Understandably, waiting for your immigration application to be processed can be quite stressful. This is especially true when critical outcomes, such as your career opportunities or ability to reunite with loved ones residing in the United States, hang in the balance. That said, whether you filed for a work permit, green card, or another immigration benefit with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), knowing how to check your case status is critical. With that being said, please follow along to find out how to check the status of your immigration case with the USCIS and how a proficient Baltimore County, Maryland immigration lawyer at Sheri Hoidra Law Office, LLC can help you avoid any unnecessary delays or complications with your application’s processing.
How do I check the status of my immigration case with the USCIS?
Of note, the USCIS offers several official means to monitor your immigration case. Generally speaking, you may go to the USCIS website and access the “Case Status” tool. To utilize this function, you must have your USCIS receipt number on hand, which is the 13-character identifier on the Form I-797, Notice of Action, that you should have received shortly after your application’s submission.
Once you enter this number, you should be able to view the most recent action the USCIS has taken on your case. For example, you may see a status update such as “Case Was Received,” “Case Was Actively Reviewed,” “Request for Evidence Was Sent,” or “Case Was Approved.” Particularly for the “Request for Evidence Was Sent” post, this is critical as it requires you to take action on your end, most likely under a tight deadline.
It is worth mentioning that the USCIS may also offer the opportunity for email and text notifications for most major immigration forms. To opt for this, you may attach Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, with the paper application you filed by mail at a USCIS lockbox. This may save you from having to remember to log on to your USCIS online account frequently and overall from missing any urgent notices.
How do I know if my immigration application processing is delayed?
Importantly, you must understand that checking your immigration case status is different than monitoring the USCIS’s processing times. In other words, on its website, there is a processing-time tool that shows the average time it is currently taking to process your specific immigration form type at the exact USCIS service center handling your case. Once you insert the accurate information, the output may state something such as “eight to 12 months” or another relevant time range.
And so, if you are given an eight-to-12-month range and your immigration application has been pending for over a year now, this may indicate an issue. This may subsequently prompt you to navigate to the USCIS’s Case Status tool to help identify what it might be. If your case is simply stuck on “Case Was Received,” you may have to ask your lawyer to help you submit an official “outside normal processing time” inquiry.
If you wish to explore your legal options moving forward, please allow a talented Baltimore County, Maryland immigration lawyer from Sheri Hoidra Law Office, LLC to be your guiding force. Please schedule your initial consultation with our firm at the first chance you get.