How to Effectively Track Your USCIS Case Status and Understand Processing Times

Waiting for USCIS to decide on your case can be frustrating and stressful. However, while you wait, USCIS offers several tools that enable you to track your case status and estimate the processing time. This blog provides guidance on tracking your case. If you have specific questions or concerns about your case, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Checking your Case Status Online After Paper Filing

After submitting your application to USCIS and paying the necessary government fees, your application is now pending processing by USCIS. You can monitor your case status on the USCIS portal. To do this, log in to the USCIS portal at: https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do.

Finding and Using the Receipt Number

After logging in, please enter your receipt number. This number is located at the top left corner of the notice sent by USCIS upon your application's submission. Every form has its own distinct number. For instance, if you submitted an I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status and a Form I-765 Request for Work Authorization, you would possess two receipts. Each receipt will have a unique number, allowing you to track the status of each request.

The first three letters of the receipt number represent the service center where the case is being processed ("LIN," "EAC," "IOE," "WAC," "MSC," "NBC," or "SRC"). When entering the number, ensure that no spaces are left between the digits. Once you press the Check Status button, you will receive the requested information. Many times, it will state that your case is being reviewed. Sometimes you will see an approval notice or an indication that USCIS sent you a critical notice in the mail. Unfortunately, the information is sometimes not up to date.

Tracking Case Status via USCIS Online Account

Some petitions and applications can be submitted online by creating a USCIS account at https://myaccount.uscis.gov/create-account. These include the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, the N-400 Application for Naturalization, the I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, and the I-765 Application for Employment Authorization.

If you apply online, you will have Access to your case history and status updates. Your immigration attorney can also assist you by monitoring your case through their online account.

Other benefits of online filing, when available, include:

• Responding to Requests for Evidence (RFEs);

• Viewing most notices sent by USCIS; and

• Sending secure messages that USCIS can respond to.

How to Check USCIS's Processing Times

If your immigration case is still being processed, you can estimate the duration it would take USCIS to adjudicate it by using the USCIS processing time portal. This tool allows you to view the current processing times for various application categories. The processing time reflects the average time it took USCIS to complete 80% of adjudicated cases over the past six months. However, it's essential to remember that each case is unique, and these estimates should be used only as a rough guide.

To check processing times will need to log in to: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

After logging in to the portal, select the correct form number and the corresponding field office or service center. For example, below is an inquiry for the processing time of Form I-485 Application to Register Lawful Permanent Residence under the Family-Based category at the San Jose field office:

Once you click the Get Processing Time button, you will obtain the result, which, at the time this article was written, was 29 months in this example.

How to File an Online Inquiry with USCIS

If your case with USCIS is pending beyond the usual processing time, consider submitting an online inquiry to determine the cause of the delay in adjudication. Visit: https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do. On this site, select the Outside of Normal Processing Time option. You will need to complete the inquiry form with your information and details about the last action taken on your case. It is recommended to seek assistance from your immigration attorney to ensure you provide accurate information.

For more information, please CONTACT US or call us at +1 (408) 758-2712.

*This article has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information presented is not legal advice, is not to be acted on as such, may not be current, and is subject to change. Readers should consult an attorney for guidance on any specific legal matter.