students who apply with uscis can receive a confirmation of receipt of the application by text message or email and a paper receipt notice from uscis. text/email confirmation (if requested when applying) is typically received within 7-10 days of application submission. The paper receipt notice is received by USCIS mail typically within 2-3 weeks of application submission.
We advise students to submit their application via US mail. uu. post office or via express courier service (such as fedex, ups, dhl). When sending by express mail, you will have a tracking number that will allow you to confirm that the mail has been delivered to uscis. A separate receipt notice must be received from USCIS to confirm that the application was received.
October 12, 2021 – The CIS Ombudsman’s Office has released a USCIS Contact Center Tip Sheet to provide guidance on how best to use the USCIS phone and online help tools.
February 26, 2021 – USCIS Issues Announcement Providing Some Accommodations for Option Applications Facing Receive Notice Delays (“USCIS Extends Flexibilities to Certain Applicants Who File Form i-765 to opt out”). read the full press release from uscis. February 18, 2021: USCIS posted an update regarding the processing of receipts for long-pending i-765 applications. Confirmed application receipts, when processed, will reflect the actual date the application was received by uscis by mail at the uscis lockbox/center. February 11, 2021: the office of the cis ombudsman issued a statement: “if more than 90 days have passed since you filed a petition/request with uscis, you may file a request for assistance with the case to the cis ombudsman, and our office will contact uscis to resolve your issue. If less than 90 days have passed since you filed a petition/application with uscis, the cis ombudsman will close your application. remember that before contacting the cis ombudsman, you should first try to resolve the issue with uscis. Provide evidence of USCIS contact and agency response, if available, when submitting your request for assistance with the case. [See ISO guidance on how to contact USCIS on pending applications.]January 26, 2021: The American Council on Education (ACE) sent a letter to USDHs addressing delays in opt/stem processing opt in uscis and requesting accommodations. we will be sure to update if uscis issues any action they will take. January 14, 2021: The cis ombudsman’s office released a statement that they are seeing uscis lockbox delays of up to 8 weeks. Students are advised that if an application has been pending for at least 60 days without a receipt notice, to contact USCIS (see guidance below). If uscis does not provide a response within 30 days from that date, contact the cis ombudsman’s office for assistance with the case. January 8, 2021: USCIS has confirmed that application processing times will be based on the actual date the application was received by USCIS in the mail (the “Received Date”). December 11, 2020 – The CIS Ombudsman’s Office has issued a statement that there have been delays in receiving notifications (text messages, emails, and paper notices) from the USCIS Lockbox. that receives applications to uscis. current processing times for receipt notices are taking approximately 4-6 weeks.
Students who do not receive receipt notifications from uscis during the expected time are encouraged to contact uscis directly. There are the following recommendations to check the status of your request and how to contact us:
(1) Check to see if USCIS has processed your application fee payment.
- if you paid by credit card, see if the charge already appears in your account.
- if you paid by personal check, check your bank account (usually available on your bank account) to scan the back of the check. If processed, USCIS will write the USCIS receipt number on the back of the check.
- If you paid by certified bank check or money order, contact the bank or post office that issued the check/money order to confirm if it processed and to obtain a copy of the back of the check/money order to see if the uscis receipt number is printed on the back.
(2) If 60 days have passed since your application was delivered to uscis, call the uscis contact center to see if they can verify receipt of your application (phone number: 800 -375-5283; business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET).
(3) Submit an online inquiry to uscis to notify them that you have not yet received the receipt notice or receipt email/text. go to the uscis case status online webpage (https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do), then scroll down to the “related tools” section and you can click the “submit a case inquiry” box and complete/submit the inquiry form. Students also reported that using the uscis “ask emma” online chat tool (https://www.uscis.gov/ tools) has been helpful.
(4) If a receipt notification has not been received from uscis within 60 days of delivery, individuals can email the uscis lockbox support team (lockboxsupport@uscis. dhs.gov) to request an application status update.
(5) If all actions taken above do not result in receipt of a receipt notice within 90 days of a pending application received by uscis, individuals may file a case assistance form with the office of the cis ombudsman, who will contact uscis for status updates for the application.
If you are still unable to obtain confirmation of receipt of your USCIS application, please contact your ISO advisor for further guidance.