How To Check Your Green Card Status
Getting a Permanent Residence Address in the US is not an easy job. There are many challenges in the way. As a matter of fact, not everyone is eligible for Green cards. Above that, there is a limitation to the number of green cards that can be issued every year. Having said that, if you are already an applicant of the US green card, here are the different ways in which you can track the status of your green card application.
- Check status online
- Check status by email
- Check status by mail
- Check status on the phone
- Check status in person
Let me explain all these ways to check green card status one by one:
Check status online
The easiest way to check your green card application status is to check it online. The way you do this depends on where you are applying from. If you are applying from within the US, you need to visit the official USCIS website. If you are applying from outside the US, you can check your status from the official website of NVC.
Let’s look into the process of doing this on both the websites:
- Visit USCIS’ “Case Status Online” tracker.
- Enter the Receipt Number that you received from USCIS.
- Click on Check Status.
- Get your Immigrant Visa Case Number.
- Visit the NVC’s Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC)
- Click on Check My Visa Application Status
- Choose “IMMIGRANT VISA (IV)” as the Visa Application Type
- Enter your Immigrant Visa Case Number
- Enter the code you see in the last field and click on submit.
That’s it. That is how you can check your application status online.
Check status by email
Checking your status through email is only applicable to people who are applying from outside the US. There is an online form that you can fill and submit with questions about your application status. You will get a response email from the officials of NVC regarding your status. Before you proceed with the email query, make sure you have the following information with you:
- NVC Case Number
- Your name
- Your birthdate
- Name of your sponsoring employer or relative
Check status by mail
All important documents or forms are sent to the physical mail address for both USCIS and NVC applicants. Make sure to put the correct address details when applying so that you don’t miss out on any important updates about your green card application. In case you are changing the address after you applied for a green card, you have the option to change your address details by getting in touch with the officials of the respective authorities.
Check status on the phone
There are many websites on the internet which claim to be US government sites and deceive people by charging them for the application. The best way to save yourself these kinds of scam websites is to apply for the lottery only at the Dept. of State website.
- For applicants within the US
If you are an applicant within the US, you can call 1-800-375-5283. Before you make any call, be sure to have all the necessary details with you such as your USCIS Receipt Number, your A-Number, your name and your date of birth. - For applicants outside the US
If you are an applicant from outside the US, you can call +1-603-334-0700. This is the official number of NVC. You may be asked some details during the call such as your name, your sponsor’s name, your NVC case number, your email address, etc. Make sure you have them with you before applying.
Check status in person
This option is only applicable to people who reside within the US. If you are applying from outside the US, you can’t check your application status in person.
Here’s the process for scheduling an InfoPass appointment at a domestic USCIS field office:
- Visit the USCIS InfoPass page
- Click on “Inside the U.S”
- Enter your ZIP code
- Click on the search button
- Select a USCIS field office
- Click on “See Available Appointments”
- Enter the details
- Print your appointment notice to carry along to your appointment
These are the different ways to check green card status. Which of these methods are you going to use and why? Tell us in the comment section below.