The government publishes several free tools that answer the questions immigration clients ask most: How long will my case take? Where is my case right now? When will my priority date be current? What will filing cost? The tools are useful — if you know what they actually measure and where they mislead. Here is each official tool, with the context I give my own clients.

How long will my case take? — USCIS Processing Times

Check USCIS processing times for your form, category, and service center. Two cautions from practice: the posted figure reflects how long most recently completed cases took — it is not a promise for pending ones — and the tool’s real value is the “case inquiry date” it generates, which tells you when USCIS will accept a service request about a case that is outside normal processing time.

➔ Open the USCIS Processing Times tool (opens egov.uscis.gov in a new tab)

Where is my case right now? — USCIS Case Status

Check your case status using the 13-character receipt number on your Form I-797 receipt notice (three letters followed by ten digits). The status descriptions are generic; if a status seems alarming or has not moved for months, that is usually a reason to review the case, not to panic.

➔ Check your USCIS case status (opens egov.uscis.gov in a new tab)

When will my priority date be current? — the Visa Bulletin

The Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin controls when a green-card applicant in a backlogged category can take the final step. Read the right chart: “Final Action Dates” shows when a case can be approved; “Dates for Filing” shows when documents can be submitted — and for adjustment applicants, USCIS announces each month which chart it will honor. Your priority date is on your I-797 approval or receipt notice (or your ETA-9089 filing date for PERM-based cases).

➔ Open the current Visa Bulletin (opens travel.state.gov in a new tab)

How long is the wait for a visa interview abroad? — Appointment Wait Times

Check appointment wait times at any U.S. embassy or consulate. Waits vary dramatically by post and visa category, and the figure is only an estimate of the next available slot — it says nothing about administrative processing after the interview.

➔ Check visa appointment wait times (opens travel.state.gov in a new tab)

How long are PERM and prevailing-wage cases taking? — DOL FLAG

The Department of Labor posts current queues for PERM labor certification and prevailing-wage determinations on flag.dol.gov. These two waits stack on top of each other before the I-140 can even be filed, which is why employment-based green-card timelines should be planned years, not months, ahead.

➔ Open DOL PERM & prevailing-wage processing times (opens flag.dol.gov in a new tab)

How long do AAO appeals take?

If a petition is denied and appealed to the Administrative Appeals Office, AAO processing times show how long each case type is taking. Whether to appeal, refile, or seek federal-court review is a strategy decision — the posted timeline is one input.

➔ Open AAO processing times (opens uscis.gov in a new tab)

What will filing cost? — USCIS Fee Calculator

USCIS fees changed substantially in 2024 and rejections for wrong fee amounts are common. Use the official USCIS Fee Calculator for the exact amount for your form, category, and filing location before you write the check.

➔ Open the USCIS Fee Calculator (opens uscis.gov in a new tab)

A tool is not a strategy

These tools tell you where the lines are. They do not tell you which line to stand in, whether a faster route exists, or how to keep a case out of trouble. If the numbers you are seeing worry you, book a consultation and we will look at your options together.

Links open on official government sites. This page is general information, not legal advice.