How to Check Immigration Status (Step-By-Step Guide)

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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 checking 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 perform an immigration status check 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
  • 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 ten 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.

How to Check Your Immigration Status Online (Fast & Easy)

The quickest and most convenient way to check your immigration status is online using the USCIS Case Status Tracker:

  1. Visit the USCIS website: https://egov.uscis.gov/
  2. Locate the “Case Status Online” tool.
  3. Enter your 13-digit receipt number (without dashes).
  4. Click “Check Status.”

How to Check My Green Card Status

  1. Visit the USCIS website.
  2. Navigate to the “Check My Case Status” page.
  3. Enter your unique receipt number provided by USCIS.
  4. Click on the “Check Status” button.

The system will display the current status of your application, including any updates or action items.

Alternative Methods for Checking Your Immigration Status

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 at the nearest USCIS field 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 US immigration status by phone. Individuals can call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 to learn about 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.

Note: While you can check your immigration status online using the USCIS tool, by phone, mail, or in person, it’s important to note that you cannot check immigration status by name. Likewise, It’s not possible to check someone’s immigration status online or through any other method unless you have their explicit authorization and any required legal documentation.

Conclusion

If you are wondering how to check green card status or your citizenship status, the process is the same. You will need to use the USCIS online tool to check your immigration status online. 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.

While this guide provides an overview of checking your immigration status, the US immigration system can be complex.  If you have a complex case or require legal guidance, consider consulting with an experienced immigration attorney.

Imagility: Your Partner in Immigration Management

Imagility is a top-notch immigration software that offers end-to-end immigration services. The platform’s AI and ML capabilities help beneficiaries, attorneys, and petitioners collaborate and create effective petitions. Imagility covers a range of employment & family-based petitions, as well as humanitarian visas and naturalization visas.

For businesses or organizations navigating the complexities of immigration processes for their employees, Imagility offers a comprehensive immigration software solution. Imagility’s platform streamlines tasks like case management, document tracking, and compliance, allowing you to focus on your core operations.

Reach out to us for a demo today at sales@imagility.co
Call us at +1 603 782 4622/+1 617 865 6588.
For more info, visit us at www.imagility.co

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