How to Know if the Case is Being Actively Reviewed by USCIS

If you have submitted an application to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), it is important for you to track the status of your USCIS case. This will provide crucial information about the position of your application. Apart from that, you will also be informed and proactive. Remember that knowing whether your case is being actively reviewed by the USCIS is a must.

What Does It Mean When the Case is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS?

If the case is being actively reviewed by USCIS, it means that the adjudicating officer is assessing the application and looking at all the documentation related to it. At this stage, USCIS officers examine the case in detail. This stage occurs after passing the stages of the initial application and receipt notice as well pending status. If the officers have any concerns about the case, then they will try to address them immediately.

When a USCIS case is under active review, no more additional information is required by the applicant related to it. Usually, you can receive case status updates from USCIS at a later date. However, the length of time USCIS needs to complete its review is unpredictable.

An immigration lawyer will take various measures to ensure that you have submitted the necessary documentation for your case. This way, USCIS can review the documentation quickly and make an informed decision. In addition, this also prevents you as the applicant from making mistakes when providing information to USCIS that may cause your documentation to be rejected.

Knowing whether your case is under active review by USCIS is an important aspect of this tracking process because:

• • It gives you a sense of relief knowing your application is being actively considered by USCIS.
  • It gives you realistic expectations about the timelines and processes involved in your case.
  • It allows you to address issues that may come up during the review process.

If you know that your case is under active review, it indicates that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is working on your case. They are checking your background and evaluating your eligibility as an applicant.

How Long Does USCIS Have to Actively Review the Case?

Typically, USCIS takes approximately 120 days to actively review a case. If any documents are missing, the agency will request additional time to complete its review. Then, USCIS will postpone the case until it receives the missing documents. For your information, every day USCIS adjudicates more than 28,000 requests for immigration cases. To process cases quickly and precisely, USCIS always does its best. The case review was carried out very carefully. It can take agencies hours to complete a complete review. Because USCIS’s workload varies, it can affect the length of time it takes the agency to review a case. If there are a large number of cases held by USCIS, delays in review may occur. Remember that it’s not just you who is having a case, but many other people are also struggling like you. Additionally, USCIS also tends to process cases that result in immediate benefits more quickly than others.

Some Stages of a USCIS Case

Besides “Actively reviewed status,” there are some other stages of a USCIS case. Here are all stages of a USCIS Case that may occur:

1. Initial application and recipe notice

The first stage of the USCIS case journey is the submission of the initial application. A notice of receipt is issued to the applicant once USCIS receives the application package. This notification is proof that USCIS has received the application. This provides a case receipt number for use in tracking. Remember that the receipt notice is very important because it contains information that will be needed for future questions or updates regarding the case. Therefore, you have to save it.

2. Pending status

A case enters pending status after the initial application and notice of receipt. At this stage USCIS has received your application and is awaiting review by an adjudicating officer. During this stage, there are several activities that may occur, such as:

• • Background checks

USCIS does a background check to verify the information provided by the applicant. This includes name checks, fingerprints, and other security measures.

• • Verification of supporting documentation

USCIS reviews the supporting documents submitted with the application carefully. This is done by USCIS to ensure its authenticity and accuracy. USCIS will contact the applicant or relevant third party for further verification.

• • Evaluation of eligibility

USCIS evaluates an applicant’s eligibility based on the specific immigration benefits sought. This involves factors such as age, employment history, marital status, and educational qualifications.

The length of pending status in a case can vary, depending on the complexity of the case. USCIS workload and other external factors also influence it. At this pending status stage, you as an applicant must patiently wait for the transition to actively reviewed status.

3. Actively reviewed status

Case is actively reviewed by USCIS, indicating that your application has moved beyond the initial stages. During this status, cases can go through several additional stages such as:

• • Request for evidence (RFE)
  • Interview
  • Further review by supervisor.

This next stage is part of the comprehensive evaluation process conducted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

4. Final decisions

A case enters final decision after passing the stage of actively reviewed status. This final decision could be approval, rejection, or a request for further evidence. It should be noted that even if a case is actively reviewed by USCIS, a final decision cannot guarantee approval. This may also vary depending on the benefits of the application.

The Ways to Check Your USCIS Case Status

Here are some ways to track your case status:

Way 1: Online tracking via the official USCIS website

The first way to track your USCIS case status is through the official USCIS website. So, try visiting the official USCIS website at www.uscis.gov. This official USCIS website provides an online tracking system that allows you to check your case. You need the receipt number that can be discovered on your receipt notification to access the case status check. Please enter the receipt number on the Online Case Status page on the official website, then you will be able to see the current status of your case.

Way 2: The USCIS Contact Center

If you want to speak directly with a USCIS representative, then you can contact the USCIS Contact Center to check the status of your case. Ask politely about the status of your case. They will give you the most up-to-date information regarding your case and answer any question you want to ask. You will be asked for your receipt number so have it ready. When contacting the USCIS Contact Center, you can also add other relevant information.

Way 3: Live assistance

For direct phone contact, you can contact USCIS customer service at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). Make sure you contact USCIS customer service during their hours of operation, which are Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm Eastern Time. If you are outside the United States, you can contact USCIS customer service at 212-620-3418.

Way 4: Written queries or in-person appointments

Another way to track your status is to submit a written inquiry to USCIS. You can send it by mail or email. Make sure you follow USCIS instructions correctly.

In addition, you can also schedule an appointment directly at your local USCIS office. USCIS provides an online appointment request form to assist applicants without having to contact the USCIS Contact Center. If you have questions or concerns about your case, maybe these ways can be useful for you.

Common Problems and Delays in Processing USCIS Cases

We all know that USCIS always does its best to process every case. However, there are several reasons why cases experience delays or are stuck in active review status.

• Background check

USCIS thoroughly checks applicants’ backgrounds to ensure their eligibility. These background checks can definitely take longer than expected, especially if additional verification is required or if there are security issues.

• Inaccurate and incomplete information

As an applicant, if you provide inaccurate information, or you have not provided all the required information, then USCIS will issue a request for evidence. This will result in a delay in processing your case until you provide the required information as accurately as possible.

• Administrative error

If an administrative error occurs, it can result in delays. These administrative errors include typos and document placement errors. This is indeed a common problem that can occur even if USCIS does its best for your case. If you suspect an administrative error, you can immediately contact USCIS to correct the situation.

• Increased workload

Every year, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processes a large number of cases. According to research, USCIS adjudicates more than 28,000 immigration case applications every day. That means USCIS’s workload is very heavy, especially during peak periods or when there is a sudden surge in applications. USCIS’ increased workload is the reason processing times have increased, resulting in cases remaining in actively reviewed status for longer periods of time.

• Policy changes or updates

Sometimes, changes or updates in immigration policy can result in delays in processing cases. If USCIS makes changes or updates to immigration policies, additional time is required to implement the new changes.

• External events or emergencies

USCIS operations may be disrupted and impact processing times when unforeseen events or emergencies occur, such as natural disasters or public health crises. If this is the situation, then USCIS will likely prioritize particular types of cases. Or, USCIS may temporarily stop processing cases until operations resume normally.

Several Proactive Steps You Can Take

When you are fighting your case, there are several proactive steps you can take.

• Follow up

When you find out that your case has been in ‘active review’ status with USCIS for an extended period of time, you should follow up further with USCIS. You can ask about the legal status of your case. Remember not to contact USCIS too often, or avoid unnecessary questions, as doing so will not speed up the processing of your case.

• Save the documentation

You must retain copies of all documents related to your case throughout the application process. Of course, this is very useful for you, especially when you are asked to provide additional information or if there are discrepancies or problems that need to be resolved regarding your documentation/case.

• Monitor processing time changes

Monitoring changes in processing times is one proactive step you can take. Regularly, USCIS updates processing times for various types of cases on their official website. By monitoring processing times, you can know how long your case may take by USCIS to process. Also, you can identify significant changes or delays that may occur in your case. For additional information, you can also check the processing time of your case on the official website of the National Visa Center.

• Seek legal help

If you believe there are delays or problems with your case, then you should immediately consult an immigration lawyer. There are many immigration lawyers you can contact to handle your case. Hiring an immigration lawyer can certainly provide many benefits. However, make sure you hire an immigration lawyer who has experience and in-depth knowledge of the immigration process so they can help you understand the updates and resolve any issues that arise in your case.

Frequently Asked Questions about Actively Reviewed Status

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding ‘actively reviewed’ status by USCIS:

• • How long does it take to move from actively reviewed status to a final decision?
  • Can I check whether my case is being actively reviewed by USCIS?
  • What should I do if my case has been in the status of being actively reviewed by USCIS for an extended period of time without any updates?

The answers to the above questions will depend on the specific circumstances of each case. The best thing you can do is to consult with USCIS to get the latest information.