What Is a USCIS Receipt Number and Where to Find It?

A USCIS receipt number is the 13-character code U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services assigns to every application or petition it receives, and it is your permanent tracking identifier for that case. It looks something like EAC-26-001-12345. You will need it to check case status, respond to requests for evidence, and confirm USCIS actually received your filing and fees.

The number appears on the Form I-797C, Notice of Action that USCIS mails after it processes your filing fee, and inside your USCIS online account.¹

What the 13 Characters Mean

The receipt number breaks into four segments, each encoding something about where and when your case entered the system.²

The first three letters are the service center code. The codes currently in use are EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, MSC, and IOE.
The next two digits are the federal fiscal year in which USCIS received your filing. The government’s fiscal year starts October 1, so a case filed in November 2025 shows “26” here, not “25.”³
The next three digits are the computer workday your case was opened, counted on a calendar that skips weekends and federal holidays. Day 001 is the first business day of the fiscal year.
The final five digits are a unique sequence number for your filing on that workday.

IOE is the code that trips people up. Unlike the others, it does not point to a physical service center. It means the case was filed online or converted into the USCIS electronic system. The case still goes to an actual processing office, but the receipt number will not tell you which one. Check your USCIS online account or an official notice for that detail.

Where to Find Your Receipt Number

USCIS delivers the receipt number in two places: a mailed notice and your online account.

Form I-797C, Notice of Action

Once USCIS processes your filing fee, it mails Form I-797C, which serves as formal proof the agency received your application. The receipt number sits near the top of the page, usually in a labeled box in one of the upper corners. Hold onto this document. An I-797C confirms only that you submitted a benefit request; it does not mean USCIS has decided you are eligible for anything.¹

You may also see the plain “Form I-797” mentioned. That version covers approvals as well as receipts, while the I-797C specifically handles receipts, rejections, transfers, and appointment notices such as biometrics scheduling.⁴

Your USCIS Online Account

If you filed electronically, your receipt number and full case history live in your USCIS online account. If you filed a paper form by mail, you can still link that case to an online account and view its status from there. The account also lets you respond to requests for evidence, read most notices, and send secure messages to the agency.⁵

How to Use It to Check Case Status

The quickest option is the Case Status Online tool on the USCIS website. Enter the receipt number without any dashes. If your notice includes an asterisk as part of the number, type that too. The tool returns an immediate update showing whether your case has been received, is under review, has had a decision issued, or has had a card produced and mailed.⁶

You can also call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY: 800-767-1833) and enter the receipt number on the keypad for the same information. Staying on the line past the automated prompts reaches a live representative for more complex questions.⁷

Your online account dashboard shows a running history of every action taken on your case, not just the current status, which is useful if USCIS has sent a notice you have not yet received in the mail.⁵

If You Lost It or Never Received It

If your I-797C never arrived or you misplaced it, start with your USCIS online account. For online filings, the number is already there. For paper filings, you can link the case to your account using identifying information such as your name, date of birth, and the form type you filed.⁵

If the account does not resolve it, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. A representative can look up your case using other identifying details such as your A-Number, name, and date of birth.⁷ It is also worth checking your bank or credit card statement. The receipt number sometimes appears on the USCIS fee transaction, and the charge date helps you narrow down when the case was received.

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-797C, Notice of Action
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Receipt Number
3
USAGov. The Federal Budget Process
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-797 Types and Functions
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Benefits of a USCIS Online Account
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Case Status Online
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Contact Us