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How can I check my USCIS Immigration Case Status?

09th April 2010
By Rachel Immig in Immigration Law
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The United States government provides the required information about the status of your case. In some cases this information helps you to provide any necessary additional documents and find out the necessary steps to complete your application. To comply with U.S. Laws and to stay updated about your case, if you change your address it is important to notify the USCIS of your new address.

Individuals who have submitted an application to the USCIS can find out the status of their own application as long as a Receipt Number has been issued. Case Status is a way through which applications are tracked. This only applies to applications submitted to the USCIS. The USCIS Case Status system cannot be used by passport applicants, as the Department of State is in charge of issuing passports.

Once you've filed an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the processing begins. According to USCIS, all applications are processed in the order that they are received to keep the process fair. Your processing time depends on what type of application or petition you are applying for. You can use your case receipt to determine your USCIS immigration case status.


On receipt of your application, the USCIS Service Center or the National Benefits Center, will mail you a receipt notice. The receipt notice contains all of the important information you need about your case. You can check your USCIS immigration case status with your receipt number. Locate your 13-digit immigration case receipt number. Your receipt number will be located at the top of your immigration application and any subsequent application notices you have received. Receipt numbers start with three letters. Examples of valid receipt numbers start with EAC, LIN, SRC, or WAC. If you have not received a case number or you have lost it, contact the USCIS customer service center.

The receipt of most applications filed at a Service Center may look like this: LIN 99 001 50001. Here, the "LIN" represents the Nebraska Service Center, where the application was initially received into the electronic system.

Processing of applications is done by visa preference category in the order they are received. You can also check typical processing times at the USCIS website so you'll know if a decision on your petition or application is overdue. Processing times provide an estimate of how long it will take to process your case from start to finish. Please note that some cases may take longer than others to process. If you use your receipt number to check your USCIS immigration case status and track the processing of your case, please remember that USCIS will only research your case if it is beyond the current processing times.


USCIS also provides Premium Processing Service for faster processing of certain employment-based petitions and applications. It is understood that circumstances can change, so this program is available even after you file. USCIS recognizes that exceptional circumstances can require special handling of a case. All requests for spped handling are reviewed case-by-case and, when circumstances warrant, are granted at the discretion of the Director, USCIS.

To get online help with your US Immigration case status and green card renewal visit www.ImmigrationDirect.com for more info.
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