Introduction
Are you wondering how to check your immigration status? Are you unsure of your immigration status in the United States? US Immigration laws and procedures are constantly changing, making it difficult for individuals to know the process of checking immigration status. But do not worry! We are here to assist you every step of the way to check your immigration status.
We have curated this latest guide to provide step-by-step instructions to help you explore how to check your immigration status. We’ll also explain what to do if the person is in the United States or outside the USA. With these simple steps, you can check your immigration status quickly and accurately.
But before we dive deeper, let’s understand what immigration status in the US stands for.
What is immigration status in the US?
Immigration status in the US is the legal status of a foreign national living in or entering the US. It dictates a person’s rights and obligations under US immigration laws. Depending on immigration status, individuals can work, study, or remain in the country.
A person’s immigration status in the US may be one of four categories: citizen, permanent resident (green card holder), temporary resident, or undocumented immigrant.
Citizens are either born in the US or gain citizenship after spending three to five years in the country. They are, in general, exempt from deportation, with the exception of those who gained their citizenship fraudulently.
Permanent residents have the right to live and work in the United States permanently, while temporary residents can be in the US only temporarily with a valid visa.
Undocumented immigrants are those who are not authorized to be in the United States and could be subject to deportation. Knowing one’s immigration status is essential for anyone in the United States.
But before all this, you have to submit a visa petition under one of the categories mentioned above. Immigration status is the visa application status or case status. For checking this, an online tool link is provided by the USCIS here.
Who can check their immigration status?
An individual who has submitted a visa application, extension, or transfer or has applied for a green card application can check their immigration status online. Also, USCIS lets people who filled out any of the following forms, check their immigration status:
- Form I-140
- Form I-485
- Form I-765
- Adjustment of Status
- Employment Authorization Documents
Get the receipt number before you check immigration status
You can find the receipt number in the receipt notice sent by USCIS after you filled out and submitted the immigration petition. Here’s a sample receipt number:
Before you use the USCIS case tracking tool to check your immigration status, you need a 13 digit receipt number like the sample shown above. The receipt number contains three letters of code and 10 numbers. The three code letters directly refer to the USCIS service center processing your immigration case.
For instance, if the California Service Center is processing your case, the first three letters of your receipt number would be WAC, followed by 10-digit numbers. If the Texas Service Center is processing your case, the first three letters of your receipt number would be SRC. If the Vermont Service Center is processing your case, the first three letters of your receipt number would be EAC. If the National Benefits Center is processing your case, the first three letters of your receipt number would be MSC/NBC.
Ways to check the immigration status
Now there are several ways you can check your immigration status. You can check immigration status online, by mail, phone, in person, etc. Let’s take a closer look.
● Check immigration status online
The simplest and quickest way to check immigration status is to enter details into the case status tracker on the USCIS website or by logging through my USCIS account. Both options belong to USCIS’s official website, which processes immigrant applications. When checking immigration status through the case status tracker tool, enter the 13 digit receipt number and click the “check status” button. It’s essential to know while entering the receipt number not to include dashes or hyphens.
● Check immigration status by mail
You can check your immigration status by mail though it is a slow process and takes time. You must send an inquiry letter to the USCIS field office where you filed the case. Make sure your letter includes the following details.
- Full name & date of birth
- Alien Registration Number (A-Number), if applicable
- Application filing date
- Receipt number
Including a photocopy of your receipt number is advisable to process the request faster. Keep checking the mail from time to time so that you don’t miss any information. If you move to any other place, don’t forget to update the address to get notified of your case.
● Check immigration status in-person
USCIS allows individuals to schedule in-person appointments near USCIS’s local office. However, the number of in-person appointments was limited during the covid-19 pandemic. To book an appointment, you can call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283.
● Check immigration status by phone
USCIS provides individuals the facility to check their immigration status by phone. Individuals can call USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 and know their immigration status. You only need to provide the receipt number and basic information like full name, date of birth, and alien registration number (if applicable ) to the USCIS call center representative. USCIS also provides a call facility to those who are hearing impaired. They can call TTY 1-800-767-1833 and get their immigration status easily.
Conclusion
By following the steps listed above, you can easily check your immigration status. Make sure you keep your receipt number ready before you check your immigration status online, by phone, mail, or in person.
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