You can track your USCIS case status online by entering your 13-character receipt number into USCIS Case Status Online or by signing in to your USCIS online account.
You do not need a USCIS online account just to perform a basic case-status check. If you have an account, however, you may have access to additional features such as case history, automatic alerts, notices, processing estimates, address updates, and secure messaging.
This guide explains how to check your USCIS case, what information you need, what the different tracking tools are for, and what to do if your case appears to be taking too long.
What Do You Need to Check Your USCIS Case Status?
For a basic online status check, you normally need your USCIS receipt number.
A USCIS receipt number contains:
- Three letters; followed by
- 10 numbers.
For example:
IOE1234567890
USCIS describes the receipt number as the unique 13-character identifier it assigns to an application, petition, or request.
You can usually find it on a USCIS receipt notice or other Notice of Action sent for your case.
If you are unsure which number on your notice is the receipt number, see our guide How to Read a USCIS Receipt Number.
When entering the number online, USCIS instructs users to leave out dashes. Other characters that USCIS actually printed as part of the receipt number, such as an asterisk, may be included.
How to Check Your USCIS Case Status Online
The quickest method is USCIS’s public Case Status Online tool.
Step 1: Go to USCIS Case Status Online
Use the official USCIS case-status system:
Make sure you are using an official .gov USCIS website rather than a third-party immigration tracking website.
Step 2: Enter Your Receipt Number
Enter the complete 13-character receipt number.
For example:
EAC1234567890
Do not include dashes.
Be especially careful with numbers and letters that may look similar when reading a printed notice.
Step 3: Select “Check Status”
Once USCIS recognizes the receipt-number format, you can check the case.
The system will display the status currently available for that receipt number.
Depending on the stage of your case, you may see language indicating that USCIS:
- Received the case;
- Is reviewing the case;
- Sent a notice;
- Requested evidence;
- Transferred the case;
- Scheduled an appointment or interview;
- Made a decision; or
- Produced or mailed a document.
The exact wording depends on the type of case and what USCIS has done.
Step 4: Read the Full Status Message
Do not rely only on the short status heading.
Read the accompanying explanation because it may contain important information about:
- A notice USCIS sent;
- A deadline;
- An upcoming appointment;
- A request for evidence;
- A transfer;
- A decision; or
- The next step in the process.
If USCIS sent you an actual written notice, carefully follow the instructions and deadlines on that notice.
Do You Need a USCIS Online Account to Track a Case?
No.
You can use USCIS Case Status Online with only your receipt number. You do not have to create an account for a basic status check.
A USCIS online account can, however, provide additional case-management tools.
USCIS says an online account may allow users to:
- Receive automatic case alerts;
- See case status and case history;
- Access USCIS notices;
- View processing information;
- Upload evidence when available;
- Update an address;
- Send secure messages; and
- Manage certain appointments or other case functions.
Available features can depend on the type of filing and how the case was submitted.
Case Status Online vs. a USCIS Online Account
The two systems are related but not identical.
| Tool | What it is best for |
|---|---|
| Case Status Online | Quickly checking a case using a receipt number |
| USCIS Online Account | Tracking cases plus accessing additional case-management features |
| Processing Times | Seeing how long USCIS is generally taking to process a type of case |
| Case Inquiry/e-Request | Asking USCIS about qualifying case problems or delays |
For many people, the simplest approach is to use Case Status Online for quick checks while maintaining a USCIS online account if their case is eligible for its additional features.
What Can You See in a USCIS Online Account?
A USCIS online account can provide more context than a basic public status search.
USCIS states that account users can access features such as:
- Current case status;
- Case history;
- Notices and correspondence;
- Automatic notifications;
- Processing estimates or progress information;
- Secure messaging;
- Address and contact-information updates; and
- Responses to Requests for Evidence for eligible filings.
This can be particularly useful when you have multiple pending USCIS filings.
For example, an adjustment-of-status applicant could potentially have separate receipt numbers for a Form I-485 and another related application. Each filing should be tracked separately.
Can You Add a Paper-Filed Case to a USCIS Online Account?
In some situations, yes.
USCIS explains that people who submitted certain paper filings can create an online account and add their case.
Paper-filed cases beginning with IOE may come with an Online Access Code that allows the applicant to link the case and receive more extensive online-account functionality. USCIS says an Online Access Code is generally valid for a limited period after it is issued.
Some paper-filed cases with other receipt prefixes may also be added to an account for features such as automatic case alerts, although the available functionality may be more limited.
Do not confuse your:
- Receipt number;
- Online Access Code;
- USCIS Online Account Number; or
- A-Number.
They serve different purposes.
What Does Your USCIS Case Status Mean?
USCIS uses a variety of status messages.
Common examples include phrases such as:
- “Case Was Received”
- “Case Is Being Actively Reviewed”
- “Request for Evidence Was Sent”
- “Case Was Transferred”
- “Interview Was Scheduled”
- “Case Was Approved”
- “Card Was Produced”
A short status message can sometimes raise more questions than it answers.
For that reason, Legal Process Explained covers important USCIS statuses individually rather than trying to reduce all of them to one definition.
For example, see our separate guides to:
- What Does “Case Is Being Actively Reviewed” Mean?
- What Does “Case Was Received” Mean?
- What Does “Case Was Transferred” Mean?
- What Does “Request for Initial Evidence” Mean?
Each status has different implications.
Does Checking Your Case Status Speed Up USCIS Processing?
No.
Checking the status of your case does not make USCIS adjudicate it faster.
The case-status system is primarily a tracking tool.
If you are concerned about how long the case is taking, the more relevant resource is USCIS’s Case Processing Times system.
USCIS says processing times are intended to show how long it generally takes to process particular benefit requests and when someone may be able to ask questions about a case. USCIS updates its processing-time information using current case data.
What If Your USCIS Case Status Has Not Changed?
A lack of a visible status change does not automatically mean there is a problem with your case.
Instead of judging a delay only by the last online status update, compare your case with USCIS’s current processing-time information.
You will generally need information such as:
- The form you filed;
- The form category, where applicable;
- The relevant USCIS office or processing operation; and
- Your receipt date.
USCIS’s processing-time tool can indicate when you may be eligible to submit a case inquiry.
Because processing times change, use the current USCIS figures rather than relying on processing times you saw months earlier. USCIS says its processing-time information is updated regularly.
How Do You Know If Your Case Is Outside Normal Processing Time?
Go to the USCIS Processing Times page and select the information applicable to your filing.
USCIS may provide a date showing when an inquiry can be submitted.
If your receipt date is earlier than the applicable inquiry date and your case otherwise qualifies, you may be able to submit an online case inquiry.
USCIS specifically directs people who believe their case is taking too long to use its processing-time system to determine whether they are eligible to ask about the case.
How to Submit a USCIS Case Inquiry
USCIS provides an online e-Request system for several kinds of case problems.
Depending on the circumstances, it can be used for issues such as:
- A case that may be taking longer than expected;
- A notice that did not arrive;
- A card that did not arrive;
- A document that did not arrive;
- Certain typographical errors; or
- Appointment accommodation requests.
USCIS Case Inquiry and e-Request Tools
For a processing-time inquiry, USCIS may ask for information including your:
- Receipt number;
- A-Number, if applicable;
- Filing date;
- Application or petition type; and
- Email address.
What If Your Receipt Number Does Not Work?
First, check the number again.
Make sure:
- It contains three letters followed by 10 numbers.
- You entered the complete number.
- You removed any dashes.
- You are using the receipt number from the correct case.
- You are using the official USCIS website.
If you recently filed by mail and have not yet received a receipt notice, USCIS says it generally mails a receipt within 30 days after receiving a mailed filing.
Do not assume that an inability to retrieve a status automatically means USCIS denied or lost your filing.
If the problem continues, use USCIS’s official assistance options.
Can You Call USCIS to Check Your Case Status?
USCIS has a Contact Center, but USCIS encourages applicants to use its online self-service tools for routine case-status questions.
The USCIS Contact Center identifies Case Status Online, Processing Times, online accounts, and e-Request among the primary ways to obtain case information. For routine status questions, callers may be directed back to the online systems.
The USCIS Contact Center number listed by USCIS is 800-375-5283. USCIS also provides TTY assistance at 800-767-1833.
What If USCIS Says Your Card Was Mailed?
If the online status indicates that USCIS mailed a card, check the status carefully for delivery information.
USCIS states that when Case Status Online indicates that a card was mailed, a U.S. Postal Service tracking number may be provided. That tracking information can be used through USPS to monitor delivery.
If the card does not arrive, USCIS also provides a non-delivery case inquiry process.
Should You Check Your USCIS Status Every Day?
You can check your status whenever you want, but repeatedly checking does not affect how quickly USCIS processes the case.
A USCIS online account can be more convenient because eligible users can sign up for automatic case alerts rather than manually checking the public system every day.
You should still pay attention to mailed and electronic USCIS notices because those notices may contain instructions or deadlines requiring action.
Be Careful With Third-Party USCIS Tracking Websites
The safest source for your official case status is USCIS itself.
Third-party websites and mobile applications may offer tracking or notification features, but they are not USCIS.
Before providing a receipt number or other immigration information to an outside service, consider what information the service collects and how it uses that information.
For official case information, use USCIS.gov or your USCIS online account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check my USCIS case status without an account?
Yes. USCIS Case Status Online allows you to enter your 13-character receipt number and check the available status without signing into an online account.
Where do I find my USCIS receipt number?
Your receipt number is generally printed on a USCIS notice of action. It contains three letters followed by 10 numbers. If you filed online or linked a filing to your USCIS online account, the receipt number may also appear in your account.
Why hasn’t my USCIS case status changed?
A status that remains unchanged does not by itself establish that your case has a problem. Compare your filing with USCIS’s current processing-time information to determine whether you may be eligible to make an inquiry.
Does “actively reviewed” mean USCIS will approve my case soon?
Not necessarily. The status indicates that USCIS is reviewing the case, but it does not promise an approval or establish a specific decision date. See What Does “Case Is Being Actively Reviewed” Mean? for a detailed explanation.
How often does USCIS update case status?
USCIS posts status information as case actions are reflected in its systems, but applicants should not treat the public status page as a complete record of every internal action on a case. Your USCIS notices and online account, where available, can provide additional information.
Can USCIS transfer my case after I start tracking it?
Yes. USCIS can redistribute casework among its operations. A transfer does not mean you should stop tracking the case. Read any transfer notice USCIS sends and continue using the receipt number associated with the filing.
Is the USCIS case status website free?
Yes. USCIS’s official online case-status and case-management tools are government services. You do not need to pay a third-party website simply to perform a basic USCIS case-status check.
The Bottom Line
The easiest way to track a USCIS case is to use your 13-character receipt number with USCIS Case Status Online.
For more detailed case management, a USCIS online account may provide additional tools such as case history, notices, alerts, processing information, secure messages, and address updates.
If your case appears to be taking longer than expected, do not rely only on how long the status has remained unchanged. Check USCIS’s current processing times and use its case-inquiry system if your case becomes eligible for an inquiry.
Most importantly, continue reading every official USCIS notice you receive. Online tracking is useful, but a status message should not replace instructions, deadlines, or requests contained in an official notice.
Legal Process Explained provides general educational information about U.S. immigration and legal processes. It is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.