What your USCIS case status means

USCIS shows every case's status as a short headline plus a paragraph, for example "Case Was Received". The wording is USCIS's own; this guide explains what the common ones usually mean and what tends to come next. Your official notices (the paper or online notices USCIS sends you) always take precedence over the online status.

First, your receipt number

Every case has a 13-character receipt number: three letters and ten digits, such as IOE0123456789. The letters name the office or system that received the case — for example IOE for cases filed online through USCIS's electronic system, and codes like MSC, EAC, WAC, LIN and SRC for lockbox and service-center intake. You need it to look up a case, and you should treat it like an account number: don't post it publicly.

Statuses you'll see early on

Case Was Received. USCIS accepted the filing and issued a receipt notice (Form I-797C). It means the package was complete enough to accept and the fee was taken — not that anything has been reviewed yet.

Fingerprint Fee Was Received and Biometrics Appointment Was Scheduled. USCIS needs your fingerprints, photo and signature, usually at an Application Support Center. The appointment notice tells you where and when. Missing it without rescheduling can delay or derail the case.

Fingerprints Were Taken (or similar wording). Your biometrics are on file. Many cases then sit with no visible change for weeks or months; that is normal.

Statuses in the middle

Request for Additional Evidence Was Sent (an RFE) or Request for Initial Evidence Was Sent. The officer needs more documents or explanation before deciding. The notice lists exactly what is needed and the deadline. Answer everything asked, by the deadline, in one response — this is the point where many people involve an attorney.

Response To USCIS' Request For Evidence Was Received. USCIS has your RFE response and the case goes back into the queue for review.

Notice of Intent to Deny Was Sent (a NOID). More serious than an RFE: the officer intends to deny unless you overcome the stated problems by the deadline. Get qualified legal help.

Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS. An officer is working on, or has touched, the case. It is often read as "a decision is coming", but this status can appear more than once and can be followed by a long wait or an RFE.

Interview Was Scheduled. Common for family-based green cards, naturalization and some other cases. The notice lists the office, time and what to bring.

Case Was Transferred And A New Office Has Jurisdiction. USCIS moved the case to another office to balance workload or because it needs an interview locally. It is routine and does not mean anything went wrong; processing times are then those of the new office.

Decisions

Case Was Approved. The benefit was granted. For cases that produce a card (green card, work permit, travel document), card-production statuses usually follow.

New Card Is Being Produced, Card Was Mailed To Me, Card Was Delivered To Me By The Post Office. The physical card is in production, in the mail, and delivered. If the mail status shows delivered but nothing arrived, USCIS has a process for undelivered cards — act quickly.

Case Was Rejected. Different from a denial: the filing was not accepted, typically because of a missing signature, a wrong or missing fee, or using an outdated form edition. The package is usually returned and you can generally file again correctly.

Case Was Denied. The officer decided against the request. The denial notice explains why and whether you can appeal or file a motion, and by when. Deadlines here are short; get legal advice.

When nothing changes for a long time

Silence is the most common status. Compare your wait with USCIS's published processing times for your form and office before worrying; if your case is outside the posted time, USCIS lets you submit an "outside normal processing times" service request.