A USCIS receipt number is a unique 13-character identifier that USCIS gives each application or petition it receives. USCIS describes the format as three letters followed by 10 numbers, and says you can find it on the notices of action USCIS has sent you. USCIS's page gives example letters but does not say what the letters mean, and neither does this article. The page describing the format was last reviewed in 2020, and the USCIS glossary entry for the receipt number says the same thing.
The official format
The USCIS "Checking Your Case Status Online" page describes the receipt number as "a unique 13-character identifier that USCIS provides for each application or petition it receives." It says the number "consists of three letters followed by 10 numbers."
The USCIS glossary gives the purpose in one line: "We use it to identify and track our cases." In other words, it is a case identifier. It is how USCIS tells your filing apart from every other filing.
The letters at the front
USCIS gives examples of the three letters: "For example, the letters can be EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, MSC or IOE." That is all the official page says about them. It lists the examples and does not explain what they stand for.
You will find a lot of online explanations of what each prefix means, and what the digits after it encode. This article leaves them out on purpose. The official USCIS page does not document those meanings, so they are unofficial. A guess about your prefix should not change how you read your case.
One of the examples, IOE, shows up elsewhere on USCIS pages. USCIS says that if you did not file your case online but have a receipt number that begins with "IOE," you can create a USCIS online account to send secure messages. That tells you where the prefix appears in that guidance. It is not a definition of the letters. Our guide to adding a paper-filed case to your online account goes through that process.
Where to find your receipt number
- On your notices. USCIS says: "You can find it on notices of action USCIS has sent you."
- Online account. If you filed online, USCIS's Tips for Filing Forms Online page says a receipt number is "a unique number that applies to your specific case with USCIS" and that you can find it on your online account home page. Our article on the types of Form I-797 notices explains the notice versions.
How to type it into Case Status Online
USCIS gives two small rules.
- Leave out dashes. The page says to "omit dashes."
- USCIS says you can include all other characters, including asterisks, if they are listed on your notice as part of the receipt number.
If a lookup fails, compare what you typed with the notice character by character, because USCIS describes the format as three letters followed by 10 numbers. Then see our guide to how to check your USCIS case status.
What it is used for
The receipt number is what you use to look up a case in Case Status Online. USCIS's account instructions also use it when you add a paper-filed case to an online account: "Enter your receipt number, and you can then see your case status and history." Our status page for case was received shows the first event most people see after filing.
For help reading what the status wording means, see the GreenLight decoder.
Treat it as sensitive
This section is general caution from GreenLight, not a USCIS rule, and the USCIS pages cited in this article do not address it. As a general habit, it makes sense to keep your receipt number to yourself and the people helping with your case, such as an attorney or a family member you trust, and to avoid posting it in public forums or screenshots.
Common questions
How long is a USCIS receipt number?
USCIS says it is a 13-character identifier: three letters followed by 10 numbers.
What do EAC, WAC, LIN, and IOE mean?
USCIS lists EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, MSC and IOE as examples of the letters, but its page does not say what they mean. Treat explanations from unofficial sources with care.
Do I type the dashes?
No. USCIS says to omit dashes when you use Case Status Online.
Where can I find it?
USCIS says you can find it on notices of action USCIS has sent you. If you filed online, it also says you can find it on your online account home page.
Official sources
- USCIS: Checking Your Case Status Online
- USCIS Glossary: Receipt Number
- USCIS: Tips for Filing Forms Online
- USCIS: How to Create a USCIS Online Account
GreenLight is not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. government. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.