USCIS Case Inquiry Date Meaning

What is a case inquiry date?

USCIS publishes a processing-time range for each form — a window within which most cases are decided. Your case inquiry date is the day your case becomes "older" than the high end of that range, measured from your received date (the date on your Form I-797 receipt notice).

Once your case is past that date, USCIS considers it "outside normal processing time" and allows you to submit a formal case inquiry through the USCIS Contact Center or the online portal.

How to calculate your case inquiry date

The formula is simple: received date + high end of the processing range = case inquiry date.

For example, if your I-485 receipt notice shows a received date of January 15, 2025, and the current high end of the USCIS processing range for I-485 is 40 months, your case inquiry date would be approximately May 15, 2028.

Use PetitionPace's processing-time estimator to calculate this automatically from your received date and form type.

Case inquiry date vs received date vs priority date

Your received date is when USCIS accepted your filing. Your case inquiry date is a later date calculated from the current processing-time range. A priority date is different again: it usually controls visa-number availability for certain family and employment immigration categories.

If you are asking "what is my date of inquiry?" on a USCIS delay, you usually need the case inquiry date, not the priority date.

Where do I find my received date?

Your received date is printed on your Form I-797 Notice of Action (also called a receipt notice). USCIS mails this to you — usually within a few weeks of receiving your application — and it shows:

• Your receipt number (begins with letters like EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, IOE)
• The received date — the date USCIS logged receipt of your filing
• The form type and priority date (for certain categories)

See our guide: Receipt notice (I-797) explained.

How to submit a case inquiry

Once your case inquiry date has passed, you have a few options:

• Online: Submit an e-request at egov.uscis.gov/e-request — select "Outside Normal Processing Times"
• Emma (virtual assistant): Visit uscis.gov and use the Emma chat tool
• Phone: Call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283
• InfoPass / appointment: Schedule an in-person appointment at a local field office for certain case types

A case inquiry typically results in a review by a USCIS officer, who may request additional evidence or provide a status update. It does not guarantee a faster decision.

What if a case inquiry doesn't help?

If your case remains unresolved after a case inquiry, other options include a congressional inquiry (through your U.S. representative's or senator's office) or, in some cases, a writ of mandamus — a federal court action asking a court to compel USCIS to act. These are legal proceedings that require consulting a licensed immigration attorney. PetitionPace does not provide legal advice and cannot advise you on whether these options are appropriate for your situation.

Important: always use the live USCIS tool

Processing ranges change monthly. The case inquiry date you calculate today using a processing range from June 2026 may be different if ranges shorten or lengthen. Always verify the current processing range at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times before determining your case inquiry date.