Where to check your H-1B status

You check your H-1B process status through USCIS.gov, the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. This is the only place where your actual case information lives. You will need your receipt number — a code that starts with three letters followed by 10 digits — which USCIS sent you when they received your petition.

The USCIS online case status tool is free and available 24 hours a day. You do not need to call, email, or pay anyone to look up your case. If someone offers to check your status for a fee, they are charging you for something you can do yourself in minutes.

Your employer's immigration attorney or HR department may also have access to your case through their own USCIS account, but the information they see comes from the same system you can access directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Your receipt number is the only piece of information you need to check your status on USCIS.gov, and USCIS sent it to you when they received your petition.
  • The online status tool updates when USCIS takes action on your case, but it does not update every day and may lag behind the actual work happening on your file.
  • H-1B processing times vary widely depending on whether your case is subject to the lottery, whether it is a cap-exempt petition, and the current workload at your service center.
  • If your status has not changed in longer than the published processing time, you can request case information through the USCIS InfoPass system or contact your service center directly.
  • Your employer's attorney should be your first point of contact if something appears wrong with your case, because they have the authority to communicate with USCIS on your behalf.

How to use the USCIS case status tool

Go to uscis.gov/case-status. You will see a box labeled "Enter your receipt number." Type in the receipt number exactly as it appears on your notice — it looks like ABC1234567890. Click "Check Status."

The system will show you the current status of your case in plain language. Common statuses include "Case received and pending initial review," "Case is being reviewed," "Request for additional evidence was sent," and "Case approved" or "Case denied." The page also shows the date USCIS last updated your case.

Bookmark this page or save your receipt number somewhere safe. You may need to check it many times over the months your case is pending, and having the number handy saves you from searching for it in old emails.

What the status messages actually mean

"Case received and pending initial review" means USCIS has logged your petition into their system but has not yet assigned it to an officer. This is the first status you will see, and it can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the service center and the time of year.

"Case is being reviewed" means an officer has opened your file and is examining it. This does not mean a decision is coming soon — the officer may be reviewing documents, requesting more information, or checking background records. This status can last for weeks or months.

"Request for additional evidence was sent" means USCIS found something incomplete or unclear in your petition and has asked your employer's attorney to send more documents. Your attorney will receive a formal notice with a important date, usually 87 days. Until your attorney responds, your case is on hold.

"Case approved" means USCIS has granted your petition. Your attorney will receive an approval notice in the mail. If you are outside the United States, you will then move to consular processing. If you are already in the U.S. on another visa, you may be able to change status without leaving the country.

"Case denied" means USCIS has rejected your petition. The denial notice explains the reason. Your attorney can discuss whether to appeal or file a new petition in a future fiscal year.

Processing times and when to expect updates

H-1B processing times depend on several factors. Petitions subject to the annual cap (most H-1B cases) are processed in the order they were received after the lottery is held in March or April. Cap-exempt petitions — those for workers at universities, nonprofits, or government research centers — are processed year-round and usually move faster.

The service center handling your case also matters. The California Service Center, Texas Service Center, Nebraska Service Center, and Vermont Service Center each have different workloads and timelines. USCIS publishes estimated processing times on their website, but these are rough guides and cases often take longer.

The online status tool does not update every day. USCIS may be working on your case without the website showing a change. If your case has been in "Case is being reviewed" for months, that does not necessarily mean it is stuck — it may mean the officer is still gathering information or waiting for background checks to clear.

What to do if your status has not changed

If your case has been in the same status for longer than the published processing time for your service center, you have a few options. First, contact your employer's immigration attorney. They may have received communications from USCIS that have not yet updated the online system, or they may be able to call the service center on your behalf.

If you do not have an attorney or your attorney is unresponsive, you can request case information through the USCIS InfoPass system. This allows you to schedule an appointment at a local USCIS office to speak with an officer about your case. You can book an InfoPass appointment on uscis.gov.

You can also call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. Have your receipt number ready. The phone line can be slow, but representatives can sometimes pull up additional details about your case that do not appear online.

Red flags and what they mean

If your status changes to "Request for additional evidence was sent," your attorney needs to act quickly. The important date to respond is printed on the notice, and missing it can result in denial. Make sure your attorney knows about the request and has a plan to gather and submit the documents USCIS is asking for.

If your status shows "Case denied," read the denial notice carefully. It will explain which part of your petition did not meet the requirements. Your attorney can discuss whether the issue can be fixed in a new petition or whether an appeal is possible. Some denials are final; others can be overcome with different evidence or a different approach.

If your status has not changed in over a year and your service center's published processing time is much shorter, something may be wrong. This could mean your file is lost, your case is under administrative review, or there is a background check delay. Your attorney or an InfoPass appointment is the right next step.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does the USCIS status tool update?

The tool updates when USCIS takes action on your case — receiving documents, sending a request for evidence, or making a decision. It does not update on a fixed schedule. Some cases go weeks without a status change even though work is happening behind the scenes. Check it weekly rather than daily.

Can I check someone else's H-1B status?

No. You need the receipt number to check a case, and USCIS does not share receipt numbers with anyone except the person who filed the petition and their authorized representative. Your employer's attorney can check your case if you give them permission, but you cannot check your spouse's or friend's case without their receipt number.

What if I lost my receipt number?

Contact your employer's immigration attorney — they have a copy. If you do not have an attorney or cannot reach them, you can request a copy of your receipt number from USCIS by calling 1-800-375-5283 or scheduling an InfoPass appointment. Have your passport and other identification ready.

Does the status tool show if I passed the lottery?

Not directly. If your case appears in the status tool at all, your petition was selected in the lottery (or is cap-exempt). If you filed and your receipt number does not appear in the system after several weeks, your petition was not selected and will be returned to your employer.

Can my status change overnight?

Yes. USCIS can approve or deny your case without warning you in advance. Check the status tool regularly, especially as you approach the published processing time for your service center. Some people discover their approval by checking the website rather than waiting for mail.