Check If Your Case Is Actually Delayed
Tell the difference between a case that is simply slow and one that is genuinely outside normal processing time.
- 1
Open the processing times tool
Go to https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times and select your form, category, and office. Do not guess from a friend's experience, since times vary a lot by office and category.
- 2
Find the case inquiry date
The tool shows a date and says you can submit an inquiry if you filed before it. That inquiry date is the real line. It is the signal that separates normal slowness from an official delay.
- 3
Compare it to your receipt date
Check the filing date on your receipt notice. If your receipt date is before the inquiry date, your case is outside normal processing time. If it is after, your case is still inside the expected window, even if it feels long.
- 4
Check case status before acting
Look up your online case status with your receipt number. Recent movement, like fingerprints taken, means the case is active. If you are past the inquiry date with no movement, a service request is the standard next step. This is general process, not legal advice.