When it comes to immigration, the United States government is cooperative enough to cater to an applicant with all the information that is needed to review his case. Depending on each case, the information provided would include providing for additional relevant documents that could support your application as well as other important aspects pertaining to a case. In order to be updated with the latest communication from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), it is important to provide with the correct mailing address so that the updates are delivered on time for timely action. This means that incase the mailing address has changed; it has to be informed ASAP with the concerned authorities so that the communication pertaining to an immigration case is not delivered at the wrong address.
Those who have already filed their application with the USCIS, they can check their status at regular intervals with the help of a Receipt Number which is issued to them. So, it is important to retain this number. Commonly known as the Case Status, it is a mode by which the applications are kept a track on. However, this is only relevant to those applications that have been filed with the USCIS. Also, this system of Case Status is not valid for applicants who have applied for a passport. This is because issues pertaining to passports are handled by the Department of State.
The process for the application is started after filing the application with the USCIS. As per the USCIS, the trend followed for processing depends on the time of submission. Thus, they are processed in the order of receiving to keep it fair. The timelines for processing varies depending on the type of application or petition that has been filed. The case receipt could be used to find out the case status.
After receiving the application, a receipt notice would be mailed to the applicant by the USCIS Service Centre or by the National Benefits Centre. All the important details pertaining to the case that are needed would be mentioned in this receipt. Make sure to find that 13 digit number which is known as the immigration case receipt number. This receipt would be printed on top of the application for immigration and other accompanying notices for applications.
It has to be noted that all the receipt numbers start with three letters in the beginning. Incase, any case number for an application has not obtained or might have been lost it, then the applicant must contact the Customer Service Center of the USCIS.
All the applications are processed by the category of visa preference which involves the order by which they have been submitted. The timelines for processing could be checked at the USCIS website based on which you can decide whether a decision pertaining to the application is overdue or not. However, there are some cases which would take a longer period of time to reach a decision. Also, the case would be given due consideration with the help of the receipt number only if the processing timelines have passed by.
Apart from the above, the USCIS also caters to Premium Processing Service. This service pertains to speedy application processing for petitions and applications related to employment. Since the USCIS understands that circumstances could change and so, this service is made available even after filling the application. Based on the case, special discretion is also maintained by the Director of the USCIS.
