How to Check Your USCIS Case Status and Sign Up for Automatic Updates

5 MIN READ

If you’re wondering how to check a case status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the most efficient way, we’ll walk you through it. While this process can be time-consuming and stressful, we’ll make it easy for you because it’s essential that you stay up to date with your case status.

In this article, you’ll learn how to check a case status and get automatic updates from USCIS when changes to your status occur. You’ll also learn if you’re eligible to check your case status, what status changes mean, and the various ways to check your USCIS case status.

No matter if you are trying to learn about nonimmigrant permanent resident status or lawful permanent resident immigration law, conditional deportation from residency, nationality requirements, student visa law, or any other immigrant process card application steps from the USCIS, no matter the USCIS processing time, all your answers will come from a trip to a local USCIS field office government agency or to our site!

Who Is Eligible to Check Their USCIS Case Status?

You may wonder if you’re eligible to check on your USCIS case status. There are many reasons why you may need to do so.

Here are a few examples of applications that you may need to check on, either manually or online:

Submitted visa application, like H-1B petitions
Visa transfers
Visa extensions
Green Card petitions, like Form I-130, for employees and family members
Form I-140
Form I-485
Form I-765
Form-AOS
Other immigration forms
Advance Parole
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD)
Citizenship

If you’d like to find out about a way to make checking on these cases automatic rather than manual, keep reading to learn more.

How to Get Automatic Updates on Your USCIS Case Status

When you’re short on time, checking your USCIS case study manually can be a hassle. That’s why the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created a way that you can sign up for automatic updates to your case status without using a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN).

You’ll want to make sure that you don’t confuse this new system with the older version of how to check your USCIS case status. Keep an eye out for other third-party providers that will charge you money to check your status as well. You’ll want to stay away from them!

There are a lot of immigration laws with not only home-country immigration information but US visas. It can be confusing when different systems give different results, which is why getting the correct information is so important. It would be unfortunate if you received a denial or were ineligible for a visa extension due to the expiration of an immigration visa’s immigration papers, so new immigrants and old must know that even to temporarily travel to and from U.S. jurisdiction, you need to know the validity of information.

Get an ultimate guide on how to set up automatic updates to your USCIS case status, as well as tips on what to avoid.

How to Check Your USCIS Case Status Online

If you want to check your USCIS case status immediately, it’s as simple as logging online to the “Case Status Online” using that page of USCIS’s website.

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to check your USCIS case status online:

Navigate to the USCIS case status page.
Below “enter a receipt number,” type your 13-digit receipt number in the box.
Double-check your work - It’s important that the numbers and letters are printed exactly as on the receipt notice without spaces.
Click the “check status” button.
You’ll be taken to a page that shows you the latest update on your case.

What You Need To Know About USCIS Status Changes

One of the first steps you need to take in making a smooth transition to the United States is checking your USCIS case status. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a sector of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that handles visa applications, renew Green Card applications, and many other forms.

USCIS is who you would need to reach out to about these applications, whether you’re just checking on the status or if something has changed suddenly. If you don’t keep up regularly, you’ll face lengthy delays.

A unique 13-digit case number is assigned for each application by USCIS. Your most recent receipt number can be found on your Form I-797 Notice of Action, and you’ll need to keep this number handy of checking the status of your case.

Alternative Options to Checking Your USCIS Case Status

There are many ways that you can check your USCIS case status. Whether you want to renew your work visa or visitor visa, get or renew a green card, petition for an alien relative or permanently start proceeding to become a US citizen, check out the options below to make sure you stay up-to-date with any changes so you can act accordingly.

Email

Each appropriate USCIS Service Center will have a different email address that you need to use to check your status. So, depending on your location, the email address will vary. Reach out to your state’s USCIS processing center to determine the best email address to use.

For instance, California’s Service Center email address is csc-ncsc-followup@dhs.gov. For Texas, you’re better off using tsc.ncscfollowup@dhs.gov. Make sure you have the correct one to avoid potential delays.

Phone

While you can contact USCIS by phone to inquire about your case status, be prepared for long wait times. You can reach them at 1-800-375-5283 without your receipt number.

Related Article | How to Get an H1B Visa Interview Waiver

Direct Mail

If you’ve filed your application petition or immigration application petition through your local USCIS field office, you may choose to request an update by mail. Keep in mind that this will be the slowest way to find out the case status update of your USCIS case and stay updated.

Here’s the information that you should include in your letter inquiry to stay updated on the immigration process, citizenship application, or more:

Full name
Date of birth
Alien number, if applicable
Date and place your petition or immigration application petition was filed
Receipt number, if you have one
Copy of your receipt notice if possible

In-Person

Would you rather talk to someone in person about a permanent-resident case, permanent residence adjustment of status, immigrant visa naturalization, green cards, travel document paperwork, your affidavit of support, or any other lawful topics on the visa bulletin? Again, it’s not the most convenient option but you can schedule an appointment with USCIS via the USCIS appointment scheduling page. You can check for case updates like your visa or Green Card renewal status without currently being in the United States.

When Will My USCIS Case Status Be Approved?

The top question on your mind is probably regarding the processing time for your USCIS case, no matter if it is for immigrant visas, labor certification, the green card lottery, family-member sponsors, or any other USCIS forms or work visas regarding your immigration status. While it can take from months to years for a resolution, it ultimately depends on the type of form you submitted.

Check out the expected processing times for each form on the USCIS website.

Related Article | What You Need To Know About Form G-1145

Make the Most of Your Situation

Learning everything there is to know about visas, immigration, personal finances and more can make this process a challenging time. But, you can take steps like signing up for automatic updates on your USCIS case status to make everything easier. You’ll eliminate one task off of your plate by following the steps outlined in this article to take action on your USCIS case status.

Get Started