Where to Check Your Immigration Status

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website is the official place to check the status of your case. You can look up where your process stands without paying a fee or contacting an office directly. The tool works for visa petitions, green card applications, work permits, travel documents, and naturalization cases.

To use the online status checker, you will need your receipt number. This is a 13-character code that starts with three letters (usually EAC, WAC, LIN, or SRC) followed by 10 numbers. USCIS sends this number in a receipt notice called the I-797 form, which arrives by mail within two weeks of submitting your process.

If you cannot find your receipt number, you can still search by your name and date of birth, though the receipt number search is faster and more reliable. The USCIS status tool is available 24 hours a day at no cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Your receipt number (a 13-character code starting with three letters) is the fastest way to check your case status on the USCIS website.
  • You can search by name and date of birth if you do not have your receipt number, though results may take longer to appear.
  • The online status tool shows where your case is in the process but does not tell you the final decision until USCIS mails it to you.
  • Some cases, including those under review for fraud or security concerns, will not show a status update online and require contacting USCIS directly.
  • Processing times vary by case type and location; the USCIS website lists current wait times for each office.

How to Search by Receipt Number

Go to the USCIS Case Status Online tool at uscis.gov/case-status. Enter your receipt number in the search box exactly as it appears on your I-797 notice. The receipt number format is always three letters followed by 10 digits with no spaces or dashes.

After you enter the number and click search, the system will show you the current status of your case. Common status messages include "Case received," "Case is being reviewed," "Decision is being mailed," and "Case approved." The page will also show the date the status was last updated.

If the system does not recognize your receipt number, double-check that you typed it correctly. Receipt numbers are case-sensitive for the letters. If you still cannot find it, try searching by name instead.

How to Search by Name and Date of Birth

If you do not have your receipt number, click the "Search by Name" option on the USCIS Case Status Online page. You will need to enter your full name exactly as it appears on your process, your date of birth, and your country of birth.

The search may return multiple results if your name is common. Look for the process type and the date you submitted it to make sure you are viewing the correct case. If you have submitted more than one process to USCIS, each will appear separately in the results.

Name-based searches sometimes take longer to process than receipt number searches, and the results may be less detailed. If you receive no results, verify that you entered your name and birth date exactly as they appear on your official process documents.

What the Status Messages Mean

USCIS uses standard status messages to describe where your case is in the process. "Case received" means USCIS has logged your process into the system and assigned it a receipt number. "Case is being reviewed" means an officer is examining your documents and supporting materials. This stage can last weeks or months depending on the case type and current office workload.

"Decision is being mailed" means USCIS has made a decision on your case and is preparing the official notice to send to you by mail. This status usually appears one to two weeks before the decision arrives at your address. "Case approved" or "Case denied" means a final decision has been made, though you will receive the official paperwork by mail.

Some cases show "Case transferred" or "Case reopened," which means your file has moved to a different office or been sent back for additional review. These messages do not indicate approval or denial—they straightforward describe the next step in processing.

When Status Information Is Not Available Online

Some cases do not show status updates on the online tool, even though they are being processed. Cases under investigation for fraud, security concerns, or background check issues typically do not display online. Cases that are very old or were submitted before USCIS moved to its current system may also not appear.

If your case does not show up after you have waited at least two weeks from submission, contact USCIS directly. You can call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833) or visit a local USCIS office in person. Have your receipt number or process details ready when you call.

Do not assume your case is lost if it does not appear online. USCIS processes thousands of applications daily, and some delays in the system are normal. Calling the Contact Center is the fastest way to confirm that your case is actually being processed.

How Long Cases Usually Take

Processing times vary widely depending on the type of process and the USCIS office handling it. Work permit applications (I-765) typically take two to five months. Green card applications through family sponsorship can take one to three years. Naturalization cases usually take eight to twelve months, though some offices process them faster.

USCIS publishes current processing times for each process type and each regional office on its website. You can view these times at uscis.gov/processing-times. The times listed are estimates based on cases completed in the past 75 days, so your actual wait may be shorter or longer.

If your case has been pending longer than the published processing time for your office and process type, you may contact USCIS to ask about a delay. However, USCIS does not consider a case overdue until it has exceeded the processing time by a significant margin, usually several months.

What to Do If Your Status Has Not Changed

If your case status has not changed for several months and you are within the normal processing window, this is usually not a cause for concern. Many cases sit in "Case is being reviewed" status for weeks or months while background checks, medical exams, or document verification take place behind the scenes.

If your case has exceeded the published processing time by more than 30 days, you can contact USCIS to ask about the delay. Call 1-800-375-5283 and have your receipt number ready. The Contact Center can sometimes provide more detail than the online tool, such as whether your case is waiting for a background check result or additional documents from you.

If USCIS has requested additional documents or information, submit them as quickly as possible. Delays often occur because applicants have not yet sent in required materials. Once USCIS receives everything it needs, processing usually moves forward more quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my status if I applied through a lawyer or immigration consultant?

Yes. The receipt number belongs to you, not your representative. You can search your case status anytime using your receipt number. Your lawyer or consultant should have given you a copy of the I-797 receipt notice when they submitted your process.

What if the online tool says my case was denied but I have not received the letter yet?

The online status updates before the official decision letter arrives by mail. Check your mailbox daily—the letter should arrive within one to two weeks of the status change. The letter will explain the reason for the decision and whether you have the right to appeal or reapply.

How often does the status update?

USCIS updates case status as the process moves through different stages of review. Some cases update weekly, while others may not show a new status for several months. The frequency depends on how quickly the office is processing cases and whether your file requires additional review or background checks.

Can I check my status on my phone?

Yes. The USCIS Case Status Online tool works on phones, tablets, and computers. You can search your case from anywhere as long as you have internet access. The mobile version of the website is the same as the desktop version.

What should I do if the system says my receipt number is invalid?

First, verify that you typed the receipt number correctly—it is case-sensitive and contains no spaces or dashes. If you are certain the number is correct, try searching by name and date of birth instead. If neither method works, contact USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 to confirm that your process was received and processed into the system.