How to Track Your Green Card Status: A Complete Guide

If you are also seeking a green card for the United States, then this blog might be of a lot of use. Applying for a Green card is one thing, but tracking its status is a totally different process. There are so many ways to track your green card status, and there are also many factors on which it depends. So, to simplify the whole process and help you out regarding this, we have curated this piece of information.

In this comprehensive guide, we have provided the process to track the status of your green card application by different methods, such as by mail, phone, email, etc. In this blog, you will also learn about the ways to register yourself for electronic updates from the US government and what to do if your green card is delayed.

How to Check Green Card Status?

There are several ways in which you can check the status of your green card, such as:

• Online
• By Email
• By Mail
• In-person
• By Phone

The options for checking the status depend on whether you are applying from outside the US using the Form DS-260, known as Immigrant Visa Electronic Application, or from within the US using the Form I-485, known as Application to Register Permanent Residence. 

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Know your Green Card Status Online

Tracking your green card status online is one of the easiest ways, and it is recommended by the USCIS as the first step. The correct place to look depends on the location where you have applied, within or outside the US.

Applied from within the US

1. Keep your Receipt number handy.
2. Visit the Case status online tracker of USCIS.
3. Enter the receipt number.
4. Click on the option “Check Status”.

Applied from outside the US

1. Keep your Immigrant Visa Case Number. 
2. Visit the Consular Electronic Application Center of NVC. 
3. Click on the option Check My Visa Application Status.
4. In the first field, select the visa application type as Immigrant Visa (IV). 
5. Now, enter your immigrant visa case number. 
6. Lastly, enter the computer-generated code displayed on the screen and submit. 

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Where to Find Tracking Numbers?

There are two ways in which you can find your tracking numbers:

Receipt Numbers 

When you submit a Form to the USCIS, you receive a unique code known as “Receipt Number”. This number is also known as a green card number, and it includes 3 alphabetic letters and 10 numbers, such as ABC0123456789. 

When the USCIS accepts your Form I-485, you will receive a notification letter that is Form I-797C (Notice of Action). You can find the receipt number in this letter.

Case Numbers

Similar to the USCIS receipt number, the case number also has the same pattern. It contains 3 letters and 10 numbers, such as XYZ1234567891. The only difference is that it is issued by the NVC. 

You can find this number in the email and the notification letter sent by the NVC. When the USCIS receives and accepts your Form I-130 and forwards this information to the NVC, you will receive this letter. 

NOTE: For all the applicants who are living outside the US: You have to contact the NVC at least once a year; otherwise, they can terminate your green card application. You will have to start the process all over again and pay the government fee a second time. 

Know Your Green Card Status By Mail

Here are the ways by which you can track the status of your green card application by mail:

Applied from within or outside the US

If you want to track the status of your green card by mail, then you have to sign up for a Case Status Online Account. By this, you will have access to case updates and the tracking number given by USPS. You can also register yourself for an Informed Delivery from USPS. It allows the following:

• You can set the email and message alerts from USPS.
• You can provide specific instructions to the mail carrier.
• You can automatically track the package or mail you are going to receive.

Ensure that you have provided a correct mailing address, and kindly check your physical mailbox regularly. The Government of the United States directly mails the official notifications to the address you have provided them with:

• Form I-485 (if applied within the US)
• Form I-130 or Form I-140
• Form DS-261 (if applied outside the US)

What to do if the physical address is changed after applying for a green card?

If your address has changed after you have applied for the green card, then it is necessary to update the government within 10 days so that you don’t miss any important updates.

1. If applied within the US: You can update your address online by using the website of USCIS or refer to their guidelines for submitting an address change by mail. 
2. If applied outside the US: You need to send a message to the NVC about your new address or call the number: 1-603-334-0700. 

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Track Green Card Status By Email

You can check the status of your green card application by Email, depending on where you have applied from:

Applied from within the US

You do not have any option to inquire about your green card application via Email. 

Applied from outside the US

Submit the questions regarding the status of your application to NVC using the online form available on the website. The representatives of NVC will respond through email to all your submitted questions. 

Required Information:

• Your name and birthdate
• Name of your sponsoring employer or relative
• NVC case number or USCIS receipt number

Ways to Check Green Card Status In Person

You can check the status of your green card application in person, depending on where you have applied from:

Applied from within the US

In 2019, the USCIS started online scheduling to visit certain field offices in person to get updates about the green card. But this system, Infopass, is not available now for in-person appointments. You can check the track processing times or case status online at the field office. 

Here is the process:

1. Call USCIS contact center at 1-800-375-5283. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, then call TTY: 1-800-767-1833. 
2. Choose to speak with a ‘Tier 1’ representative:

• If the representative of tier 1 is not able to assist you at the time of your call, then your line will be transferred to the tier 2 representative. You need to call them back later.
• If the Tier 2 representative is also not available for you to assist, then you need to visit the nearest USCIS field office to schedule the in-person appointment.

Applied from outside the US

For the applicants who have applied from outside the US, they do not have any option to inquire about their green card status in person. Hence, the option to schedule an appointment is not available for them at a selected location. You can use the other options to track the green card application status. 

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How to Check Green Card Status By Phone

You can check the status of your green card application by phone, depending on where you have applied from:

Applied from within the US

You can contact the USCIS Center at: 1-800-375-5283. If you have some kind of speech impairment or you are deaf, then you can call TTY at: 1-800-767-1833.

Required information is:

• Your name and birthdate
• USCIS receipt number and Alien registration number (if any)

Applied from outside the US

You can contact NVC at: +1-603-334-0700. 

Required Information is:

• USCIS receipt number or NVC case number
• Name and Birthdate
• Email Address
• Name of the sponsoring employer or relative

How To Get Electronic Updates?

When the US government accepts your Form for the green card application, they will notify you once about it via mail. You can also request that they receive the notification via email or text. Here are the ways:

Applied from within the US

If you want to get a one-time update about the form acceptance by USCIS

To receive an email or text notification from USCIS, you need to fill out the Form G-1145, which is called e-Notification of Application or Petition Acceptance. 

If you want to get continuous updates and access to the application history

You need to make a USCIS online account first and accept the terms and conditions. Then, choose the method of contact: email, text, or both. Apart from the automatic updates, you can visit the website’s dashboard anytime and get the updates for the green card application and your entire application history. 

Applied from outside the US

For receiving the continuous updates about the NVC’s actions

If you want to receive the automated updates and be designated as an ‘agent’, then you have to complete the Form DS-261. You can also inquire with the NVC about your application. Choose the agent who has reliable contact information. The following people can be your agent:

• Yourself
• A friend
• Sponsoring relative/employer
• Another relative
• Immigration professional
• Your attorney
• A trustful person

For accessing the application history and the next steps

You have to log in to the website of CEAC. Then you will be asked to enter the displayed code and your application information. 

• Case Number from NVC
• Enter the invoice ID mentioned in the NVC bills. In case you don’t have the invoice ID, then enter the birthdate of the applicant. 

Check on a Delayed Green Card Application

As per the government of the United States, if you apply from within the US, then you will be provided with the wait time estimates, and if you apply from outside the US, then you will be provided with a Visa Bulletin. If your application for the green card exceeds the usual processing time and you haven’t received any updates in the last 2 months since your last update, then you are allowed to take the actions mentioned below:

Applied within the US

1. Visit the USCIS official page and select “Case outside normal processing time”.
2. Fill out the Form mentioned under “case information.”
3. Check the box saying whether you or your spouse is a current or former member of the military. 
4. Click on the Submit button. 

Required information from you or your sponsoring employer/relative:

• Form number and category type (family or employment-based)
• Receipt number from USCIS
• Date on which you filled the form, and it was accepted by USCIS
• Name and DOB
• A- number (if any)
• Mailing Address and Email Address
• A description of the US government’s last update

Applied outside the US

• Kindly verify that you have paid the correct fees and submitted all the required documents. 
• If you have submitted the correct documents and fees and still have no updates, then contact the National Visa Center by phone or via an online inquiry. 

Why Choose Visament?

There are various methods by which you can check the status of your green card, as mentioned in this blog. If you still face some issues regarding the application for a green card or checking its status, then you can contact Visament. We have a professional team that helps all our clients with their applications and with other immigration services. 

Our platform provides real-time updates about the services you have chosen. You can also get customer support 24/7 from our side, so that you are not left with queries. Choose Visament now for the expertise, fast approvals, and affordable prices.