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How to Check Your USCIS Case Status for Form N-400

Check your N-400 case status with your receipt number or your USCIS online account. What the number looks like and what to do if your case is slow.

By the Citizo Team5 min read

A woman on her sofa checks her phone in the evening, with a cup of tea beside her.

In short

  • You need your receipt number: 13 characters, three letters and then ten numbers. It is on the notices USCIS sends you.
  • Check your case on uscis.gov/casestatus (Case Status Online). It shows the last action on your case and the next steps.
  • A USCIS online account shows more: up to your last five actions, your notices and personal completion date estimates.
  • If your case seems stuck, you can send an online case inquiry or call the USCIS Contact Center.

After you file Form N-400, waiting is the hardest part. Checking your status the right way gives you real information instead of rumors. This guide shows you how.

In this guide
  1. Find your receipt number
  2. Check your status online, step by step
  3. Use your USCIS online account
  4. What the status means for you
  5. When your case seems slow
  6. Use the waiting time to study
  7. Frequently asked questions
  8. Sources

Find your receipt number

The receipt number is a unique code that USCIS gives to each application. It has 13 characters: three letters followed by ten numbers. The letters can be, for example, EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, MSC or IOE. You find it on the notices USCIS sends you, starting with the receipt notice.

DoDo not
Type the 13 charactersType the dashes (-)
Keep any asterisks (*) that appear in the number on your noticeMix it up with your A-Number

Check your status online, step by step

  1. Open Case Status Online at uscis.gov/casestatus.
  2. Type your receipt number without dashes.
  3. Select "Check Status."
  4. Read the result. You see the last action taken on your case and, if there is one, the next step.
  5. Have more than one case? Use the field "Enter Another Receipt Number."

You do not need to create an account for this. Case Status Online gives you the same information you would get by talking to a representative, and it works 24 hours a day.

Use your USCIS online account

If you filed online, you already have an account. If you filed on paper, USCIS mails you an Account Acceptance Notice with instructions to create one. With an account you can:

  • see your case updates, including up to the last five actions;
  • read your notices online;
  • see personalized case completion date estimates;
  • answer requests for evidence;
  • update your address and contact information.

What the status means for you

Do not worry about every word. The important moments for an N-400 are these:

What you will see or receiveWhat it meansWhat to do
Receipt noticeUSCIS accepted your N-400Save it. It has your receipt number.
Biometrics appointmentUSCIS needs your fingerprints and photoGo on the date shown. Bring your Green Card, the notice and a photo ID.
Interview scheduledYour interview date is setStart your final review. See citizenship interview questions.
Request for evidenceUSCIS needs more documentsAnswer before the deadline in the notice.
Oath ceremony scheduledYour application was approvedRead your Form N-445 and answer its questions.

When your case seems slow

  1. Compare with official times. Look at the USCIS processing times page for Form N-400 and your office. Read N-400 processing time.
  2. Check your address. You must tell USCIS within 10 days when you move. Use your online account.
  3. Send an online case inquiry (e-Request) if the tools did not answer your question.
  4. Call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). Representatives answer calls and chats Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, except federal holidays. The automated phone line answers general questions 24 hours a day in English or Spanish.
  5. Use Emma, the USCIS online virtual assistant, in English or Spanish.

Do not pay anyone who promises to "speed up" your case. Use the official tools.

Use the waiting time to study

The best thing you can do while you wait is study. When your interview notice arrives, you will have less time than you think. Citizo shows the civics test that matches your N-400 date (see 2008 or 2025), with flashcards, a practice test and reading and writing practice for the English test.

Frequently asked questions

Is the receipt number the same as my A-Number?

No. The receipt number has 13 characters and starts with three letters. Your A-Number is a different number. Use the receipt number for Case Status Online.

My status has not changed for months. Is something wrong?

Not always. Compare with the official processing time for your office. If your case is outside that time, send an online case inquiry or call the Contact Center.

Can someone else check my case for me?

USCIS says that to ask about a specific case with its self-service tools, you should be the applicant, an attorney or accredited representative of record, or a parent or legal guardian asking for a minor child.

I filed on paper. Can I still use an online account?

Yes. USCIS mails you an Account Acceptance Notice with instructions to create your account.

About this guide

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, talk to an immigration attorney or an accredited representative. Citizo is an independent app. It is not part of the U.S. government and has no connection to USCIS. The official information is at uscis.gov. Written by the Citizo Team. Facts checked on October 29, 2026.

Sources