If you have recently applied for a work or student visa, checking the status of your case is not as difficult as you may think. There are many ways to check the status: online, by phone, through the USCIS Electronic Immigration System, and using the USCIS e-Request Portal.
This article will tell you everything you need to know on how to check your USCIS case status. And yes, once you know how to check your case status, it is perfectly okay to obsessively check it repeatedly. After all, getting approved could mean a big change in your education or career, so get to it!
What Information Do You Need to Check Your Case Status?
You a likely anxious to know the status of your case, and for good reason, but before you do anything you first need your receipt number. What’s that? After you first filed your visa or green card application, the USCIS sent you a form called a Notice of Action, which basically notified you that your petition was received.
Pull out that form now, and look in the upper left corner where it says “Receipt Number”. That is your USCIS receipt number and is what you will need to check your USCIS case status. If, by chance, you have not received your Notice of Action yet and it has been longer than two weeks since submitting your application, you will need to call the USCIS customer service at 1-800-375-5283, to inquire about it.
How to Check Your Case Status Online
Now that you have your receipt number, follow these steps to check your case status online:
- Go to https://www.uscis.gov and click on “Check Case Status”
- You will be asked for your receipt number. Type it in, and click “Check Status”
- Once the page refreshes, you will be shown information about your case, including the current status
- Once online, you can then register for a free account to get email notifications whenever your case status changes.
How to Check Your Case Status by Phone
If you do not have access to a computer to check online, you can also check your case status by phone by calling 1-800-375-5283 (the same number for customer service). This process is all automated, so you should not expect to talk to a live person at any stage. Just follow the prompts, and in the end, you will receive a recorded message that states the status of your application. Keep your receipt number handy for when they ask you to enter it.
Also, keep in mind that the lines may be busy, as a lot of other people are also calling to check their own case statuses. Have patience, and you will eventually get the information you need.
How to Check Your Case Status by Email
So, you have checked online and by phone, repeatedly, and months later there is still no update.
First, you must be patient. Keep in mind that sometimes the whole process can take months. If there has been absolutely no change, you can take a step further and reach out via email to one of the USCIS Service Centers in the US.
- California Service Center: csc-ncsc-followup@dhs.gov
- Vermont Service Center: vsc.ncscfollowup@dhs.gov
- Nebraska Service Center: ncscfollowup.nsc@dhs.gov
- Texas Service Center: tsc.ncscfollowup@dhs.gov
In your email inquiry, be sure to include your receipt number, how long it has been since you applied, and any other relevant case information. You should receive correspondence within a more so, whereby you could receive an update about your status.
USCIS Electronic Immigration System (ELIS)
USCIS ELIS is an online system that allows you to not only submit visa and green card applications, but you can check your status there, too. It also allows certain forms to be filed electronically, including Form I-90, I-131, I-140, I-539, I-765, I-821, and I-907.
How to Use the USCIS e-Request Portal
You know how I mentioned earlier that you can call customer service if you did not receive your Notice of Action? You can also use the USCIS e-Request Portal to do the same thing.
The USCIS e-Request Portal essentially serves as a de-facto USCIS customer service Portal, allowing you to contact the USCIS for a variety of reasons, including:
- If you did not yet receive your Notice of Action
- Change of address
- Your case is outside of normal processing time with no updates
- Appointment accommodations
- Typographical errors
If you use the e-Request portal, you will need to include detailed information pertaining to your case, such as case number (if you have it), the date your filed, any documented evidence you have, and other relevant information. A USCIS representative will respond to your request via email.
Speak With An Immigration Lawyer
We hope this post has helped you better understand the many ways in which you can check your USCIS Case Status for your visa application, either online or by phone. Again, either one of these processes can take a few months or longer, so it is important to be patient while you are waiting to see if you have been approved or not.
Keep in mind that if there is ever a request for evidence, it is best to respond immediately. Failure to provide any requested evidence in a timely manner will result in a denial of your visa application. For more information regarding checking your USCIS case status, or assistance applying for your visa, reach out to us at Pride Immigration today.
Beeraj Patel, Esq.
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