What is a USCIS receipt number?

When you file an application or petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), once your application or petition is accepted, USCIS will assign a unique 13-character receipt number.

The receipt number consists of three letters followed by 10 numbers (for example EAC2011555055). All receipt numbers begin with three letters that represent the USCIS Service Center or the location that received the case. The USCIS Service Centers receive and process a large variety of applications and petitions that applicants have mailed, filed online, or filed with a USCIS Lockbox.

Here is a list of the three-letter acronym or code for the USCIS Service Centers:

CSC – California Service Center
EAC – Eastern Adjudication Center (now known as Vermont Service Center)
IOE – ELIS (e-Filing)
LIN – Lincoln Service Center (now known as Nebraska Service Center)
MSC – Missouri Service Center (now known as National Benefits Center)
NBC – National Benefits Center
NSC – Nebraska Service Center
SRC – Southern Regional Center (now known as Texas Service Center)
TSC – Texas Service Center
VSC – Vermont Service Center
WAC – Western Adjudication Center (now known as California Service Center)
YSC – Potomac Service Center

How do I find my USCIS receipt number?

After accepting your application or petition, to confirm your case is now pending and that your filing fee (if any) was received, USCIS will respond by mailing you Form I-797C, Notice of Action. This receipt notice shows the receipt number assigned to your case that is used to identify and track the case.

Consequently, the receipt number will appear on any future communications from USCIS regarding the same application or petition (for example Biometric Services Appointment, Request for Evidence, Final Decision, etc.).

If you file Form G-1145 (E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance) with your package, USCIS will send you an e-notification (email or text message) with your receipt number. As mentioned above, USCIS will also mail you a Receipt Notice (Form I-797C), which you will receive approximately 3 weeks after submitting your application or petition (assuming there are no delays by USCIS in issuing receipt notices). This notice is proof of your pending application or petition.

The receipt number is typically found in the top left corner of receipt notices, but sometimes you can find them a little more in the middle of the receipt notices - but always at the top of the page.

How do I use my USCIS receipt number to check the status of my case?

To check the status of your USCIS case, it is very important to have your receipt number since it is the best way to identify and track the case. You can easily check the status of your application or petition online by visiting the USCIS "Check Case Status" page, entering your 13-character receipt number, and pressing the "Check Status" button. By using this tool, you can get information regarding the last action taken on your case and/or the next steps, if applicable.

If you need live assistance, you will need the receipt number when calling the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833). Also, it’s very important to include the receipt number in any e-mail or mail correspondence you may prepare to send to USCIS regarding your pending case; and it is also good to have the receipt number if you visit one of the USCIS local offices in person.  

How do I read my USCIS receipt number?

Some of the cases filed at USCIS have the type of receipt number format shown in the example below. But most of the cases have a totally different format and for that reason trying to read or understand your receipt number is not all that important. The one thing in common on ALL receipt numbers is that they begin with a three-letter acronym or code, as previously mentioned.

Let’s take a look at a receipt number format example:

Location

The three-letter acronym or code represents the USCIS Service Center or location that received the case.

Fiscal Year

The second set of digits represent the fiscal year in which the case was received. USCIS’s fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30.

Computer Workday

The third set of digits indicates the computer workday on which the case was opened. 001 is October 1, the first working day of the fiscal year. A computer workday is really a business day, and it excludes most Saturdays, all Sundays, and holidays. Toward the end of the fiscal year in September, the number goes up to around 265.

Case Number

The final set of five digits is the assigned case number based on the order in which the case was received.

Please note that some of the receipt numbers have a totally different format, and there is nothing to worry about if your USCIS receipt number does not follow the above-mentioned format.

What can I do if my receipt number is lost?

If you have lost or cannot find your receipt number, you can call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 or 1-800-767-1833 (TTY) and try to explain your situation; hopefully, the USCIS Representative can help you retrieve your receipt number. Another idea is if you paid by check or money order you can request a copy of the canceled check and there is a possibility that you may find your receipt number on the back of the canceled check.

POSTED BY: ADMIN