Immigration Blog

February 14, 2025

Case Inquiry: What to do if your case is taking longer than expected

a woman looking at a laptop screen and submitting a case inquiry while sitting on the couch

USCIS offers a list of estimated processing times after submitting applications. This official website allows you to check the estimated time for your application’s approval: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/. You will only need to provide the type of immigration form (I-130, I-485, I-765, etc), form category (first time/renewals/petition from spouse, sibling, parents, etc.), and the location of the USCIS office processing your application or you can always choose “all locations”.

USCIS generally processes cases in the order they have received them. This processing time is based on how long it takes for USCIS to complete 80% of adjudicated cases. It is defined as the number of days (or months) that have elapsed between the date USCIS received an application, petition, or request, and the date USCIS completed the application, petition, or request (that is, approved or denied it) in a given six-month period. Each case is unique, and some cases may take longer than others. Processing times should be used as a reference point, not an absolute measure of how long your case will take to be completed, as it is only an ‘estimate’.

Many routine factors impact how quickly a case is processed.

This is how you can estimate if your case is exceeding the regular processing time:

  • Date you file your application with USCIS = January 1st, 2022
  • Date you check the USCIS website = January 1st, 2024
  • Current processing time for the type of case submitted = 26 months

Example: 26 months – 24 months (elapsed time since the filing and the current estimated processing time) = 2 months

You can contact USCIS in 2 months for an update and to submit an inquiry.

Case Inquiry: How can I file a case status request with USCIS?

To file a case inquiry with USCIS, you will need the following:

  1. Receipt number
  2. A-Number (if applicable)
  3. Date when filed
  4. Application or petition filed
  5. Email Address

Complete the inquiry using the following link: https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/onpt.

Why is my case still pending past the estimated processing time?

Many factors may affect how long it takes USCIS to complete an application, petition, or request, such as the number of applications, petitions, or requests USCIS receives, workload and staffing allocations, the time a benefit requestor takes responding to a request for more information, criminal convictions on an applicant’s or petitioner’s record, as well as policy and operational changes, among other factors. Case-specific factors may also make an individual adjudication more complex, requiring additional adjudicative time. Some of these factors can also be influenced by the benefit requestor, such as if an application, petition, or request is incomplete when USCIS receives it, or if an applicant, petitioner, or requestor receives a request for more information or misses an appointment for biometrics submission or interview.

For more information or a free consultation, contact Attorney Diana Bailey, who has over 20 years of experience in immigration law, at (503) 224-0950.