USCIS Receipt Number Explained

Every time you submit an immigrant or non-immigrant application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you’ll receive the form I-797 Notice of Action, which is commonly known as a receipt notice. USCIS sent it to tell you that they have received your application.

The form actually contains a USCIS receipt number, which can be used for multiple purposes. Unfortunately, not all applicants know its use, and they tend to ask USCIS representatives about it.

From now on, don’t do that again! You can find everything about the USCIS receipt number in this post. Let’s get started!

What is a USCIS Receipt Number?

A receipt number is a USCIS number that consists of 13 unique characters, also known as a case number. It confirms that your application is in queue for processing.

Each receipt number will start with the first three letters, and it will depend on which USCIS service center is processing your case. Then, these letters will be followed by 10 numbers—a combination of the date of your case and your unique case number—to create your complete USCIS receipt number.

Your receipt number is very important since it will help you track the progress of your case or identify a particular immigration application, like immigration benefits.

What is a USCIS Receipt Number For?

As we’ve mentioned earlier, a USCIS receipt number is mainly used for tracking how far your application has progressed and also checking the status of your case. You need to know that the status of your case will depend on the type of application and its average processing timeline.

To speed up the progress of your application, it would be better for you to learn about the immigration application process and the estimated time period. The resources will show you how long your application will take and what to do if it seems to be taking too long.

After you receive a receipt number, you can then use it to check the status of your application or petition at any time in various ways, as follows:

Way 1: Checking your USCIS case status online

This is the fastest way to check the status of your USCIS case. To do so, you can use the USCIS online case status tracker here. egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

Of course, you’ll have to create your account, so you’ll be notified regarding the case updates via your email.

To start checking your case status, you’ll need your receipt number, which you can enter in the available box on the page.

Make sure to enter your receipt number without spaces between the characters.

Then, you can click the “Check Status” button.

The new page will bring up the status of your case.

Way 2: Checking your USCIS case status by phone or email

You can also use your receipt number to check the status of your USCIS case via phone or email.

Call USCIS representatives at +1 (800) 375-5283. After dialing, you should follow the prompts. Keep in mind that you may not directly speak with a USCIS officer since you’re in a long queue, so make sure to wait a while before getting connected to the USCIS system.

If you prefer to request your case status via email, you need to send it to the email address appropriate to the service center that processes your application.

Here are some of them:

• • California Service Center — csc-ncsc-followup@dhs.gov
  • Nebraska Service Center—ncscfollowup.nsc@dhs.gov
  • Texas Service Center—tsc.ncscfollowup@dhs.gov
  • Vermont Service Center—vsc.ncscfollowup@dhs.gov

However, USCIS cannot provide an update on your case status to you by email if they have forwarded your case to the National Visa Center (NVC) at the Department of State for further processing. To get your case updated, you can check your visa status with the NVC in that case.

Way 3: Using the USCIS online account system

USCIS will usually manage the processing of your case through their online account system for some immigration applications, such as Form I-90: Application for Replacement Permanent Resident Card.

Of course, they will automatically create you an online account and send you a letter containing all the account details. Once you have an account in the USCIS online system, you will always receive the latest updates about your application in your email.

Way 4: Using the USCIS e-Request Portal

Last, you can also use your USCIS receipt number if you want to ask further questions about the status of your case.

What you can do is submit an inquiry using the USCIS e-Request portal if:

• • You just moved and need to update your USCIS address.
  • Your USCIS case is outside standard processing times.
  • You made a typo in your application and want to fix it.
  • You have not received notices and other documents related to your USCIS case, such as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), biometric appointment notice, or green card, in the mail.

How to Understand Your USCIS Receipt Number

You do not have to understand what is on your USCIS receipt number. Actually, this is a combination of numbers and letters. And here’s the order:

The USCIS service center which processed your application à the fiscal year à workday when your USCIS opened your case à your case number

Let’s take a look at what is in each USCIS receipt number!

Service Center

Your receipt number will begin with three letters which are the codes for different service centers. These actually represent where your case is processed. Each USCIS service center has its own code. Here they are:

• • CSC – California Service Center
  • EAC – Eastern Adjudication Center (Vermont Service Center)
  • LIN – Lincoln Service Center (Nebraska Service Center)
  • NSC – Nebraska Service Center
  • SRC – Southern Regional Center (Texas Service Center)
  • NBC – National Benefits Center
  • MSC – Missouri Service Center (National Benefits Center)
  • TSC – Texas Service Center
  • VSC – Vermont Service Center
  • WAC – Western Adjudication Center (California Service Center)
  • IOE – USCIS Electronic Immigration System (ELIS)

So, if your receipt number starts with, for example, “LIN,” it means that your application is processed at the Lincoln Service Center.

Fiscal Year

The three-letter service center code is followed by the next two characters. These two numbers represent the fiscal year in which USCIS disclosed your case.

The fiscal year has been used by the United States government for immigration purposes, and its uses differ from the usual calendar year. The fiscal year has 12 months, but it starts on October 1 and ends on September 30.

Assuming USCIS received your application in November of USCIS fiscal year 2023 and yours is being processed at the Missouri Service Center. So, your receipt number will read as MSC 23-XXX-XXXX.

Computer Workday

After the fiscal year, the next three numbers, which represent the computer workday when USCIS opened your case.

Computer workdays basically calculate all regular workdays except holidays and weekends. For example, MSC 23 025 XXXXX means the Missouri Service Center opened your case on the 25th business day of the 2023 USCIS fiscal year.

Case Numbers

Lastly, your receipt number displays five numbers, which are unique numbers that USCIS assigns to your case. These numbers are based on the internal calculation system of the USCIS service center handling your case.

For example, MSC 23 025 10201 means that your application is the 10,201st application opened by the Missouri Service Center during the 2023 USCIS fiscal year.

When Will You Receive a USCIS Receipt Number?

When it comes to when you’ll receive a USCIS receipt number, it can vary depending on the type of your immigration application or petition, whether you opt for premium processing or follow the current USCIS’s workload, and also which service center you filed it with.

After about two or three weeks, once you submit your application, USCIS will generally send a receipt number to you. But it is not always the case; some even take longer to receive it.

To check the processing time for any USCIS petition or type of application, you can visit the official USCIS website to get a better idea of when you will receive a decision.

If you haven’t yet received your receipt number, you can call USCIS representatives at 1-800-375-5283. Make sure to tell them about your receipt number. They will usually help you regain your receipt number. Also, you can call the number if you want to make an in-person appointment.

Where Can You Find Your USCIS Receipt Number?

After receiving your receipt number, it’s best for you to check it. And it can be found at the top left corner of the form I-797, a.k.a. receipt notice. Let’s take a look!

The receipt number is different from the USCIS online access code. If the receipt number is to identify a specific application or petition filed with USCIS, the online access code is the number provided to those who have filed specific paper forms with USCIS.

The code is to add your paper-filed cases to your USCIS online accounts, bridging any discrepancies between offline and online submissions. Further, the code can be used to monitor your application status, gain electronic updates, and administer details of the case papers you submitted previously.

After you’ve received a receipt number, you can outline the important information for your application.

What If Your USCIS Receipt Number is Lost?

You shouldn’t worry if you lose your receipt number. This can be recovered easily, as long as you immediately call USCIS representatives at 1-800-375-5283 as soon as you realize your receipt number is missing.

When talking to them, make sure to explain your situation as clearly as possible. They will certainly help you schedule an appointment with USCIS here (my.uscis.gov/en/appointment/v2). This could be the only way to gain face-to-face access with USCIS employees.

In most cases, USCIS will not accept applicants who do not make an appointment in advance. During the appointment, you can ask questions about your case and request your receipt number. If necessary, you can bring your passport or other valid identity document to your appointment.

Conclusion

Your USCIS receipt number is very important since it can be used to track the progress of your USCIS application and case status. Sure, you may need to provide a receipt number for your immigration application or petition in the future.

That’s why you have to keep your receipt notification because it contains your receipt number and subsequent approval notification in a safe place, either electronically or physically stored in a fireproof box.