How to check your USCIS case status online
Find your 13 character receipt number, enter it correctly in USCIS Case Status Online, and understand what to do if your status has not changed.
🇺🇸 United States
Published · Last checked · 2 min read
The short answer
Go to the USCIS Case Status Online page and enter your 13 character receipt number: three letters followed by 10 numbers, printed on your receipt notice (Form I-797C). Leave out the dashes but keep any asterisks. The tool shows your latest status and the next step.
Every application or petition you file with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) gets its own receipt number. With that number you can check your case at any time, for free, without calling anyone.
Step 1: Find your receipt number
Look at the receipt notice USCIS sent after it accepted your filing. This is usually Form I-797C, Notice of Action. The receipt number is a unique 13 character identifier made of three letters followed by 10 numbers, for example a format like IOE0123456789.
The three letters show where the case was received or which system handles it. Common prefixes include IOE (filed online), EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC and MSC.
If you filed more than one form, for example an adjustment of status together with a work permit request, each form has its own receipt number.
Step 2: Open USCIS Case Status Online
Go to the official Case Status Online page on egov.uscis.gov. You do not need to sign in. Be careful with look alike websites: the official tool is free and is always on a uscis.gov address.
Step 3: Enter the number correctly
Type the receipt number without dashes. Keep every other character, including asterisks if your notice shows them. Then select Check Status.
Step 4: Read your status and next step
The page shows a short status headline, such as "Case Was Received" or "Case Is Being Actively Reviewed", the date of the last action, and what happens next. You can enter another receipt number on the same screen to check a second case.
What to do if your status has not changed
A status that has not moved for weeks is common and does not by itself mean something is wrong.
- Compare with processing times. Use the USCIS processing times tool for your form and office. If your case is still within the normal range, keep waiting.
- Watch your mail and account. Requests for evidence and interview notices are sent by mail and, if you have one, to your USCIS online account.
- Make a service request if your case is outside normal times. USCIS lets you ask about cases that are outside the posted processing time.
Case status checks at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| What you need | 13 character receipt number |
| Format | 3 letters + 10 numbers, no dashes |
| Where to find it | Receipt notice, usually Form I-797C |
| Account needed | No (optional USCIS account adds alerts) |
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my USCIS receipt number?
On the receipt notice USCIS sends after it accepts your application or petition, usually Form I-797C, Notice of Action. It is 13 characters: three letters and 10 numbers.
Should I include dashes in my receipt number?
No. USCIS says to omit dashes but to include any other characters, including asterisks, if they appear on your notice.
Is my receipt number the same as my A-Number?
No. The receipt number identifies one application or petition. The Alien Registration Number (A-Number) identifies you as a person across your immigration history.
Do I need an account to check my case status?
No. Case Status Online works with just your receipt number. A free USCIS online account adds notifications and lets you see more case details.
Sources
- USCIS: Checking your case status online (checked November 6, 2026)
- USCIS: Case Status Online (checked November 6, 2026)
- USCIS: Check case processing times (checked November 6, 2026)
Cite this page: Daniel Brooks and Jessica Parker, "How to check your USCIS case status online", Immigrantset, last checked November 6, 2026, https://immigrantset.com/guides/how-to-check-your-uscis-case-status/