Checking Your Immigration Status OnlineTo check your immigration status online, go to the USCIS "Case Status Online" page and enter your receipt number. It's a good idea to also sign up for case updates from USCIS by creating an account (on the same page).
Under U.S. immigration law, being convicted of an “aggravated felony” will make you ineligible to receive a green card. Some crimes considered to be “aggravated felonies” for immigration purposes might be misdemeanors—or not even crimes at all—under state or federal criminal law.
According to USCIS, an application for permanent residence (Form I-485) will take anywhere from 7 months to 33 months to process. The time range fluctuates depending on the office location, basis for the filing, and other factors.
To begin with, let's look at the four types of immigration status that exist: citizens, residents, non-immigrants and undocumented. The characteristics of each status are explained below. These are people who were either born in the U.S. or who have become “naturalized” after three or five years as permanent residents.
To check your USCIS case status by phone, call 1-800-375-5283. You may inquire about your case status without a receipt number. Be warned, however, that wait times will depend on the volume of other callers inquiring about their case status. Wait time may be up to two hours or more.
To find out a person's immigration status, you can either use the E-Verify website or submit a FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The method that is most appropriate for you will depend on your reason for needing this information.
The Notice of Approval, Form I-797, is the document issued to successful applicants for Adjustment of Status to Permanent Residence (Form I-485). The grant of permanent residence is done on an internal U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) document, contained within the individual's file.
You will need to call 1-800-375-5283 and explain what has happened in your situation. Generally speaking, the people there will be willing to help you locate your receipt number as long as you can provide them with enough information to identify the application.
The receipt number will contain three letters followed by ten numbers. The letters identify the USCIS service center that is processing your application and will be either EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, MSC, or IOE. The ten numbers that follow are a combination of the date your case was opened and your unique case number.
After USCIS approves your petition, they will transfer your case to the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) for pre-processing. The first step in this processing is the creation of your case in our system. Once this is complete, we will send you a Welcome Letter by e-mail or physical mail.
It can take USCIS anywhere from a few weeks to 20 years to process an application.
Dial 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) and ask your question in English or Spanish. The system will answer your question and can send you links to forms and information by email or text.
Online Questions: When your application is received by a USCIS Lockbox facility or a USCIS Service Center, we will mail you a receipt notice. The receipt notice will have all of the important information you need about your case. With your receipt number, you can check the status of your case on www.
You will know which center is processing your case by looking at the first three letters of your receipt number on your receipt notice. If you are waiting for your case to be sent to your local office for an interview you must review the processing times for your local office by city and state.
Case Was Transferred and a New Office Has Jurisdiction. Now and again, USCIS will have to transfer your status to a new office – which means that the old office will no longer have jurisdiction. The petition/application had not been filed in the correct jurisdiction.
Generally, the text/email confirmation (if requested when filing the application) is normally received within 7-10 days of filing the application. The paper Receipt Notice is received by mail from USCIS normally within 2-3 weeks of filing the application.
You can find your A-Number and Department of State (DOS) Case ID on your immigrant data summary, USCIS Immigrant Fee handout, or immigrant visa stamp. Your A-Number is the letter “A” followed by 8 or 9 numbers (such as A012345678).
Users can find their USCIS online account number on their profile section post filing an application. The common misconception is that the USCIS online account number is found in the account settings section.
The I-94 number is an 11-digit number that is found on the Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94 or Form I-94A). The nine-digit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services number listed on the front of Permanent Resident Cards (Form I-551) issued after May 10, 2010, is the same as the Alien Registration Number.
You'll also find your A-number on the visa stamped in your passport once your application is approved. Once you get your physical green card, your Alien Registration Number (labeled “USCIS#”) will be on both the front and the back of the card.
Although anyone can pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee on your behalf, only you can create a USCIS online account. Creating a USCIS online account is voluntary. Note: To create a USCIS online account, you will need to verify your identity by correctly answering questions about your personal immigration history.
Your DOS Case ID is your Department of State (DOS) Case ID. Generally, this number has 3 letters followed by 9 or 10 numbers (for example, ABC123456789). If you are a Diversity Visa Immigrant, however, your DOS Case ID has 4 numbers followed by 2 letters and then again 5 more numbers (for example, 1234ZY12345).
USCIS uses Alien Numbers (A-Numbers) to identify applicants in USCIS ELIS. Once a benefit request is filed, USCIS ELIS assigns a case number (e.g., Case ID 123-456-789) that replaces receipt numbers.
The applications are then forwarded to the National Benefits Center in Lee's Summit Missouri. The NBC was created by USCIS in 2001.
Uscis.gov - Delete Your Account or Get a Copy of Your Data | YourDigitalRights.org.
Form I-551 is the form number for a green card. It is proof of a foreign national's immigration status to live and work permanently in the United States. If you look closely, you'll see that “I-551” is printed in the upper left corner of the backside of the current green card.
Yes, you can travel. The stamp I-551 providing temporary evidence of permanent resident status is valid for a year. It is valid proof of permanent resident status for employment and travel purposes.
In the case that you cannot get an InfoPass appointment in time for your trip or need the stamp as soon as possible, you can walk into your local USCIS field office to request this stamp. At your InfoPass interview, the USCIS officer will put a stamp in your passport that should be valid for 6-12 months.
What is an Alien Registration Number or “A” number? The 9-digit USCIS number listed on permanent resident green cards issued after May 10, 2010, is the same as the A-number. The A-number can also be found on the back of green cards.
An I-551 stamp is a temporary evidence stamp that proves the permanent residency status of foreign nationals. When nonimmigrants are authorized to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis, they must have a valid Green Card at all times.
Reading a Permanent Resident Card
- First line: Spaces 1–2 shows C1 or C2.
- Second line: Spaces 1-6 show the cardholder's birth date formatted as YY/MM/DD.
- The third line lists the cardholder's last name, first name, middle name, first initial of the father, first initial of the mother.
The U.S. Green Card, officially the "I-551 Permanent Resident Card" is an official document issued by the US government serving as evidence of your legal permanent residency in the U.S. It is called a "Green Card" because the original document issued was green.
Employment Authorization NumberThis is the USCIS# on your Employment Authorization Document (EAD card).
Having an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766/EAD) is one way to prove that you are allowed to work in the United States for a specific time period. To request an EAD, you must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
