Legal Process Explained

After USCIS receives your RFE response, it adds the response to your case and resumes adjudication using the new evidence together with the rest of your record. USCIS may then approve the case, continue reviewing it, schedule an interview, issue another notice, or deny the application or petition if the evidence still does not establish … Read more

“Request for Additional Evidence” means USCIS has reviewed your application or petition and determined that more information, documentation, or clarification is needed before it can decide whether you qualify for the immigration benefit you requested. It is a type of Request for Evidence (RFE). It does not mean your case has been denied, and it … Read more

“Request for Initial Evidence” means USCIS believes required evidence that should have been submitted with your original application or petition is missing or does not adequately demonstrate eligibility. USCIS is giving you an opportunity to provide that evidence before it decides the case. This is a type of Request for Evidence (RFE). It is not … Read more

You can usually determine which USCIS office or service center is processing your case by checking your USCIS receipt notice and any later transfer notices. The three-letter prefix in your receipt number can provide clues about where a case began processing, but it does not always show which office is handling the case now. USCIS … Read more

USCIS may transfer your case to another office to balance workloads, assign it to an office responsible for the next stage of processing, accommodate staffing or operational needs, or move it to a field office for case-specific processing such as an interview. A transfer by itself does not mean there is a problem with your … Read more

“Case Was Received” means USCIS has received your application, petition, or request and created a case for it in its system. It does not mean your case has been approved or that USCIS has completed its review. USCIS normally assigns a receipt number to the filing, which you can use to track the case while … Read more

“Case Was Transferred” means USCIS moved your pending application, petition, or request from one USCIS office or processing location to another. A transfer does not by itself mean that your case has been approved, denied, or has a problem. USCIS transfers cases for administrative and case-processing reasons, and the new office may take responsibility for … Read more

“Case Is Being Actively Reviewed” means USCIS has moved your application or petition into a review stage, but it does not mean a decision is necessarily coming soon or that an immigration officer is continuously working on the case. For many applicants, seeing this message feels like a major development. It can be a positive … Read more

Track your USCIS case online using your receipt number. Learn how Case Status Online, your USCIS account, processing times, and case inquiries work.

A USCIS receipt number is a 13-character case identifier made up of three letters followed by 10 numbers. The first three letters can indicate the USCIS system or office associated with the case when it entered processing, while the full number allows USCIS and the applicant to identify and track that specific filing. If you … Read more