What’s a USCIS Online Account Number?

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses an online account system to streamline the way they handle cases and interact with petitioners. Everyone with an account has a unique 12-digit account number. But how do you find your USCIS online account number? What do you need it for? We answer those questions below.

Who Has a USCIS Online Account Number?

Immigrants, petitioners (who may be natural-born US citizens), and attorneys who manage their clients’ cases online can all have unique USCIS online account numbers. This number is not the same as your Alien Registration Number (A-Number).

Whether you choose to use your online account or not is up to you, but there are several benefits.

Advantages of an Online Account

• You can view your case status and case history at any time.
• You can receive notifications on case updates.
• You can easily respond to Requests for Evidence (RFEs).
• You can manage and change your contact information.

How Do I Find My USCIS Online Account Number?

If you’ve filed a paper form with USCIS in the past, chances are they mailed you a USCIS Online Account Access Notice. Your account number will be at the top of this notice.

If you’ve only filed a petition, application, or request with USCIS electronically, they will have issued you the account number electronically as well.

However, if you can’t find your account number, there’s no need to worry. You can leave the “USCIS Online Account Number” field empty on any form you submit, and you can always sign up for a new account.

Creating an Online Account Number

To create an online USCIS account number before submitting a form, you can sign up on the USCIS website. Once you’ve created your account, you will be issued an account number that you can fill in on your USCIS petitions, applications, and requests.

If you’ve filed cases by paper with USCIS before you created the online account, you can even add those cases to it retroactively. Just click “Add a paper-filed case” from the drop-down menu, and enter the receipt number from the paper form. It’s usually in the top right corner of most USCIS forms.

Do I Have to Create an Account Number?

Simply put, no. If you choose not to utilize USCIS’s online account system, you’ll still receive notifications and updates from them in the mail.

You can even track your case status without creating an account. Just visit their case status page and enter your receipt number.