Decode your USCIS case status and know exactly what action to take next.
Go to egov.uscis.gov/casestatus
The official USCIS case status tool. Free, no login required.
Enter your receipt number
Found on Form I-797 Notice of Action (top right). Format: EAC-25-123-45678
Set up e-Notification
Sign up at my.uscis.gov for email/text alerts when your case status changes.
Case Status Dictionary
Case Was Received
USCIS received your petition. Receipt notice (I-797C) will be mailed within 2–3 weeks.
Save the receipt number (e.g., EAC-25-xxx-xxxxx). Set up e-Notification at uscis.gov.
Case Was Rejected
Your petition was rejected before being accepted for processing, usually due to a fee or form error.
Review the rejection notice carefully. Refile with corrected forms/fees. The filing date resets.
Fingerprint Fee Was Received
Biometrics fee was received (common for adjustment of status, not typical for H1B).
Wait for biometrics appointment notice.
Request for Evidence Was Sent
USCIS needs more evidence before deciding. You have 87 days to respond (or as noted in the RFE).
Work with your attorney immediately. Draft a comprehensive response with supporting evidence. Missing the deadline = denial.
Response to Request for Evidence Was Received
USCIS received your RFE response and is reviewing it.
No action needed. Processing continues, expect a decision within 60–90 days typically.
Case Was Approved
Your H1B petition was approved. I-797 approval notice will be mailed.
Verify the validity dates on the I-797 approval. If outside US, schedule consulate appointment for visa stamp.
Case Was Denied
Your H1B petition was denied.
Request a copy of the denial notice. Consider filing a Motion to Reconsider (I-290B) or filing a new petition. Consult an attorney.
Notice Was Mailed
A notice (approval, denial, RFE, receipt) was mailed to the attorney/petitioner address on file.
If you haven't received the notice after 2 weeks, contact USCIS.
Case Was Transferred and a New Office Has Jurisdiction
Your case was moved to a different service center.
Your original receipt number is still valid. Check USCIS for the new estimated processing time at the new center.
Case Is Being Actively Reviewed by USCIS
An officer is actively reviewing your case.
No action needed. This typically appears near the end of adjudication.
Interview Was Scheduled
An interview has been scheduled (more common for I-485 AOS).
Prepare all original documents. Bring copies of everything in your petition.
Case Was Reopened
A previously closed or denied case has been reopened for review.
No action needed unless USCIS requests additional evidence.
Withdrawal Acknowledgement Was Emailed
Your withdrawal request was acknowledged.
Confirm the case is fully withdrawn and update employment records accordingly.
The primary method for checking your H1B petition status is the USCIS Case Status Online tool. It is free, does not require a login or account, and is updated daily, though as noted above, status updates can lag several weeks behind actual processing events at the service center.
To use the tool, you need your receipt number, a 13-character alphanumeric code found on your Form I-797 Notice of Action. The format is three letters (identifying the service center), followed by two digits (fiscal year), followed by three digits (day of year), followed by five digits (sequence number). Example: EAC-25-042-51234. Note that when entering the receipt number online, you typically omit the dashes.
The official USCIS Case Status Online tool is located at egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do. This is the only authoritative source for case status, third-party "case tracker" sites may display cached or inaccurate information.
For more proactive monitoring, create an account at my.uscis.gov and link your receipt number. USCIS will send email and SMS notifications whenever your case status changes. This is particularly useful during the 90-day window after RFE response submission, when decisions typically come in quickly.
Additionally, USCIS publishes processing times by form type and service center. As of early 2026, I-129 H1B extension processing at the Vermont Service Center averages 3–5 months without premium processing. Checking the processing times page at uscis.gov/processing-times before submitting an inquiry helps you determine whether your case is truly delayed or within normal range. The USCIS filing fees page has current fee schedules including premium processing costs.
USCIS uses standardized status messages to communicate the stage of your case. Below is a comprehensive reference table covering all 15 common H1B-related status codes, their meaning, and the action you should take. Some statuses require immediate action (particularly RFE and denial notices), while others are purely informational.
| Status Code | Type | What It Means | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Was Received | Info | USCIS accepted and is processing your petition. | Save receipt number; set e-Notification. |
| Case Was Rejected | Action | Petition rejected before intake, fee or form error. | Refile with corrections immediately. |
| Request for Evidence Sent | Urgent | USCIS needs more evidence within 87 days. | Engage attorney; respond before RFE deadline. |
| RFE Response Received | Info | USCIS received your RFE response. | Wait; decision expected within 60–90 days. |
| Case Was Approved | Approved | Petition approved; I-797 approval notice mailed. | Verify dates; schedule consulate if abroad. |
| Case Was Denied | Action | Petition denied. | Request denial notice; consult attorney on MTR. |
| Notice Was Mailed | Info | A notice was sent to attorney/petitioner address. | Check mailbox; contact USCIS if not received in 2 weeks. |
| Case Transferred, New Office Has Jurisdiction | Info | Case moved to a different USCIS service center. | No action; check updated processing times. |
| Actively Reviewed by USCIS | Info | An officer is actively adjudicating. | No action needed; resolution imminent. |
| Interview Scheduled | Info | In-person interview required (rare for H1B; common for I-485). | Bring all original documents to interview. |
| Case Reopened | Info | Previously closed case reopened for review. | Wait; respond if USCIS issues new RFE. |
| Biometrics Appointment Scheduled | Info | Fingerprint/biometrics appointment scheduled. | Attend appointment with appointment notice and ID. |
| Withdrawal Acknowledged | Info | Employer withdrew the petition. | Confirm status with employer; plan next H1B if needed. |
| Card Was Produced | Approved | EAD or GC card has been produced and will be mailed. | Track USPS delivery; check card details upon receipt. |
| Card Was Delivered by USPS | Approved | Card physically delivered to mailing address. | Verify card details match your petition; report errors to USCIS. |
Of all status codes, "Request for Evidence Was Sent" demands the fastest response. The RFE deadline is printed on the RFE itself, typically 87 days from the RFE issue date. Submitting a late RFE response is treated as abandonment, resulting in automatic denial. In FY2024, USCIS issued RFEs on approximately 11% of all H1B petitions, with the highest RFE rates for IT consulting (staffing) firms and Level I wage petitions.
Your USCIS case status and your actual immigration status are two different things. You can have an approved H1B petition on file but still be out of status if your I-94 has expired. The I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) is the authoritative document determining how long you are authorized to remain in the United States.
Since 2013, I-94 records are maintained electronically by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). You can retrieve your most recent I-94 at the CBP I-94 website (i94.cbp.dhs.gov). Enter your passport information to retrieve your current admission record, authorized stay end date, and class of admission (should show H-1B for H1B workers).
Key things to verify on your I-94:
Class of Admission
Should read 'H-1B', not H-4, B-1, or another category
Admit Until Date
Must be in the future. If expired, you may be accruing unlawful presence
Entry Port and Date
Verify the most recent entry reflects your actual travel, CBP errors are more common than you think
Passport Number
Confirm the I-94 record reflects your current valid passport, not an expired one
If your I-94 shows an expired admit-until date but your H1B extension was filed timely (before expiry), you are protected under the 240-day cap. You may continue working for up to 240 days beyond the I-94 expiry while the extension is pending, but only if you remain in the US. Traveling internationally with an expired I-94, even under 240-day cap, is extremely risky, as you may not be admitted back.
Errors in I-94 records do occur. If your I-94 admission date or admitted-until date is incorrect, you can request a correction at a nearby CBP deferred inspection site or at a port of entry. Uncorrected I-94 errors can affect future visa applications and USCIS petitions.
H1B petition processing delays are common, USCIS regularly faces backlogs that push standard processing beyond published timelines. In FY2025, some I-129 H1B extensions at the Vermont Service Center exceeded 8 months without premium processing. If your case appears stuck, the 5-step escalation process below provides a structured approach from self-service options to congressional intervention.
Verify you are outside normal processing time
Go to the USCIS Check Case Processing Times tool at uscis.gov/processing-times. Enter your form type (I-129) and service center. If your case is within the published range, no action is needed yet, USCIS processes cases in the order received.
Submit an e-Request (Case Inquiry)
If your case has exceeded the published processing time, submit a case inquiry at e-request.uscis.gov. USCIS will review your case and respond within 30 days. This is the first formal escalation step and does not require an attorney.
Request an Expedite (if you qualify)
USCIS considers expedite requests for severe financial loss, emergency or urgent humanitarian situations, nonprofit organization requests, Department of Defense interests, and USCIS error. Premium processing is the most reliable option if your employer is willing to pay the $2,805 fee for a 15-business-day decision.
Have your attorney file a Service Request (SR)
Your immigration attorney can submit a formal Service Request to the service center handling your case. An SR generates an internal USCIS inquiry ticket and often prompts a response within 30–60 days. Attorneys can also escalate via the USCIS National Customer Service Center (NCSC).
Contact your Congressional representative
If your case remains stuck after 6+ months beyond the published processing time, your Congressional representative's constituent services office can submit a congressional inquiry to USCIS on your behalf. This carries significant weight and often produces a response within 2–4 weeks.
H1B status tracking responsibilities differ between employees and employers. Both parties should monitor case status actively, but they focus on different aspects and have different action triggers.
For H1B Employees
• Check USCIS case status weekly, especially after RFE response submission
• Download and save your I-94 record every time you re-enter the US
• Verify I-797 approval notice dates match your expected petition period
• Keep copies of all immigration documents (passport, I-797, I-94, LCA)
• Set up e-Notification at my.uscis.gov for real-time status alerts
• Know your I-94 expiry date, it controls your authorized stay, not the visa stamp
• Consult your attorney immediately if status changes to Denied or RFE Sent
For H1B Employers / HR
• Maintain an immigration tracker for each H1B employee with petition and I-94 expiry dates
• File extension petitions at least 6 months before I-94 expiry
• Notify employees of receipt notices immediately (portability requires receipt)
• Ensure LCA Public Access File is maintained and up to date
• Track RFE deadlines, missing an RFE deadline causes automatic denial
• File H1B amendments promptly when worksite or duties change materially
• Withdraw petitions when employees terminate, promptly and in writing
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Sumit Patel
SMIEEE · FBCS · FIETE | 16+ years data engineering | 30+ peer-reviewed papers
Sumit built H1BVisaJobs.com on 10 GB+ of DOL LCA disclosure data (FY2022–FY2025). All immigration data and analysis on this site comes from primary government sources.