USCIS has now unveiled the much hyped case status checking system. Although it is noticeably better than its predecessor, it fell short of expectations.
From the DHS leadership journal and various speeches made by government officials, people had the impression that the new online status system would achieve two major objectives:
- Identify the current processing step of an immigration case, i.e. let a customer know what has been done, what is being worked on and what is coming next on their application; and,
- Provide an estimated waiting time before a case can be adjudicated, i.e. let a customer know “how many people are waiting in line or how long it may be before USCIS can process and approve his application.”
USCIS has done a fairly good job for No. 1 (case status), but not nearly enough for No. 2 (waiting time).
The case status tool now displays seven steps: Acceptance, Initial Review, Request for Evidence (RFE), Testing and Interview, Decision, Post Decision Activity, and Document Production or Oath Ceremony. Below is an example of the RFE step (see more examples here):
The benefit of this format is that all processing steps are displayed in one window – people who are not familiar with the immigration process are now able to figure out what steps have been completed and what is likely to come next. For others, especially high-tech workers under employment based categories, this change is far less appealing because most of them understand the green card work flow quite well already.
As it stands now, a new status update will replace the old one, and if a case has reached the next step, previous ones will be grayed out. A better way would be to keep all status updates in the system until at least some time after the case has been adjudicated. This way it also acts as a personal journal for the applicant. The data are stored in the USCIS database anyway, why not make them useful?
The new alert function via text messaging is nice and geeky, but doesn’t deserve so much spotlight in my opinion.
Regardless of how case status is presented, what is critical to immigrants is that the information in the system is complete and up to date. For example:
- Does the system reflect a RFE that has been responded to?
- Is background check information included in the report?
- Does a rescheduled appointment or interview get updated?
- If a case is at a certain stage, does it mean all previous steps have been completed? In another word, does RFE mean FBI name check is cleared? If an interview is scheduled, does it mean all RFE’s have been processed?
The waiting time report, implemented as National Volume and Trends on the new website, is far from what everyone expected. We will discuss it in a separate post.
It is worth mentioning that USCIS redesigned the website in a hurry, and completed the bulk of new development in roughly three months. So it is probably unrealistic to expect a complete overhaul. It is an excellent start, however, and USCIS deserves credit for that. But we certainly hope that the efforts don’t stop here. USCIS.gov is one of the most popular government websites (6 million visitors monthly), so hopefully the agency will have the support to continue to make it better.
with due respict my case number xxx[deleted by IR-Blog] F4 my prority date may 2003 how much year my case will be approved and who year my visa will done
Hi,
with respect to my case number past 1 year it appears as Post decision activity. When can i expect
the decision they are going to make on my case?
Appreciate your reply
Thanks
Vini
Post decision activity is usually coming pretty fast, although it depends on your case type and what the decision actually was. I’d say that if USCIS hasn’t notified you the expected wait time, you might want to contact them if you haven’t heard anything after 30 – 60 days.
Hey you seem to know the system pretty well. I was just wondering how significant the first step, Acceptance, is for the whole process and perhaps how much time may be left for the next step. It’s an Immigrant Petition for Relative filed in 1997
Thankjs for all your Help!!
Sus
“Acceptance” establishes Priority Date (PD) or Received Date (RD), depending on the case type, so it is very important in terms of determining your position in line. For family-based immigration, it can take quite a while for the other steps as shown by the Visa Bulletin.
i was just wondering if there are certain penalties if you applyed for citizenship on the day before or the day of your permanent residence expired..due to money issues this would be the case.
A green card has expiration date, but permanent residence status doesn’t. Assuming you meant green card, you most likely will need to renew it before you are able to apply for citizenship.
sir my recipet number wac 0319952414 my case lintial revew my prority date june 25 2003 how much take time my case will post decision i am frome pakistan
Abdul,
Please refer to our USCIS case status page for more ways to check your case status.
My wife visa was denied because they thought the marriage never happened but I was in my former country and present the day of marriage.Since august 20th,2009,my case appears as post decision activity.when can I expect the decision will change?
I have proof to show that it wasn’t about marriage but because I protested the way the TOGO consular local officer stepped in our private life insulting my wife ‘B” word. Despite I sent inquiries to USCIS and NVC before the application was sent to USCIS.
2/When a son who is not following his mother to US DNA testing is required for a visa interview?
The above prtition have been approved. we have sent the oriinal visa petition to the department of state NATIONAL visa Center NVC 32 Rochester Avenue portsmouth NH 03801 2909. nvc processes all approved immigrant visa petition that need consular action.
My wife denied visa just consular suspects fake mar rage.At the moment,she is pregnant expecting a baby in April i inform uscis but got answer wait.how long ?
I am the IV Visa applicant in USA from Bangladesh.My case in DHS for revocation because i had not substitute sponsor. Now I am ready to replace a new substitute
sponsor to continue proses my case.
please help me which department will help me to proses
my case.
with best
Regards
Shahadat Hossain
Bangladesh
I am the IV Visa applicant in USA from Bangladesh.My case in DHS for revocation because i had no substitute sponsor that time. Now I am ready to replace a new substitute sponsor to continue proses my case.
please help me which department will help me to proses my case.
with best
Regards
Shahadat Hossain
Bangladesh
hi im from kosovo.my brother apply me and my family in visa category F4
my case number is SKO2009xxxxx[deleted by IR] my priority date is 31 march 2008
i want to know how long does it take to go in usa
hi, i am from Pakistan, my priority date, 30 JULY 2002 with Preference Category F4, and case number is xxx[deleted by IRB], i want to know about my status.
Imtiaz
that means post-decision activity when expected a permanent visa to the usa?
What does mean post-decision activity?
Hey Guys on my post decision activity it says (On March 15, 2010, we mailed a notice to you reaffirming the approval of this case and returned the case to the Department of State for visa processing. For more information, please contact them directly.) and i recently recieved a letter saying my case has been recently complete and send to the embassy/cosnlutae but my priority date 2005 already 6 years so what does this mean when does the date become current nd how long will it take from here on to get my visa?
I tried to put in my receipt number but it says that my case doesnt exist??? i put in everything except the (-) but still nothing. do i call or am i too early. i got it about a week ago.
Hi Dennis, I have the same emailed from USCIS that:
On July 23, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN.
We received letter from NVC there is Case number: MNL******* something on it. our priority date is 2007 and its like 3 years. When I check my case status its post-decision activity. I have the same question with dennis.
Dennis/Cathy,
Your cases are now with the Department of State (embassy/consulate), thus their status will not show up in the USCIS system.
If your priority date is current (check the visa bulletin), you should hear from the consulate where your immigrant visa application is being processed.
lorena perez
You don’t need an update green card to apply to become a citizen, my wife apply and her green card expired 7 years ago. Good luck!
hi im from kosovo.my brother apply me and my family in visa category F4
my priority date is 31 march 2008
i want to know how long does it take to go in usa
Please, I will like to know about my children’s status case, because I sent all the paper that you request, and I don’t receive any answer yet.
Thank you, and I wait for your answer.
Santos Toribio
My brother in law filled a family petition for my wife and our family back to 2001. The application was approved back to 2005. Her status online is post activity. Do you know for how many more years we have to wait?
Thank you and your response is greatly appreciate.
John
Please check out the visa bulletin (http://immigrationroad.com/resource/visa-bulletin.php) which determines when you will be able to get an immigrant visa.
nvc case number ISL [...] RECEIPT NUMBER WAC [...] my sister filled a family petition june 25 2003 july 22 2009 APPROVAL NOTICE SECTION SISTER OR BROTHER OF US CITIZEN 4 INA
Hi, can someone please tell me how do you check the priority date in USCIS website?
Did you mean to find out what your priority date is? You check it with your attorney who filed your LC or immigrant petition.