Applying for a green card to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS can be confusing because there are so many terms that you might have not heard before. For example, you see something like “Case Approved” when checking your USCIS case status but you have no idea about it. What is the meaning of “Case Approved”?
The Meaning of USCIS Case Status Approved
If you see a written that says “Case Was Approved” in your USCIS case status, it means your application has been approved by USCIS. In other words, your application has been reviewed by USCIS. Aside from that, your eligibility has also been determined and they also have granted you a green card application. Within a few months, you should get a green card in the mail.
Differences between USCIS Case Statuses
It is important to understand the difference between USCIS case statuses. The explanations are as follows:
- Received: It means your application has been received.
- Processing: It means your application is still in process.
- Approved: It means your application has been approved.
- Denied: It means your application was denied. If your citizenship application was declined by the USCIs, a denial notice indicating an explanation will be issued.
- On hold: It means the USCIS is contacting another agency for review or processing.
- Withdrawn: It means the sponsor or beneficiary withdrew the application before the USCIS completed its case review.
- Request for Evidence (RFE): It means it is a must for you to provide additional information or documentation to USCIS in order for them to continue processing your case.
A Next Thing to Do After Receiving a Decision
After your case status says “Case Approved”, now you can just wait. Within 30 days, a welcome notice should be sent by the USCIS. Then, within 30 days of getting the notice, you should be able to get the green card via mail.
As both official notices and documents, including the welcome notice and green card, are sent by mail by the USCIS, it is a must for you to make sure that the mailing address on file is correct. In case the address is different because you moved during the application process, please update the address. If the address is incorrect, the case status will be one of the followings:
- Card Is Being Returned to USCIS by Post Office
- Card Was Determined As Undeliverable By The Post Office
- Card (or Document) Was Returned to USCIS
All of them mean USCIS does not have your current address on file. In this case, you are suggested to contact USCIS to correct your address and to find out the reason why the card was returned.
Checking USCIS Case Status
There are a few ways to check your USCIS case status, as follows:
Method 1: Visiting the official government website
Visiting the official government website is the best way to check your USCIS status. To get started, make sure to prepare I-797 or receipt notice. Once you have one of them, you can verify your status by following the following guide:
- Firstly, go to the USCIS case status online tool at https://egov.uscis.gov.
- When you are on the page, enter the USCIS receipt number. It is 13 digits long. Make sure to enter the number without any hyphens.
- Do not forget to click on the Check Status button after that.
Method 2: Through the contact center
If you want to check your USCIS case status through the contact center, you can dial 1-800-375-5283. Please prepare your receipt number beforehand. Here is step by step to follow to call the USCIS contact center:
- The first thing that you need to do is to dial 1-800-375-5283.
- Then, you will be asked by the automated voice operator to choose a language that you prefer. Just follow the automated voice instructions to use your preferred language.
- After that, you will be notified if the call volume is high and you will be advised to visit the website to see if they can answer your query using their website services.
- Once you are done hearing the script, you will be asked to describe your needs. It is time for you to say your inquiry or requests in complete sentences and everything will be recognized by the system.
- Please say “Check Status”.
- Then, you will be asked for your receipt number. When getting asked for it, feel free to either say or punch your receipt number into the keypad.
- In the end, the number will be verified by the system for confirmation. They will do it before informing you the status of your case.
In case you are deaf, have difficulty hearing, or have a speech disability, you are recommended to call TTY 1-800-767-1833. As for those who are outside the United States, please call 212-620-3418 instead.
Method 3: Using the mobile app
In addition, you can also check your USCIS case status on your mobile app. Since your receipt number is required to check the status, make sure to prepare it beforehand. You should be able to see the status on your mobile screen after you enter the 13-digit receipt number. Apart from that, the status will also notify you of the next stages, if any.
Tips for Checking the USCIS Case Status
For anyone who wants to check your USCIS case status, you can follow the following tips:
- It is better for you to check the updates regularly.
- Make sure to note important dates, including appointments and interview dates. Do not forget to also meet the deadline specified on your notice.
- Do not hesitate to contact the USCIS in case there is any error or you fail to find something on the official website of USCIS.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, if your USCIS case status says “Case Approved”, it means your application has been approved and it has been reviewed by the USCIS. Besides, it also means that your eligibility has been determined. After finding out that your USCIS case status has been approved, you can just wait for a welcome notice to arrive within 30 days.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
