A U.S. Green Card represents a major step for many people wanting to become permanent residents of the United States. Whichever way you apply — family, employment, asylum, or the DV Lottery — tracking the status of your application is necessary.

In this article, we’ll show you how to check the status of your Green Card based on your specific application. If your petition is under review by USCIS or you were selected in the category, here’s all the information you should know.

1. Check USCIS Application Status Online:

If your application was sponsored by a relative, filed for employment purposes, to get asylum, or came from a request for certain immigration status, USCIS is responsible for handling it.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Find your receipt number
You’ll find this 13-character alphanumeric code (e.g., MSC1234567890) on your Form I-797C, the Notice of Action sent by USCIS after you submit your petition.
Visit the USCIS Case Status Page
Go to: https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do.
Enter your receipt number (no dashes or spaces) and click “Check Status.”
View the current status of your case.
USCIS will display updates like:

Case received

Biometrics appointment

Interview scheduled

Request for Evidence (RFE)

Decision made

2. Check Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Status

For anyone who entered the Green Card Lottery (DV Program), the U.S. Department of State Entrant Status Check must be used.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Go to: https://dvprogram.state.gov/ESC

2. Click “Check Status.”

3. Have your confirmation number ready (received when you applied).

4. Enter the following:

Confirmation number (16 characters)

Last/family name

Year of birth

5. Click “Submit” to see whether you were selected.

When to Check:
Most of the time, the DV Lottery results are published in May for the next fiscal year.

3. Track Your Case at the National Visa Center (NVC)

Once your case is accepted by USCIS and sent to the National Visa Center, you can stay informed on your petition using the tools for consular processing (outside the country).

The CEAC status tracker: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx

You’ll need your NVC case number or Immigrant Visa number.