USCIS case status
Enter the 13-character receipt number from your notice at egov.uscis.gov. No account, documents or payment are needed to view a case update.
Pick the official tool before sharing anything
Most immigration tasks start at a government site, not a private portal.
Case status lives at the USCIS portal at egov.uscis.gov, which asks only for the receipt number printed on your notice. Forms and filing instructions live at uscis.gov/forms, where each page lists the current edition, the fee and the correct filing address. If any site demands your passport scan, birth certificate or payment before it even tells you which agency handles your task, close it. The genuine tools are free to read, and the information they need is already in your hands.
USCIS forms library
Every form page shows the current edition date, filing fee and mailing address, so you can skip unofficial copies that charge for free downloads.
DOJ representative search
The Department of Justice lists recognized organizations and accredited representatives by state, a no-cost way to confirm that help is authorized.
Build a case file you control
A thin, well-labelled folder beats a thick pile nobody can navigate.
Before contacting any office or attorney, gather the documents that define your situation: recent USCIS receipt notices, your I-94 record, passports and any prior decisions or court papers. Write a one-page timeline with dates of entries, applications and notices, and photocopy everything you mail. This file belongs to you. Share it only with a lawyer or accredited representative you have verified, and never upload it to a site that cannot explain who reads it or why.