What Is a USCIS Receipt Number? Format and How to Use It
A USCIS receipt number is the 13-character code that identifies your case and lets you track it. A USCIS receipt number is the unique tracking number USCIS assigns when it accepts your application or petition, printed on the receipt notice it mails you. It usually begins with three letters followed by ten digits, and you use it to check status, create an online account, and reference your case in any inquiry.
This guide explains what the number means, where to find it, and how to use it. It connects to our guides on checking your case status und what Form I-797 is.
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Wichtigste Erkenntnisse
- A receipt number is a 13-character code that identifies your specific case.
- It usually starts with three letters, followed by ten digits.
- You find it on the receipt notice, Form I-797C, that USCIS mails.
- The letters indicate which service center or office is handling the case.
- Each application generally has its own receipt number.
Inhalt dieses Leitfadens
- What a receipt number is
- The format and what it means
- Where to find it
- How to use it
- Multiple cases, multiple numbers
- Häufig gestellte Fragen
What a Receipt Number Is
A USCIS receipt number is the identifier USCIS creates when it accepts and begins processing your filing. It confirms that your application or petition was received and entered into the system, and it becomes the key to everything you do with that case afterward.
Think of it as your case’s tracking number. Anytime you check status, submit an inquiry, or link the case to an online account, you use this number to point USCIS to the exact case.
The Format and What It Means
A receipt number is 13 characters: three letters at the start, followed by ten numbers. The letters are a service center or office code, and the digits encode information such as the fiscal year and workday the case was received.
| Part | What it represents |
|---|---|
| First three letters | The service center or office handling the case |
| Next digits | Fiscal year and processing information |
| Remaining digits | A unique sequence identifying your case |
You do not need to decode it yourself. What matters is entering it exactly as printed, since a single wrong character will not return your case.
Where to Find It
Your receipt number appears on the receipt notice, Form I-797C, Notice of Action, that USCIS mails after accepting your filing. It is usually printed near the top of the notice, labeled as the receipt number.
If an attorney or employer filed for you, they should have the notice and the number. If you filed online, the number also appears in your myUSCIS account. Keep it somewhere safe, since you will use it repeatedly.
How to Use It
The receipt number unlocks the main ways to follow your case. You enter it on the official USCIS case status tool to see updates, and you use it to add the case to a myUSCIS online account for alerts and history.
You also reference it in any service request or inquiry, and when responding to notices. Our guide on checking your USCIS case status walks through using the number to monitor progress.
Case not showing up with your receipt number? A quick check can confirm whether it was entered correctly. Ask Atlas Legal for help.
Multiple Cases, Multiple Numbers
If you filed several forms, each generally has its own receipt number. For example, an adjustment package might include separate numbers for the green card application, the work permit, and the travel document.
Track each number separately, because the cases can move at different speeds and produce different notices. Noting all of them prevents confusion when one case updates and another does not.
Wann sollte man einen Anwalt für Einwanderungsrecht hinzuziehen?
The receipt number is simple, but the case behind it may not be. Legal help is valuable when your case does not appear with the number you have, when you cannot locate your receipt notice, when a status update is confusing, or when you need to submit an inquiry. An attorney can confirm the number, interpret the status, and take the right next step. Outcomes depend on the facts of each case.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What is a USCIS receipt number?
A USCIS receipt number is the 13-character code USCIS assigns when it accepts your application or petition. It usually starts with three letters followed by ten digits and appears on the receipt notice, Form I-797C, that USCIS mails. You use it to check case status, create or update a myUSCIS online account, and reference your case in any inquiry or response to a notice.
Where do I find my receipt number?
It is printed on the receipt notice, Form I-797C, Notice of Action, that USCIS mails after accepting your filing, usually near the top and labeled receipt number. If you filed online, it also appears in your myUSCIS account. If an attorney or employer filed for you, they should have it. Keep it in a safe place, since you will use it repeatedly.
What do the letters at the start mean?
The first three letters are a code for the USCIS service center or office handling your case. The digits that follow encode information such as the fiscal year and the workday your case was received, plus a unique sequence. You do not need to decode it, but you should enter it exactly as printed, because a single wrong character will not return your case.
Can I check my case without a receipt number?
The standard tools rely on the receipt number, so it is important to have it. If you cannot find it, check your receipt notice, your myUSCIS account, or ask the attorney or employer who filed for you. Without the number, checking a specific case’s status is difficult, which is why keeping it accessible after filing matters so much.
Why doesn’t my receipt number work?
The most common reason is a typo, since one wrong character will not match your case. Double-check each letter and digit against the notice. Newly filed cases can also take a short time to appear in the online system. If the number is correct and the case still does not appear after a reasonable time, confirming it with USCIS or an attorney can help.
Do I get a different receipt number for each form?
Usually yes. Each application or petition generally receives its own receipt number, so a package with multiple forms produces multiple numbers. For example, a green card application filed with a work permit and a travel document will have separate numbers. Track each one, since the cases can progress at different speeds and generate different notices.
Is the receipt number the same as my A-number?
No. The receipt number tracks a specific case and starts with three letters and ten digits. An A-number, or alien registration number, is a separate identifier assigned to you as an individual and often appears as a nine-digit number. You may have one A-number across multiple cases, while each case has its own receipt number. Both can appear on USCIS notices.
What if I lose my receipt notice?
If you filed online, your receipt number is in your myUSCIS account. If an attorney or employer filed for you, they should have it. You can also look for it on later notices about the same case. Keeping a saved copy or photo of the receipt notice avoids this problem, since the number is essential for tracking and any inquiry.
Fazit
A USCIS receipt number is your case’s 13-character tracking code, found on the Form I-797C receipt notice. Enter it exactly to check status, build an online account, and reference your case in inquiries. Remember that each form usually has its own number, and keep them all safe. Each case depends on its own facts.
If you need help finding or using your receipt number, Atlas Legal Immigration Law can assist. Reach us at 1750 E Golf Rd, Büro 214, Schaumburg, IL 60173, anrufen (+1) 872 382 2762, oder per E-Mail info@theatlaslegal.com. Erfahren Sie mehr auf unserer services page.
Reviewed by the Atlas Legal Immigration Law editorial team. Last reviewed on July 24, 2026.
Quellen
- US-Einwanderungs- und Staatsbürgerschaftsbehörde, Case Status Online
- US-Einwanderungs- und Staatsbürgerschaftsbehörde, myUSCIS Online Filing
- US-Einwanderungs- und Staatsbürgerschaftsbehörde, USCIS Forms and Notices
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