If you recently filed an immigration application with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you may be eager for an immigration case update. Keep in mind that USCIS processes hundreds of thousands of applications every year, so there may be a prolonged waiting period. Still, you can check your case status at any time. Here’s how.

Get Your Receipt Number

To check your immigration application status, you first need your receipt number. This 13-character number is assigned to your application when it arrives at the USCIS office. Know that it can take a few weeks to receive your receipt number. If it hasn’t arrived within 30 days of filing your application, contact USCIS to find out why.

Make a USCIS Account

While not required, you can create an account on the USCIS website to stay informed about your immigration status, update your address, submit inquiries, and more.

Check Your Immigration Status

There are multiple ways to check your immigration status. Here are your options:

• Check your USCIS case status online: The easiest method is to enter your receipt number on the USCIS website. This gives you the most recent status update of your application.

• Check your case status by phone: Don’t have internet access? Call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. Be prepared to provide your receipt number to the representative who takes your call.

• Check the status of an application mailed to a lockbox: Did you send your immigration application to a lockbox in Chicago, Dallas, or Phoenix? Email USCIS at lockboxsupport@uscis.dhs.gov. You’ll need the form number, your receipt number (if you have it), the applicant’s name, and your mailing address.

• Check your status with the NVC: If the National Visa Center is handling your immigration case, visit the NVC website for more information.

What is the Average Immigration Application Processing Time?

Every applicant wants their paperwork processed as quickly as possible, but the wait times can range from a few months to years. It all depends on the type of application you submitted and how backed up the USCIS office is at the time of filing.

Fortunately, USCIS provides processing estimates. Simply select the form you filed, the form category, and the office you sent it to from the drop-down lists. If you have been waiting longer than the estimated time shown and haven’t received case updates through your USCIS account, reach out directly by phone or email for more information.

Checking your immigration case status should be straightforward, but if you run into issues, reach out to Hurtubise Weber Law LLP. We can help you avoid problems with your immigration application and provide regular status updates. Call us today at (415) 849-1199 or contact us online to speak with our immigration lawyers in San Francisco and San Jose, California.