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Last Updated On: March 28, 2025 | Published On: March 27, 2025
If your case exceeds the expected processing time, and in the last 60 days you have not received any sort of notice from USCIS, responded to a Request For Evidence (RFE), and/or received an online update to your case status, you may submit an inquiry using USCIS’ online e-request tool or you may consult your immigration attorney about other possible actions to be taken.
So you’ve completed all the necessary paperwork, settled the fees, acquired your USCIS receipt number, and now the anticipation sets in. The waiting game begins, accompanied by potential backlogs, government hitches, and evolving regulations. While this waiting period can be stressful, a reliable way to alleviate the tension is by understanding how to understand your USCIS case status.
Keeping a close eye on your application’s processing time can be done in several ways, which we’ll explore in this article, and it remains an essential step in immigrating to the U.S.
With so many ways to check your USCIS case status, it is essential to know how to accurately verify your status to avoid further confusion and stress. You can check your status in the following ways:
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There are many ways to check your USCIS case status, but the easiest way is to check it online. The process is very simple and doesn’t require much time at all. All you will need to get started is your I-797.
If entered correctly, the following screen will show the status of your case. The status will be specific to your case and specific to your immigration program.
Recommended read: Learn How to Track Your Green Card.
Your I-797 states the USCIS receipt number and other important information that helps you know your case status and who to contact. Your receipt number is in the top left-hand corner of your I-797.
If you have access to a phone, which most people do, you can check your case status that way as well. You will need your receipt number to do so. To verify your status over the phone, you need to call 1-800-375-5283 or TTY 1-800-767-1833.
If you are outside the U.S., call 212-620-3418 or contact a USCIS international field office. When you call, you will hear the operator asking if you would like to continue in Spanish.
After that, the automated system informs you that the call volume is high and recommends visiting the website to see if USCIS can answer your question with their tools.
After the script, the system will let you know that it understands complete sentences and will ask you to describe what you need. For example, you can say “Check Case Status,” and it will then ask you for your receipt number.
You can either say your receipt number or enter it using the keypad. The system will repeat the number to you to confirm and then tell you your case status.
If you want to talk to an agent, it is nearly impossible, as pressing “0” or any other key several times will not get you to an agent.
Recommended read: Marriage-Based Green Card Timeline.
If you have specific questions, it is best to ask your immigration attorney, as they will likely be able to get you information quickly.
Can I email USCIS about my case status?
As of 2018, USCIS no longer accepts emails inquiring about case status.
You can set up automatic updates for your case status, eliminating the need for manual checks and ensuring you stay informed effortlessly. This is a relatively new service that is very useful for many immigrants.
Tip: Numerous third-party websites charge a fee to set up automatic updates. Make sure that you are not signing up for these because the USCIS does not charge you anything to check your case status.
Staying up-to-date with your application is crucial. If the USCIS requires any clarification or requests evidence, they will let you know. The sooner you are aware of the changes to your status, the sooner you can take the next required step in your U.S. immigration process.
Recommended read: Green Card for Your Parents.
The most up-to-date resource online for you to check how long USCIS is taking to process applications is the Processing Times page. You can look at each service center’s processing times to get an idea of how long you will likely wait for case processing.
After selecting the form, there may be an additional category. For example, the I-130 has multiple categories depending on your situation:
After selecting the form and category, the tool will let you choose your service center. Remember to check the first three letters of your receipt number to see which service center is processing your case.
The available service centers or field offices will depend on the form you select, since not all service centers process all forms. For some forms, you might only see one or two options. For instance, the only option for Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor, is the Immigrant Investor Program Office. Alternatively, a newer feature USCIS is implementing is “all field offices,” which provides an average.
After selecting the office, the tool will show you the processing times.
For the above example, we’re checking the USCIS processing time of the I-130. If you check, the times vary depending on which relative you are sponsoring. As of 2025, the average processing time according to USCIS for a U.S. Citizen sponsoring a spouse, child, or parent under 21 is 17 months.
Remember, the times are estimates, and the USCIS processing times update once a month.
Recommended read: Family-Based Applications Processing Times.
The average processing time for a USCIS form is between 3 months and 20 months. However, each processing center has its own workload, so the speed at which it operates does not depend on other or nearby centers. The wait time will also depend on the form that you submit and your specific application. Processing times change all the time, and below you can find current times for 2025.
Visa
Processing Center
Processing Time
I-129 for H-1B applicants
California Processing Center
5 months
I-129f for K-1 applicants
California Service Center
8 months
I-130 for green card holders sponsoring foreign spouses
Median time
3 - 4 years
I-130 for U.S. Citizens sponsoring foreign spouses
8 - 14 months
I-131 for advance parole applications
6 - 7 months
I-140 for extraordinary ability foreign workers
6.7 months
I-485 for family-based adjustment of status
10.2 months
I-601 for applications for waiver on grounds of inadmissibility:
33 months
ETA-9089 Perm Applications: 497 days
497 days
N-400 for applications for naturalization
5.5 months
I-765 for applications for employment authorization for H-1B spouses (H4):
1.9 months
N-600 for applications for certificate of citizenship: 3.7 months
3.7 months
It is impossible to generalize how fast each center processes a form due to the many factors, such as:
Below, we tried to give you a very general perspective of how long each processing center could take to complete the assessment of an application.
Among all field centers, the fastest one is usually the Nebraska Center, but the wait times change frequently, and it perhaps will not be the fastest one when you make your application.
USCIS makes every effort to update processing times on a monthly basis. For most forms, the processing times displayed are based on data that is about one month old. For forms that still use the cycle time methodology, the processing times are based on data captured approximately two months prior to the update.
However, in recent years, USCIS has received some criticism about its estimation of processing times. Generally, people are not convinced that the estimated times that are shown are accurate, with many applications taking much longer. This is usually the case with problematic applications or applications that are submitted during the busy season.
Every letter or number in your USCIS receipt number is a specific identifier that is helpful for you to understand. For example, to understand the different components, let’s create a fake receipt number that is SRC-20-013-12345.
The first three letters in the number identify the corresponding USCIS Field Office or Service Center for your case. The codes are as follows:
Our case goes through the Texas Service Center in our example receipt number.
Your distance to a service center does not always dictate where your case will end. Instead, the deciding factor is your type of case and the service center that processes the corresponding forms. For instance, if you live in Vermont, but your petition is for an E-2 visa, your case will go through the California Service Center.
Find out more about K-1 Finacé Visa Processing Times.
The two digits after the three letters dictate the fiscal year USCIS opened your case. In our example, we opened our case in the 2023 fiscal year. Therefore, the fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30 of the following year.
The following three digits indicate the computer workday that USCIS opened our case in the fiscal year. In our example, we opened our case on the 13th computer workday of the fiscal year.
The last five digits are your unique case number. In our example, our unique case number is 123245.
The National Benefits Center is not an official service processing center and is considered a field office. However, it still processes a large number of forms. You can find the national benefits processing times through the same process as the service process centers.
If you want to submit another inquiry to USCIS, you can do so using the e-request tool.
Using this tool, you can only make the following inquiries:
When submitting these inquiries online, you will need to provide information, including an email address, USCIS receipt number, type of petition, and the date when you filed your petition, among other details.
Go to the U.S. Department of State’s official Visa Bulletin page:
Scroll down to find the most recent Visa Bulletin.
Click on the corresponding month and year to open the bulletin.
Locate your visa preference category:
Family-Sponsored: If you’re applying through a relative.
F1 – Unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of U.S. citizens
F2A – Spouses and children (under 21) of permanent residents
F2B – Unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of permanent residents
F3 – Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
F4 – Siblings of U.S. citizens (if the citizen is 21 or older)
Employment-Based: If your green card is based on a job offer or sponsorship.
EB-1 – Priority workers (extraordinary ability, multinational managers, etc.)
EB-2 – Professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability
EB-3 – Skilled workers, professionals, and some unskilled workers
EB-4 – Special immigrants (religious workers, certain broadcasters, etc.)
EB-5 – Immigrant investors (business investment leading to job creation)
Your Priority Date is on your I-797 Notice of Action from USCIS.
Compare it with the “Final Action Dates” or “Dates for Filing” in the Visa Bulletin.
If your priority date is earlier than the listed date, your visa is current, and you can proceed with the next steps.
If the date is not yet current, you must wait until your priority date becomes eligible.
The Visa Bulletin is updated every month—check back regularly.
If your category is close to becoming current, prepare the required documents in advance.
You can determine which USCIS office is processing your case by checking the Receipt Number on your Form I-797C, Notice of Action. The first three letters of the receipt number indicate the service center handling your application: EAC (Vermont), LIN (Nebraska), SRC (Texas), WAC (California), NBC (National Benefits Center), or YSC (Potomac). To check your case status, enter your receipt number on the USCIS Case Status Online tool. If your case is transferred, you will receive a notice.
The slowest USCIS service center can vary depending on the type of application and overall caseload. However, historically, the Vermont Service Center (VSC) and Texas Service Center (TSC) have been among the slower processing centers for many forms. The National Benefits Center (NBC) can also experience delays, especially for family-based applications.
The i-751 processing time in 2025 is 21.8 months
The I-130 processing time for parents in 2025 is approximately 17 months.
Adjustment of status (I-485) is 9.3 months for family visas and 6.9 months for employment-based visas, according to Historical National Median Processing Time (in Months) for All USCIS Offices.
Yes, an immigration lawyer can gain a full understanding of all the possible routes to obtain a visa or green card and determine the quickest route. Knowledge of paperwork and required documents can reduce times by weeks or even months. Knowledge of concurrent filing and other specialty processes can make quick work of a typically lengthy process. Lastly, an immigration lawyer can prevent RFEs, which significantly lengthen processing times. However, some processes cannot be sped up by an immigration law, such as USCIS processing specific forms that do not allow for expedited processing.
You're likely to have a swifter and easier application process when you seek the advice of an immigration attorney. A good attorney will always keep you abreast of the latest information so that you don't feel the need to check your USCIS case status or USCIS Processing Times every day. VisaNation Law Group is known for their hands-on approach and familial service. They are always available to answer any questions about your application.
Tags: Change of Status, Processing Time
