How to Read Your USCIS Receipt Notice (I-797)

When you file a petition or application with USCIS, one of the first things you receive is a Form I-797 Notice of Action— commonly called a “receipt notice.” This small piece of paper is more important than it looks. It confirms USCIS has your application, gives you a receipt number to track your case, and contains details you'll reference throughout the entire immigration process.

The receipt number

The most important item on your I-797 is the receipt number — a 13-character identifier in the format EAC-24-123-45678. Break it down:

• First 3 letters — your service center: EAC (Vermont), WAC (California), LIN (Nebraska), SRC (Texas), MSC (Potomac), IOE (USCIS Electronic Immigration System)
• Next 2 digits — fiscal year the case was received (24 = FY2024)
• Next 3 digits — day of the fiscal year
• Last 5 digits — unique case identifier

You'll use this receipt number to check your case status at egov.uscis.gov and in all correspondence with USCIS. Keep it safe.

Notice date vs. receipt date

Your I-797 shows two dates. The notice date is when USCIS generated the notice — usually a few days after they actually received your package. The receipt date (sometimes called the priority date for certain visa categories) is the date USCIS officially accepted your application into their system.

For processing time purposes, USCIS measures from the receipt date. For immigrant visa priority dates (green card queues), the receipt date determines your place in line for certain employment-based and family-based categories.

What “approved” vs “pending” notices look like

The I-797 comes in several varieties:

• I-797C (Receipt Notice) — confirms USCIS has your application. No action required from you yet.
• I-797 (Approval Notice) — your petition or application was approved. This is the document you may need to show at a consulate interview or port of entry.
• I-797E (Request for Evidence / RFE) — USCIS needs more information. You must respond by the deadline shown or your case may be denied.
• I-797 (Transfer Notice) — your case has been moved to a different service center. Your receipt number stays the same.

Biographic information section

Check the name, date of birth, and alien registration number (A-number, if shown) on your notice carefully. If any of this information is wrong, contact USCIS immediately — errors can cause serious delays or complications later in the process.

What to do after you receive your receipt notice

1. Make several photocopies and store the original safely.
2. Set up online case tracking at egov.uscis.gov using your receipt number.
3. Note the processing time for your form and service center — use our tracker below.
4. Do not call USCIS unless your case is outside normal processing time and past the inquiry date.