This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions that we come across. Thankfully, USCIS periodically updates the processing times for the vast majority of the cases they handle. All you need to know in order to check the processing time for your particular case is your case type and your processing center.
Your case type should be listed on your receipt notice, towards the top of the document. At times, you will also need the category under which you are applying, which can also be found within the receipt notice. See the example below.
You will also need to know which processing center is assigned to your case or, in the case of an adjustment of status or naturalization, which field office will be conducting your interview. The processing center should also be listed on the receipt notice, on the bottom left. Unless you receive a “transfer notice,” which is when USCIS decides to relocate your file to another center, the place listed on the receipt should handle your case. See the example below.
Knowing this information, you should have everything you need to check the USCIS processing times for your specific case. You can check this information here. Once you enter the information, the system should give you the timeframe in which they complete the majority of the cases.
On this page you can also check and see if your case is going beyond the normal processing times. Just scroll down and enter the date in which your case was filed (the “received date” listed on your receipt). If the system believes your case is taking too long, it will give you the option to submit a Service Request, this way an immigration officer can look into your case and try to figure out why it is taking too long.
Please note that for most immigration cases, there is at least one agency involved, USCIS. If the case requires the person to wait for a visa to become available, then the US Department of State’s National Visa Center will be involved. For cases where the applicant is or has been in removal proceedings, it is likely that the Immigration Court will be involved as well. These other agencies have their own internal processing times and timelines, which are a lot more difficult to ascertain than in the case of USCIS.
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