New Immigrants Can Now Create a USCIS Online Account When Paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee

A message for new immigrants:

You now have the option to create a USCIS online account when you pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee. A USCIS online account will let you easily track the status of your Green Card, receive electronic notifications and case updates, and change and update your mailing address.

Although anyone can pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee on your behalf, only you can create a USCIS online account. Creating a USCIS online account is voluntary.

Note: To create a USCIS online account, you will need to verify your identity by correctly answering questions about your personal immigration history. We recommend having documents such as your passport, immigrant visa, and copies of your visa application and your immigrant petition available for reference when answering the questions. If you are unable to answer your questions correctly, you will not be able to update your account profile or access case information from your USCIS online account until your identity is verified. If you cannot answer the questions correctly, you may schedule a free appointment to visit a local USCIS office and have your identity verified in person after you arrive in the United States (U.S.).

Having your identity verified helps protect your personal information and ensures your Green Card and other secure documents are mailed to the correct address.

If You Choose Not to Create an Online Account

You can still track the status of your Green Card and other cases by using Case Status Online. To get the status of your case, you will need the receipt number for your USCIS Immigrant Fee payment. Your receipt number will begin with the letters “IOE.”

If you move and need to update your mailing address, visit our Change of Address tool.

Receiving Your Green Card

We will mail your Green Card to the most recent U.S. mailing address we have on file for you. This could be the address you provided to the Department of State at the time of your immigrant visa interview or to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer when you were admitted as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) to the U.S., or the address you update in your USCIS online account.

If at the time of your admission to the U.S. as a LPR you plan to live at a different U.S. address than the one listed in your immigrant visa packet, please provide that address to the CBP officer. You may also update your address online if you have created a USCIS online account. Providing an accurate U.S. mailing address will ensure that your Green Card arrives at your new home.

If you do not create a USCIS online account, you can update your mailing address by visiting our Change of Address website or by calling USCIS Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283 (TDD for the deaf and hard of hearing: 1-800-767-1833).

You should receive your Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) within 120 days of your entry into the United States or within 120 days after your USCIS Immigrant Fee is received (whichever occurs later). If you do not receive your Green Card within this time frame, please submit an inquiry or log in to your USCIS online account for specific case inquiries and contact us at my.uscis.gov/account/inbox.

Also, we recommend that you update your address with the U.S. Postal Service by visiting your local U.S. post office or online at usps.com/umove.