Check USCIS Case Status

To check the status of your USCIS application or petition:

Please wait a moment for the above window to load, then enter your receipt number;
Scroll down to the bottom of this page for more ways to check status; and/or,
For I-485 AOS, use our Green Card Tracker to determine your place in line.

What is a receipt number?

USCIS assigns a 13-character case number (receipt number) to each application. Here is an example: SRC-06-012-54321. Omit any dashes or spaces in the number when checking case status, so for example, enter SRC0601254321 in the text box above. However, enter all other characters, including asterisks ('*'), if they are part of the receipt number.

What does a case number mean?

A case number is structured like this: AAA-XX-YYY-Z-MMMM:

AAA:	The service center or office that received your case.
	SRC - Texas Service Center (TSC, formerly Southern Regional Center) LIN - Nebraska Service Center (NSC, Lincoln, NE) WAC - California Service Center (CSC, formerly Western Adjudication Center) EAC - Vermont Service Center (VSC, formerly Eastern Adjudication Center) MSC - Missouri Service Center (MSC, transitioned to NBC) NBC - National Benefits Center (NBC, for N-400 Naturalization and other cases)
XX:	The fiscal year of USCIS, from October 1 to September 30. Cases filed from 10/01/2006 to 09/30/2007 will have xx = 07
YYY:	The working day of the fiscal year when your case is received. 10/01 = 001
Z:	This digit is part of a serial number but may have certain meanings for USCIS internal use.
MMMM:	A serial number assigned to your case based on the number of cases received, starting from 0001

Where can I find my case number?

Your case number is printed on the receipt notice from USCIS.

What does a processing step mean?

The redesigned uscis.gov website launched on September 21, 2009 now shows seven adjudication stages. See this page for case status examples and processing steps.

Is the case status up to date?

Typically yes. The USCIS database is updated frequently and if there is a major status change in your case, you can expect to see it within a day or less.

Is the case status information complete?

Although major status changes, such as "approval notice sent," are provided by the system, certain information may not always be updated in the database. For example, USCIS may or may not change the case status if they have received your response to RFE (Request for Evidence). This is particularly frustrating for immigrants because responding to RFE is a time sensitive issue.

Does USCIS keep track of my case status?

They may do so internally, but they don't display a log of status changes for your case. What you see in the status checking system is the last action taken by the USCIS. Sometimes you might see that the last updated date (LUD) changed, but the message (case status) remained the same.

If a case next to mine has been approved, does it mean my case will be approved soon?

Not really. Case numbers are not sorted by application type. If your I-485 case number ends with 54321, the next case 54322 may be an advanced parole which has a shorter processing window.

I don't have internet access, can I check my case status?

Please see the "See Also" section below for other methods to check your USCIS case status.

My case has been pending for too long, what can I do?

If your case has been pending and is now outside USCIS processing window, you can contact USCIS to inquire about the delay. The online checking system is very convenient, but does not tell you why it hasn't been approved.

What information is provided by USCIS case status check system?

Here is an example of a typical status update:

Receipt Number: EAC09xxxxxxxx

Application Type: I765, APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On May 15, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I765 APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.