What Happens After You File Your Application With USCIS?

I am not an attorney. This is not legal advice. All this information is also found on www.uscis.gov

Once your application has been mailed or submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the waiting process begins. What happens next will depend on the type of application or petition you filed, but most cases will go through several of the steps below.

It is important to remember that every immigration case is different. Some cases move quickly, while others may remain pending for months or even years. Understanding the process can help you know what to expect and recognize when USCIS may require something from you.

Receipt Notice

After USCIS receives and accepts your application for processing, you should receive a Receipt Notice, usually Form I-797, Notice of Action.

Your receipt notice is an important document because it confirms that USCIS received your filing and provides your receipt number. You can use this number to check the status of your case online and to communicate with USCIS about your pending application.

Keep your original receipt notice in a safe place. You may need it throughout the immigration process and for future applications.

If it has been more than four weeks since you mailed your application and you have not received a receipt notice, USCIS provides Lockbox Support for certain filing-related inquiries. See "Lockbox Filing Information" on uscis.

Helpful Tip: Keep a complete copy of everything you submit to USCIS, along with proof of mailing or delivery (your fedex or usps tracking number). This can be extremely helpful if there is ever a question about whether or when your application was received.

Biometrics Appointment

USCIS may require you to attend a biometrics appointment at an Application Support Center. During this appointment, USCIS may collect your fingerprints, photograph, and signature so that required identity and background checks can be completed.

If biometrics are required, USCIS will send you an appointment notice containing the date, time, and location of your appointment, along with instructions about what you should bring.

In some cases, USCIS may be able to reuse biometrics that were previously collected. If that happens, you may receive a notice informing you that you do not need to attend a new appointment.

Important: Do not ignore a biometrics notice. Missing an appointment without properly addressing it may delay your case and, in some circumstances, could result in USCIS treating the application as abandoned.

For information on how to prepare for your biometrics appointment, visit the USCIS page at: "Preparing for your Biometric Service Appointment"

Case Review

After your application has been accepted, USCIS will review the forms and supporting documents you submitted.

There may be long periods during this stage when you do not receive any new notices. This does not necessarily mean that something is wrong with your case. Many applications simply remain pending while USCIS completes background checks, reviews documents, and waits for an officer to become available to adjudicate the case.

You can use your USCIS receipt number to periodically check your case status by visiting: "Case Status Online"

Interview

Depending on the type of application you filed, USCIS may schedule you for an interview. Not every application requires one.

If an interview is required, USCIS will send you a notice providing the date, time, and location. The notice may also contain instructions regarding documents you should bring with you.

Before attending your interview, review the application and supporting documents that were submitted in your case. You should be prepared to answer questions about the information contained in your application and provide updated information when appropriate.

If anything important has changed since your application was filed, such as your address, marital status, employment, or other circumstances, you should determine whether USCIS needs to be notified.

Request for Evidence (RFE)

If USCIS determines that it needs additional information or documentation before making a decision, it may issue a Request for Evidence, commonly called an RFE.

An RFE will explain what USCIS believes is missing or what additional evidence it wants you to provide. The notice will also contain a deadline for your response.

Read the entire RFE carefully. USCIS may request several different documents or explanations in the same notice.

It is important to respond by the deadline and to address everything USCIS has requested. Failing to respond, submitting an incomplete response, or missing the deadline may result in your application being denied.

Keep a complete copy of your RFE response and proof that it was timely submitted.

Other USCIS Notices

An RFE is not the only notice you may receive while your case is pending. Depending on your case, USCIS may send additional correspondence, including appointment notices, transfer notices, requests for additional information, or other case-related instructions.

For this reason, do not assume that every letter from USCIS is simply a status update. Open USCIS correspondence promptly and read the entire notice, especially if it contains a deadline or appointment date.

If you do not understand what USCIS is requesting, consider seeking assistance before responding.

Decision

Once USCIS has completed its review, you will receive a written decision regarding your case.

Depending on the type of application and the circumstances of your case, USCIS may approve or deny the application. In some cases, additional action may be required before a final decision is made.

If your application is approved, carefully review the approval notice and keep it with your permanent immigration records. USCIS will typically send you a decision for each application you filed separately.

If your application is denied, read the decision carefully. The notice should explain the reason for the denial and may provide information regarding any available motion, appeal, or other next steps. You should consult an attorney if you don't understand the reason for the denial and to determine if you are eligible to file an appeal or to re-file your application. Remember that most appeals have a 30 day deadline if you wish to appeal.

Processing Times

USCIS processing times can vary significantly depending on:

The type of application or petition filed;
The USCIS office or service center handling the case;
The complexity of the application;
Whether additional evidence or an interview is required; and
Current USCIS workloads.

Two people who file similar applications may not necessarily receive decisions at the same time.

USCIS publishes estimated processing times for many applications. These estimates can be helpful for understanding approximately how long a case may take, but they are not guarantees.

If your case appears to be outside the normal processing time, you may be able to submit a case inquiry to USCIS.

Checking Your Case Status

Your receipt number allows you to check the status of your pending application through USCIS's online case-status system.

Keep in mind that online case-status updates do not always provide detailed information. Sometimes the status may remain unchanged for a long period even though your application is still being processed.

Your mailed USCIS notices remain extremely important, particularly when they contain an appointment date, request for evidence, or response deadline.

Change of Address

If you move while your application is pending, you should notify USCIS of your new address as soon as possible.

Changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service does not automatically update your address with USCIS. You must follow USCIS procedures for reporting your new address.

This is especially important while you have a pending immigration matter. USCIS may mail important notices regarding biometrics appointments, interviews, requests for evidence, and decisions. Missing one of these notices could delay your case or cause you to miss an important deadline.

If you have more than one pending application or petition, make sure that your address has been properly updated for each applicable case.

Keep Your Immigration Records

Do not throw away USCIS notices after your case is completed.

Whenever possible, maintain a permanent immigration file containing copies of:

Applications and petitions you submitted;
USCIS receipt and approval notices;
Requests for Evidence and your responses;
Interview and biometrics notices;
Immigration documents issued to you;
Proof of mailing and delivery; and
Other important correspondence relating to your immigration history.

These documents may become important years later when applying for another immigration benefit, renewing a document, applying for permanent residence, or eventually applying for U.S. citizenship.

While Your Case Is Pending

One of the most important things you can do is stay informed and organized.

Check your mail regularly, keep your address current, save copies of your immigration documents, and pay attention to every USCIS deadline. If USCIS sends you a notice that you do not understand, do not wait until the deadline is approaching to seek help.

Immigration cases often involve long periods of waiting, but that does not mean you should forget about your application after it has been filed. Keeping good records and responding promptly when USCIS contacts you can help prevent unnecessary problems or delays.