I-131: What “Case Was Received and A Receipt Notice Was Sent” Means

USCIS has logged your case into their system and issued a receipt notice. This is the starting line: the case now waits in the queue for the service center or field office that will work it. For many forms this status holds for most of the total processing time.

Good to do now

• Save your receipt number. Every later inquiry needs it.
• Check that the personal details on the receipt notice are correct; report errors to USCIS early.
• Set up case tracking so you catch the next status change without daily manual checks.

Live numbers

Frequently asked questions

How long does "Case Was Received" usually last?

It varies widely by form and service center. The live numbers above show how long cases currently in this status have been waiting, measured from tracked cases on MyCasesHub.

Is it normal that nothing has happened for months?

For most forms, yes. Long quiet stretches in this status are the norm rather than a problem; many cases move straight from received to a decision-stage status.

Does the receipt date or the notice date matter more?

The receipt date generally anchors your place in the processing queue, and processing-time estimates are usually measured from it.

Related

• I-131: USCIS Is currently Processing the Case
• I-131: Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken
• I-131: Biometrics Appointment Was Scheduled
• I-131: Request for Additional Evidence Was Sent
• I-131: Response To USCIS' Request For Evidence Was Received
• I-131: Interview Was Scheduled
• Where does a I-131 filed on your date sit in the approval line?
• USCIS Case Tracker: look up any case free
• USCIS API Tracker: decode your my.uscis.gov data
• All USCIS case statuses by form

MyCasesHub is not affiliated with USCIS. Statistics are measured from cases tracked on MyCasesHub, not all USCIS filings. This page is general information, not legal advice.