Here's How to Check Your Immigration Status
📝 How to Check Your Immigration Case Status (And What to Do If You’re Still Waiting)
Waiting on immigration paperwork is frustrating—even more so when weeks or months go by without an update. If your immigration application or petition feels stuck, you’re not alone.
While most immigration cases through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) take time to process, there are several ways you can check your case status and get peace of mind.
Here’s a full breakdown of the tools and methods available to you.
📬 Start With Your Receipt Notice
After submitting your immigration form, USCIS will send you a receipt notice in the mail. This contains a 13-character receipt number (3 letters + 10 digits), which is required to check your status.
Keep this safe—it’s essential for:
Online status checks
Phone inquiries
Written mail requests
If you mailed your application by certified mail, also hang on to that receipt as proof of delivery, especially if you need to request an in-person appointment.
🖥️ Set Up a USCIS Online Account
Creating a USCIS online account is the easiest way to monitor your case in real time.
With your online account, you can:
Track status updates
Send secure messages to USCIS
Receive email notifications
View notices digitally
Submit e-requests for delays or errors
You can access your account via phone, tablet, or computer at any time. Visit my.uscis.gov to register.
🔍 Use the USCIS Case Status Online Tool
If you don’t want to create an account, you can still check your case by using the USCIS Case Status Tool. Just enter your receipt number to see your current status.
Keep in mind:
You won’t get full details (e.g., background checks, processing notes)
The tool is updated only when major changes occur
You can check one case at a time, or multiple if linked to your account
💬 Talk to Emma, the USCIS Virtual Assistant
Meet Emma, the AI-powered virtual assistant on the USCIS website. Emma can:
Answer common questions
Guide you to the right tools
Help you locate your status portal or form
To use Emma, simply visit uscis.gov and look for the chat icon in the bottom corner of the page.
☎️ Call the USCIS Contact Center
You can also call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 for help. A live agent can assist with:
General questions
Case status inquiries
Updates if you don’t have your receipt number
You don’t need a receipt number to call—but having your personal details (full name, DOB, mailing address) ready will speed things up.
Tip: Hold times can vary. Be prepared to wait a few minutes—or up to an hour during peak hours.
📬 Request an Update by Mail
For cases filed with a local USCIS field office, you can mail a written request for a status update.
Include:
Full name
Date of birth
A-number (if applicable)
Receipt number
The date and place of filing
A copy of your most recent USCIS correspondence
This method is slow, but helpful if you’ve had trouble getting updates through other channels.
🚨 What If ICE Is Involved?
If someone you know has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a pending immigration process, you may need to secure their release with a bond.
Top states with the most ICE detentions include:
Texas
California
Arizona
Georgia
Louisiana
In these and all other states, Amistad Bail and Immigration Bonds provides fast, nationwide immigration bond services.
To learn more about how that works, visit our guide to how immigration bail bonds work.
📞 Need Help Navigating Your Immigration Status?
Whether you're waiting on a visa, green card, asylum case, or appeal, we understand how stressful the process can be. If a loved one is detained—or if you're worried it might happen—don’t wait.
📞 Call Amistad Bail and Immigration Bonds at (800) 537-0645
🌐 Or request a free consultation
We’re here 24/7 to help families stay together and bring peace to a complicated process.
