How Long Does It Take To Get A USCIS Receipt? Timing, Tracking & FAQs

Bradford H. Bernstein

This article was written and reviewed by Bradford H. Bernstein, a second-generation leader at Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein, P.C., who has helped over 100,000 clients with immigration and personal injury issues. Brad joined the firm in 1993, became a partner in 1997, and assumed leadership in 2000 after Harry Spar retired.

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Bradford H. Bernstein

USCIS Receipt: Key Points

• The time it takes to receive a notice from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is typically 30 days
• The notice confirms that USCIS has received your application. It may also inform you of rejections, case re-openings, interview appointments, or transferring your case to another office
• You can check your case status through the USCIS website, in person, by phone, mail, or email

Every year, USCIS receives thousands of applications and petitions related to immigration processes.

Whether you filed a citizenship application, a visa petition, Green Card renewal, or adjustment of status application, waiting for confirmation that your documents were received can be stressful.

How long does it take to get a receipt from USCIS, exactly?

We’ll share:

• USCIS receipt notice timeline
• When USCIS sends out a receipt
• What information the notice includes
• How to check the status of your immigration case

How Long Does It Take To Get A Receipt From USCIS?

It typically takes one month to obtain a receipt notice from USCIS after filing an application or petition.

However, it could take longer based on your specific forms or location centers.

If your receipt is taking longer than usual, contact an experienced immigration attorney who will review the status of your application or petition and determine your next steps.

USCIS Receipt Notice Overview

A USCIS receipt notice, also known as Form I-797C, Notice of Action, is a document you receive after you file an immigration application or petition with the USCIS, such as:

• Form I-485 for an adjustment of status
• Form I-130 for a family member
• Form I-140 for employment-based immigration

The receipt notice serves as evidence that USCIS received your documents and fee. It includes a unique receipt number you can use to track your case status online, by phone, or by mail.

The receipt notice does not mean you’ve been approved for an immigration benefit. It only shows that your process is moving forward.

When Does USCIS Send Out A Receipt Notice?

USCIS sends you Form I-797C to communicate important updates about your case status, such as:

• Receipt, indicating that USCIS received your application, accepted it, and will start reviewing your case.
• Rejection, in case you included the wrong payment or filed incorrectly. In this case, you will need to submit your petition or application again.
• Reopening of your case, meaning they’ll continue processing your petition or application after you provide new information.
• Scheduling or rescheduling of an interview or fingerprint or biometric appointment.
• Transfer of files to another USCIS office, if USCIS has moved your case to a different field office or service center for faster processing or because your situation requires it.

To avoid potential delays in your case, make sure to carefully read your receipt.

What Your USCIS Receipt Notice Includes

Your USCIS receipt notice includes a number, often referred to as a Green Card number, a permanent resident card number, or just a case number.

It may look like a random code, but each of the 13 digits tells your application’s story.

• The first three letters stand for the service center where your case was received. For example, TSC denotes Texas Service Center; CSC – California Service Center; NSC – Nebraska Service Center; NBC – National Benefits Center.
• The two digits following the service center show the fiscal year your case was received.
• The third set of digits stands for the computer workday in the fiscal year when your case was opened. A computer workday is equal to a workday, the sequence excluding the weekends and holidays. The USCIS fiscal year starts on October 1 and ends on September 30.
• The last five digits of your receipt number show the number of your immigration case.

Let’s take, for example, a receipt number saying TSC 19 015 74023.

• This means your immigration case was received at the Texas Service Center for the fiscal year 2019.
• The digits 015 show that your case was opened on the 15th working day of the fiscal year, which is October 19, 2018.
• Your immigration case is filed under number 74023.

Your receipt number is different from your alien registration number (A-Number), which contains 7-9 digits and is used by USCIS to identify non-citizens.

What To Do If You Haven’t Received A USCIS Receipt Notice

Imagine it’s been more than 30 days since you mailed your immigration application or petition, and you still haven’t received Form I-797C from USCIS.

Before you panic, try a few simple steps. First, confirm that your payment has been processed. Then:

• Check your online account, if you have one, for any updates from USCIS.
• Check your case status (Read more about how to do it in the section below).
• Talk to an experienced immigration attorney.

How To Check The Status Of Your USCIS Case

Wondering where your case stands? You’ve got options.

1. Online

If you already have your receipt number from USCIS, you can use it to track the status of your case online. To do this:

• Visit the case status section on the USCIS website.
• Enter the number on your receipt without any spaces.
• View the results.

You can also create an online account that will allow you to:

• File forms.
• Manage your contact information.
• View appointment notices.
• Check your case status.
• Provide information on Requests for Evidence (RFE).
• Get updates on USCIS’ decisions related to your case.

2. By Phone

Call USCIS on 1-800-375-5283. Regardless of whether you have a receipt number or not, USCIS agents can help you find information about the progress of your application or petition.

3. In Person

If you lost your receipt number or want to check your case status in person, contact USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 or visit the USCIS website to schedule an InfoPass appointment.

4. By Mail

If your application or petition was submitted through a local USCIS field office, you can ask for a case status update by mail. Send a request letter that includes:

• Your name
• Your date of birth
• The date and place you filed your petition or application
• Your USCIS receipt number (if you have one)
• A copy of your receipt notice (if you have one)

5. By Email/Phone App/Text Message

If you want to receive automatic updates on your case by email, create an account with USCIS and provide your email address and your receipt number.

If you want to receive notifications about your case progress by phone, create an account with USCIS and provide your phone number along with your receipt number.

Prefer an app? Here are a few trusted tools you can use:

• USCIS Checker (available for iOS, Android, and Windows)
• USCIS Case Status Notifier (available for Android)
• USCIS Helper (available for iOS)
• Case Status Lite (available for iOS and Android)

USCIS Receipt: FAQs

Have more questions about USCIS receipts? Check out the section below.

Why does my USCIS receipt take longer than expected?

If your USCIS receipt takes longer than expected, this may be due to various reasons, including an incomplete application, incorrect fees, high application volume, or processing backlogs at specific service centers.

Can I speed up my USCIS receipt notice?

There is no official way to expedite receipt notices. However, to prevent delays, make sure your application is complete, accurately filled, and submitted to the correct address can help prevent delays. If you have doubts, talk to our experienced team at Spar & Bernstein.

What should I do if my USCIS receipt notice has incorrect information?

If you see an error on your receipt notice, for example, a misspelled name or mentioning an incorrect form, contact USCIS immediately or talk to an immigration lawyer to do it for you.