Spokane office or the Yakima office.
- The south, including Clark County, is assigned to the Portland office in Oregon. For example, for a ZIP code in Vancouver, Washington, you cross the river for an interview.
Two immigration courts, with different uses
- Seattle court: 915 2nd Avenue, Room 613. EOIR states that visitors should use the 1st Avenue entrance, and staff escort them from the lobby to the court area.
- Tacoma court: 1623 East J Street, Suite 3, located at the Northwest ICE Processing Center, which is controlled by the Department of Homeland Security. EOIR notes that street parking here is limited, there is no public transit nearby, and the Tacoma Dome station is about a mile away.
If a family member is detained in Tacoma, visits and document delivery must follow the facility's rules, which are completely different from an ordinary court. The appeal path is the Board of Immigration Appeals, then the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Asylum is handled by San Francisco
The USCIS San Francisco Asylum Office's service area includes Alaska, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington State. Washington State has no asylum office of its own, and the interview location depends on the notice.
The local Chinese community
The Chinatown-International District is the center of Seattle's Asian community and has been protected by a dedicated city historic district ordinance since 1973. But Chinese residents no longer live only there. Census Bureau 2020 to 2024 estimates put Seattle's Chinese population (excluding Taiwanese) at about 44,000, and Bellevue at about 25,000, roughly 16% of that city's population, and Redmond at roughly 11%.
Tech companies are concentrated on the Eastside, so Chinese-speaking residents there are more likely to face employment-based immigration issues such as H-1B, green card visa backlogs and NIW. This is our own judgment based on the industry makeup, not a statistic.
The state court portion requires a local attorney
Washington State has a "vulnerable youth guardianship" system (RCW 13.90), which provides a guardianship path for eligible young people aged 18 to 21 and is relevant to SIJ petitions. These proceedings take place in state court and require a Washington State attorney. Our attorney does not hold a license in that state. For the basic SIJ requirements, see Green Card for Young People.
Settle out-of-state arrangements first
Beginning May 18, 2026, USCIS field office interviews require the attorney to attend in person, with a few exceptions. If your case is expected to have an interview, confirm the attendance arrangements before you engage an attorney.
Contact us
The responsible attorney, Michael R. Curran, is licensed in New York and New Jersey. The West Coast is 3 hours behind New York, so state your time zone when scheduling. Call 347-618-3386. For our services, see Immigration Legal Services.
FAQ
Is the Seattle USCIS office downtown?
No. The Seattle office's address is 12500 Tukwila International Boulevard, in the area near the airport.
Does Washington State have an asylum office?
No. Asylum cases are handled by the USCIS San Francisco Asylum Office, and the interview location depends on the notice.
Does your firm have an office in Seattle?
No. Lu Xin Law Offices is based in Flushing, New York, and has no office in Seattle or anywhere in Washington State. In-person representation at court or interviews is arranged case by case under the applicable rules.
Sources: uscis.gov, uscis.gov, justice.gov, justice.gov, uscis.gov, app.leg.wa.gov, seattle.gov, censusreporter.org, law.cornell.edu. The information above is current as of November 6, 2026. Immigration rules and fees may change, so check the latest official requirements before you file.
Attorney Advertising. This article is general information and is not legal advice on any particular case. Eligibility, procedures and outcomes depend on the facts of each case, the applicable law and the decision of the government agency.