Enter the receipt number from your USCIS notice to see the current status of your case, in English or Spanish, with a plain-language explanation of what it means.
Your receipt number is sent to Imigrar only to ask USCIS for your status. It is never logged, saved or shared, the field is hidden from our website-recording tools, and the plain-language summary is produced after your receipt number has been stripped out of the government text. Imigrar is not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. government.
To check your USCIS case status, enter the 13-character receipt number from your Form I-797C, Notice of Action — three letters such as IOE, MSC or EAC followed by 10 digits. USCIS is the authoritative source for your status; this page reads it directly from USCIS and explains what the message means in plain English or Spanish.
After USCIS accepts a filing it mails Form I-797C, Notice of Action. Your receipt number is printed on that notice under the heading "Receipt Number".
If you filed online, sign in to your myUSCIS account — the receipt number appears with the case.
The same number appears on every later USCIS notice about that case, including interview and biometrics appointment notices.
A receipt number is not the same as your A-Number, your Social Security number, or the fee receipt from your bank.
3 letters (the service center) + 10 digits = 13 characters, written with no spaces or dashes.
AAA0000000000
Codes read from USCIS Form I-797C notices and USCIS case-status documentation. Several are legacy names, which is why the letters and the center name do not always match. Last checked: September 18, 2026.
USCIS uses standardized status messages but does not explain what each one means for your case in practice. Below are the six most common statuses, what they actually indicate, the expected timing, and when you should speak to an attorney.
USCIS has your paperwork and assigned a receipt number. This is the starting line, not progress. How long the next update takes varies by form and by office — the USCIS processing-times tool publishes the current figure for yours.
When to act: if you do not see this status within 30 days of mailing your application, contact an attorney to verify USCIS received your filing.
USCIS has assigned you a date, time and Application Support Center for fingerprints and photos. The notice arrives separately by mail. Missing the appointment without rescheduling can lead USCIS to administratively close your case.
When to act: reschedule online immediately if you cannot make the date. Do not ignore the notice.
USCIS mailed you a letter (Form I-797E) asking for additional documents before deciding your case. You typically have 87 days to respond, and missing the deadline generally means denial.
When to act: read the letter carefully and consult an attorney before submitting your response. Requests for Evidence are a leading cause of avoidable denials.
USCIS has decided in your favor and is mailing the approval notice (Form I-797). Next steps depend on the form: I-485 begins green-card production, N-400 leads to an oath ceremony being scheduled, and I-130 is forwarded to the National Visa Center for consular processing.
When to act: wait for the physical document to arrive, and confirm USCIS has your current mailing address.
USCIS is physically producing your green card or work authorization card. The next status is usually “Card Was Mailed”.
When to act: confirm USCIS has your current mailing address. Cards sent to an old address are returned, and USCIS does not always reissue them without a formal request.
USCIS decided against your application. You typically have 33 days from the date of the denial notice to file a motion to reopen or reconsider (Form I-290B) or an appeal. This deadline is strict.
When to act: speak to an attorney promptly to evaluate whether the denial can be appealed, whether to refile, and whether it creates any risk of removal proceedings.
USCIS uses dozens of standardized phrases. If you are unsure what yours means or what comes next, an Imigrar attorney can read the notice with you and explain it in English or Spanish.
Request a free case reviewUSCIS publishes how long each form type is currently taking at each office. Check this before assuming a case is delayed.
How to read USCIS processing timesIf your case is outside the published processing time, or you did not receive a notice or card that USCIS says it sent, you can submit an inquiry.
How to submit a case inquiryThese are two different government agencies with two different systems and two different identifying numbers. Using the wrong one is the most common reason a lookup returns nothing.
Covers benefit applications and petitions filed with USCIS, such as Form I-130, I-485, N-400, I-765 or I-751. You look these up with the 13-character receipt number from your I-797C notice.
Covers removal proceedings before an immigration judge at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Those are looked up with your A-Number, not a receipt number, and a receipt number will never work there.
Go to My Case (immigration court)This page is general information about a government tool. It is not legal advice, and using it does not create an attorney-client relationship. USCIS is the only authoritative source for your case status — if what you read here differs from what USCIS shows, USCIS is correct. Immigration rules, forms and processing times change often.
An Imigrar attorney can read your USCIS notice with you and explain what the next step is and what deadlines apply to your case.
