Green card explainer
How to read USCIS processing times
The USCIS processing times tool shows how long the agency took on cases it already finished, not when yours will be decided. This page explains how to read it, how to check your own case status, and what you can do if your case seems delayed. It is general information, not advice about a particular case.
What the processing times tool is
USCIS publishes a public page called Check Case Processing Times. It lets anyone look up a figure for a specific form, a specific type of request within that form, and the specific USCIS office that is handling it. Applicants use it to get a sense of how long cases like theirs have been taking.
The tool covers applications and petitions filed with USCIS, such as an application to adjust status, a petition for a relative, a work permit application or a naturalization application. It does not cover cases in immigration court, and it does not tell you when a visa number will be available. Both of those are separate systems, explained further below.
How to look up the right figure
The tool asks for three choices. Getting each one right matters, because the figures can differ a great deal from one choice to another.
- The form. Pick the form number you filed, for example Form I-485, I-130, I-765 or N-400.
- The form category. Many forms have several categories, depending on the basis of the request or who filed it. Choose the one that matches your filing.
- The field office or service center. Choose the office that has your case right now. Your receipt notice says which office received it, and later notices may show that the case was moved.
Where your receipt notice fits in
After USCIS accepts a filing, it mails a receipt notice, Form I-797C, Notice of Action. Keep it in a safe place. It shows three things you will use again and again:
- the receipt number, three letters followed by numbers, which identifies your case;
- the receipt date, the date USCIS received your filing, which is the date to compare against the tool; and
- the form and the office handling the case at that point.
What the number actually measures
The figure in the tool is a look backward. It describes how long USCIS took to complete cases of that type, at that office, over a recent period. It is not a promise, a deadline or a prediction for your own case. Some cases are decided sooner than the figure shown and some take longer.
USCIS explains how each figure is calculated in the notes that appear with the results (the “more information” section of the tool). Read that note for the form you selected rather than relying on what someone else says the number means, because the method is described there and USCIS may change it.
Keep in mind that:
- the figures are updated over time, so what you saw a few months ago may no longer be current;
- the same form can show very different figures at different offices; and
- different categories of the same form can move at different speeds.
Checking the status of your own case
The processing times tool talks about cases in general. To see what is happening with yours, use USCIS Case Status Online and enter the receipt number from your I-797C. The status will show steps such as a receipt, a biometrics appointment, a request for evidence, an interview, a transfer, or a decision.
Then go back to the processing times tool, select your form, category and office, and compare the result with the receipt date on your I-797C. That gives you a rough idea of whether your case is taking longer than recent cases of the same kind at that office.
If your case seems to be taking too long
USCIS's Contact Us page says that if you have a question about your case, you may use its online tools, and if you have tried them and still need help, you may submit an online case inquiry (USCIS's e-Request tool) or call the USCIS Contact Center. Depending on the information needed, USCIS may forward the request to the office processing your case. The e-Request site lists the kinds of inquiry it accepts; follow its instructions, and have your receipt number and the information from your notices ready.
An inquiry asks USCIS to look at the case; it is not a request to decide it faster and does not change what the case must show.
Why a case may take longer
A case can take longer than the figure in the tool for many reasons. Some general possibilities include:
- a request for evidence (RFE), which pauses the case until USCIS receives the response;
- scheduling or rescheduling a biometrics appointment;
- scheduling an interview, when one is required;
- an address change that was not reported, so notices did not reach you;
- background and security checks that are still pending; or
- a transfer of the case to another office, which may then have different processing times.
None of these means that something is wrong with a case. They are simply steps that can add time.
Keep your address current with USCIS
Most USCIS notices arrive by mail, including interview notices and requests for evidence with response deadlines. If you move, report your new address to USCIS. The official instructions, including the online change of address and Form AR-11, are on the USCIS change of address page. A missed notice can delay a case or lead to a denial for not responding.
Two waits the tool does not show
Waiting for a visa number
For family-based and employment-based preference cases, approval of the petition is not the end of the wait. Many people must also wait until their priority date is current in the visa bulletin before they can apply for or receive a green card. That wait is separate from USCIS processing times. USCIS explains it on its visa availability and priority dates page, and our visa bulletin explainer walks through how to read the chart. Depending on the case, the green card step may then be done through adjustment of status in the United States or consular processing abroad.
Cases in immigration court
If you are in removal proceedings, your case is in immigration court, which is run by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), not by USCIS. Court cases do not appear in the USCIS processing times tool or in Case Status Online. See our guide on how to check your immigration court date.
When to talk to a lawyer
Many cases move forward without any problem, and waiting is often all that is needed. It may help to talk to a lawyer if your case is taking far longer than the times USCIS posts and an inquiry has not helped, if you received a request for evidence or a notice of intent to deny, if a work permit is about to expire while a renewal is pending (see work authorization), if a naturalization case has stalled, or if you are also in immigration court.
Carlos Maury Law is led by Carlos Maury, a former U.S. Immigration Judge, and helps clients nationwide in English and Spanish. Learn more about our green card lawyer services.
Frequently asked questions
What does the USCIS processing times tool show?
It shows how long USCIS took to complete recent cases for a given form, category and office. It looks backward and is not a promise or a deadline for your case.
How do I know which office has my case?
Your receipt notice, Form I-797C, shows which office received the case. If you later get a transfer notice, use the new office when you check the tool.
Where do I find my receipt number and receipt date?
Both are on the I-797C receipt notice USCIS mails after it accepts your filing. The receipt number is three letters followed by numbers.
How do I check the status of my case?
Go to Case Status Online on the USCIS website and enter the receipt number from your I-797C. It shows the most recent step in your case.
What can I do if my case seems to be taking too long?
USCIS says that if you have tried its online tools and still need help with a case question, you may submit an online case inquiry through its e-Request tool or call the USCIS Contact Center. Have your receipt number ready.
Does the tool include immigration court cases?
No. Removal cases are in immigration court, which is run by EOIR, not USCIS. Court cases must be checked through EOIR.
Do processing times include waiting for the visa bulletin?
No. In family and employment preference cases, waiting for your priority date to become current in the visa bulletin is a separate wait from USCIS processing times.