You generally cannot look up another person’s immigration status. Federal privacy law keeps immigration records confidential, so how to check someone’s immigration status depends entirely on who is doing the checking: the person themselves, an employer verifying work authorization, an attorney with signed authority, or a government agency deciding benefit eligibility. There is no public database, and no lawful way for a curious neighbor, relative, or stranger to pull someone’s file.
Why There Is No Public Lookup
The Privacy Act of 1974 governs how federal agencies collect, store, and share personal records, including immigration files held by the Department of Homeland Security.1Department of Justice. Privacy Act of 1974 Under that law, immigration records are confidential and cannot be released without the subject’s consent or a recognized legal exception.
Trying to work around that rule carries real consequences. Knowingly requesting records by misrepresenting your identity or authority is a federal misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, and federal employees who willfully disclose protected records to unauthorized parties face the same penalty.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 U.S. Code 552a – Records Maintained on Individuals Additional charges can apply if the conduct crosses into bribery or obstruction.
Lawful access exists in four narrow lanes:
- The individual themselves, checking their own case, retrieving their I-94, or requesting their file.
- An attorney or accredited representative with a signed notice of appearance.
- An employer running verification on someone they’ve hired.
- A federal, state, or local agency verifying status for a benefit or license.
Checking Your Own Status
Case Status Online
If you have a pending application or petition, the fastest check is the Case Status Online tool on the USCIS website. You need your 13-character receipt number: three letters followed by ten numbers, printed on any Form I-797 notice USCIS has sent you.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Receipt Number Enter it and the system returns your case’s current stage.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Case Status Online
Creating a free USCIS online account gives you more than a one-time snapshot. A personalized account shows up to the last five actions taken on your case, lets you manage multiple filings, and gives you access to anything you filed electronically.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Checking Your Case Status Online
Your I-94 Arrival Record
If you entered the United States as a visitor, your Form I-94 arrival/departure record is proof of lawful admission and shows how long you’re authorized to stay. You can look up and print your most recent I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov. The system holds records going back to 1983 for most admission categories.6U.S. Customs and Border Protection. I-94/I-95 Website
Confirming Your Own Work Eligibility
Workers and job seekers can confirm their own employment eligibility through myE-Verify, a free service run by USCIS with the Social Security Administration. After you set up a USCIS online account, the Self Check tool verifies that your records will match when a future employer runs an E-Verify case.7E-Verify. myE-Verify It’s a way to catch data errors before they cause problems at hire. The system may ask you to complete an identity assurance quiz drawn from credit reporting data. E-Verify support is available at (855) 804-0296.
myE-Verify also includes a Self Lock feature that lets you lock your Social Security number within E-Verify. While locked, no employer can run a case using your number, which helps guard against identity fraud. Unlock it when you’re ready to start a new job.
Verifying an Employee
Form I-9 for Every Hire
Every U.S. employer must complete Form I-9 for each person they hire, including citizens. This is the baseline federal check for work authorization.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification The employee presents identity and work authorization documents from an approved list, the employer reviews them and records the information, and the form stays on file. It isn’t submitted to any agency unless requested during an audit.
There’s a limit built into this process that employers sometimes miss. You cannot demand specific documents or reject documents that reasonably appear genuine. Asking for more or different documents than Form I-9 requires, when done because of national origin or citizenship status, is an unfair immigration-related employment practice under federal law.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 U.S. Code 1324b – Unfair Immigration-Related Employment Practices Telling a new hire “show me your green card” after they’ve already offered a valid driver’s license and Social Security card crosses that line.
When E-Verify Applies
E-Verify is a web-based system that compares information from a completed Form I-9 against federal databases. It isn’t universal. Federal contractors with contracts exceeding $150,000 and lasting at least 120 days must use it under the Federal Acquisition Regulation.10E-Verify. Who is Affected by the E-Verify Federal Contractor Rule Several states also require it for some or all employers. Otherwise it’s voluntary.
The employer enters the employee’s Form I-9 information, and the system checks it against DHS and Social Security Administration records. The typical result is “Employment Authorized.”11E-Verify. 3.1 Employment Authorized When the data doesn’t match, E-Verify returns a Tentative Nonconfirmation, or mismatch. The employer must tell the employee within 10 federal government working days, and the employee then has 10 federal government working days from the mismatch date to say whether they want to contest it.12E-Verify. Tentative Nonconfirmations (Mismatches) During that window, the employer cannot fire, suspend, or otherwise take adverse action against the employee. A mismatch often reflects a data entry error or a records update in transit, not a real authorization problem.
Attorneys and Authorized Representatives
An immigration attorney or accredited representative gains access to a client’s records by filing Form G-28, the Notice of Entry of Appearance, along with the underlying application or petition. Both the attorney and the client must sign it; USCIS rejects any unsigned submission.13U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative Once it’s on file, the attorney can speak with USCIS about the case, receive copies of notices, and track the case through their own USCIS online account.
For a full immigration history, attorneys and other third parties can file under the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act, but only with the subject’s written consent, given through a notarized signature or a declaration under penalty of perjury on Form G-639.14U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Form G-639 – Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request Without that consent, USCIS will not release the records.
Government Agencies and the SAVE System
When someone applies for a benefit or license, the agency handling the application may verify immigration status through SAVE, an online system run by USCIS. Agencies administering programs such as Medicaid, driver’s licenses, and Social Security cards use SAVE to confirm applicants’ eligibility.15U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. SAVE SAVE is not open to the public. You cannot run a SAVE check on yourself or anyone else; only registered government agencies have access, and even then, SAVE only reports status. The agency itself decides whether you qualify for the benefit.
Requesting a Full Immigration File
The tools above show where a specific case stands or confirm work authorization. If you need a comprehensive history, including past applications, decisions, and correspondence, you’ll need to file a formal FOIA or Privacy Act request.
Submit online through the USCIS FOIA portal at first.uscis.gov. Online submission is generally the only accepted method.16U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Request Records through the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act As of January 2026, DHS no longer accepts hard copy or emailed FOIA requests.17Homeland Security. Freedom of Information Act You’ll get an instant tracking number and can monitor the request from the portal.
If you’re requesting your own records, verify your identity by notarizing your signature or signing under penalty of perjury. If someone else is filing for you, they need your written consent using one of those same methods.14U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Form G-639 – Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request Form G-639 remains available as an alternative to the portal.
Identifiers That Speed the Search
The more precise your identifying information, the faster the search returns useful results. Helpful identifiers include:
- Alien Registration Number (A-Number), a unique seven-, eight-, or nine-digit number found on a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766).18U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. A-Number/Alien Registration Number/Alien Number
- Receipt number, the 13-character case identifier from any USCIS notice.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Receipt Number
- Full legal name and date of birth.
- Social Security number, if one was issued.
Without at least one unique identifier such as the A-Number or receipt number, the search may come back incomplete or get rejected outright. Documents in a foreign language need a professional translation, which for immigration purposes typically runs $25 to $50 per page.
Fees and Timing
If USCIS denies a fee waiver, you must agree to pay the applicable search and duplication fees before the request moves forward. DHS will not proceed until you commit to covering fees of at least $25 or whatever cap you’ve specified.19Homeland Security. FOIA Fee Structure and Waivers Miss the response window and your request will be administratively closed. Simple requests involving a single application can come back in weeks; requests covering long immigration histories take considerably longer, because officials must review and redact sensitive information before release.