What is the Process For Checking the Status of a Green Card Application?

Once you’ve completed your green card application and submitted all the forms, it’s time to wait for your application to be processed and your results decided. This can be a nerve-wracking thing, especially if you aren’t too sure how long it will take to process your application.

Fortunately, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides a way for you to check the status of your green card application and make inquiries about your case in certain circumstances. Our article gives you more information on this process.

In this guide we will cover these questions:

• Average Green Card Application Processing Times
• How Can I Check the Status of My Green Card Application?
• What Is Processing Time and How Is It Calculated?
• Checking Your Case Status
• Can You Make Inquiries About Your Case Status?
• Where Can You Get a Certified Translation of Green Card Documents?

Average Green Card Application Processing Times

Green card applications can have very long processing times, as there are many different forms and fees associated with this process, not to mention an annual limit on how many of a certain type of green card is awarded. Between the two main green card application types – adjustment of status and consular processing – wait times can vary.

Average processing times for adjustment of status green card applications range between 19 and 35 months, while consular processing green card applications vary between 5 and 13 months. Keep in mind this doesn’t take into account any special circumstances or individual situations; this is simply the average time that approximately 80 percent of cases are processed in.

How Can I Check the Status of My Green Card Application?

The USCIS makes it possible to check the average processing time of the forms required as part of green card applications and your overall application status. We give you more details on processing time and the process of checking the status of your green card application below.

What Is Processing Time and How Is It Calculated?

The processing time of your application is how long it takes the USCIS to complete the application (either by approving it or denying it) from the time that the form was submitted. The USCIS uses a system to calculate the processing time in which they take a certain period of time and look at 80 percent of the applications completed during that time. The average processing time of those applications will then be used to give a general quote of processing time to individuals submitting forms to the USCIS.

Processing times do vary based on the service center completing the form, the type of form submitted, if revisions or further information requests are received, or other special circumstances, such as caps on the number of green card applications that can be received and processed throughout the year.

You can review these frequently asked questions about USCIS processing times to understand more about how the USCIS processes documents and the time it might take to process your green card application.

Additionally, you can check the average form processing times on the USCIS website.

Checking Your Case Status

The USCIS makes it possible to check your green card case status via its website. To see the status of your case, simply head to the ‘check case status‘ tool and input the receipt number of your immigration application, petition, or request. This receipt number is a unique 13-character identifying number received upon the submission of your green card application; the USCIS uses it to track your application as it is processed.

Once you input the receipt number, you can select the option to ‘check status.’ You will then be able to see an overview of your green card application and its general processing status. The USCIS also offers other information to review while your green card application is pending.

Can You Make Inquiries About Your Case Status?

If your green card application is taking much longer than the average anticipated processing time, you may be able to make an inquiry about your case status. Typically, when you check your case’s status online with the USCIS, you will be able to see a date that lists the first available date you are eligible to file an inquiry. This inquiry date is based on the average processing times for your application and the date that you officially submitted your application.

To submit an inquiry about your case status, select the ‘submit an inquiry’ option from the ‘check case status‘ page of the USCIS. You can then select the reason for your inquiry. You will be directed to a form where you fill out your receipt number, your A-number, the date your application was submitted, and other important personal information as part of the inquiry request.

Where Can You Get a Certified Translation of Green Card Documents?

As you work to submit your green card application, you will need to make sure that all of your important documents are translated into English so that the processing of your application isn’t impeded.

You can visit our online store for a certified translation of important documents such as:

• Criminal records
• Birth certificates
• Death certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce decrees
• Academic transcripts

You can order a certified translation of these documents from our online store:

Order Your Certified Translation