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Step by Step Guide to create USICS Online Account, Add Case

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS) has evolved over the years slowly moving many immigration forms processing from offline paper-based to online systems. As part of modernization, they allow anyone filing an application, benefit, or request with USCIS to track some of them online by creating an account on their website.

In this article, we will show the step-by-step guide with screenshots on how to create a USCIS account, common issues, and what you can do to address them, including the benefits of having an online account.

Who can create USCIS Online Account? Requirements?

Anyone filing a form, benefit, or service request with USCIS can create a USCIS online account. Also, anyone who wants to track a case status that was filed with USCIS on their behalf also can create a USCIS account.

To create USCIS online account, you would need an email address. It has to be your individual email address and not a shared email id. You will need to access your email during the account creation process as USCIS will send information to your email id.

Benefits of creating a USCIS Online Account

Below are some of the common benefits of creating a USCIS Online account:

  • File certain USCIS forms, benefits, or service requests online
  • Get alerts about changes to your filed forms, benefits.
  • Upload required documents online easily, and pay fees online
  • Avoid common mistakes for form filing like missing required fields
  • Check your USCIS Case Status online, with a full history of case statuses
  • Respond to Request for Evidence(RFE) online, as applicable.
  • Get confirmation and receipt notice online for forms filed online
  • Send messages and responses securely with USCIS
  • Use USCIS services such as the Freedom Of Information Act(FOIA) to request records

Below is a step-by-step guide to creating a USCIS online account and adding your case info to check case status, history and get alerts.

Step 1: Navigate to the USCIS Account Signup page, enter email

Before you start, make sure you have your personal email address handy and logged into the same email id in another browser window as USCIS will send you access codes. Once you are ready, the very first step is to h navigate to the USCIS Account Signup Page. It looks like the below screenshot.

Ensure you are on the USCIS domain. Check the browser address URL, it must say https://myaccount.uscis.gov/users/sign_up. Verify the USCIS logo and the message that says “An official website of the United States government” on the top to ensure you are on the right page. Once you are on the page, you need to do the below:

  1. Enter the personal email id that belongs to you in the “Email” field as you can see in the below screenshot.
  2. You need to enter the same email again in the “Email Confirmation” field as well
  3. Click on the ‘Sign Up’ button
USCIS Account Creation Sign up page Home screen
USCIS Account Creation Sign-up page Home screen

You will get a ‘Confirmation message’ on top of the screen that reads below and looks like in the below screenshot.

A USCIS Account confirmation email has been sent to xxx@xyz.com. Please follow the instructions in the email to confirm your USCIS Account request. If you do not receive the confirmation email within the next 10 minutes, please return to this page and request your confirmation instructions again.

USCIS Email Sent confirmation screen - Account creation online
USCIS Email Sent confirmation screen – Account creation online

You will get an email from USCIS within 10 minutes from the time you clicked on the sign-up button. If not, you can go back and repeat the steps listed above in the ‘Step 1’ section. The email from USCIS will be from the email id ‘MyAccount@uscis.dhs.gov’ and will have the subject line ‘Email confirmation instructions’.

All you need to do is click on the link in the email sent to you or copy and paste the lin in browser address bar. It looks like this, as in the below screenshot.

Email confirmation from USCIS Account within 10 minutes
Email confirmation from USCIS Account within 10 minutes

After you click on the link, you will be taken to the USCIS Terms of Use for Online Electronic Immigration System. You can read them in detail by clicking on the button that looks like a down arrow button at the bottom. Once you reach the end, you will see ‘I Agree’ button. Click on the ‘I Agree button‘. See the below screenshot on how it looks.

Agree to Terms of use by USCIS for account creation
Agree to Terms of use by USCIS for account creation

Step 3: Create Password, Two-Step Verification Options

Once you click on ‘I Agree’ button, you will be prompted to create a password. Your password has to be between 8 and 64 characters and can have letters, special characters, and numbers, including emojis. Now, follow the below steps:

  1. Enter the password of your choice in the password field. The online system will show the strength of the password. Make sure, it is green to indicate it is a good one with good strength. See the below screenshot on how it looks.
  2. Type the same password again in the password confirmation text box as well.
  3. Click on the submit button
Create Password screen for USCIS Account Creation
Create Password screen for USCIS Account Creation

Once you do that, you will see a confirmation message that says “Your email address has been successfully confirmed.‘ and get an option to select the Two-Step verification method. You have three options and you can choose whichever makes sense for you. The easiest one is email or phone number. Below is what each of them means.

  • Use an Authentication App: This option uses a Time-Based, One-Time Password (TOTP) application for added security such as Google Authenticator or Authy. You will be asked to scan a QR Code in one of those apps and use that code every time you log in.
  • SMS Text Message: This option sends you an SMS every time you want to log in as two-factor authentication. You will enter the code sent to your phone number. if you select this option, you will get the option to enter your phone number
  • Email: This option sends you a code to the email every time you want to log in to the USCIS website.

The below screenshot shows how the layout and options look, if you select one of the three options. If you select ‘SMS Text Message’, you can see ‘Mobile number’ input field at the bottom asking you to enter the phone number.

Two Step Verification Method USCIS Online Account Creation Options
Two Step Verification Method USCIS Online Account Creation Options

Step 4: Validation of selected two step verification option

Based on the two-step verification option you selected, you will need to validate that option. In our case, we have selected Email option for simplicity. After you select Email option and click on submit button, the screen will ask to enter the verification code. It will show a field ‘secure verification code’ as in the below screenshot.

Enter your verification code - two step validation for Email - USCIS account creation
Enter your verification code – two step validation for Email – USCIS account creation

USCIS sends an email from MyAccount@uscis.dhs.gov that has subject line ‘Secure two-step verification notification’ with the secure verification code. It will be a long number. You need to copy that number and enter in the ‘Secure verification code’ that you see on the USCIS website.

Below is the email that you get in your personal email that you entered during Step 1 above.

Secure Two step verification notification email from USCIS
Secure Two step verification notification email from USCIS

Once you enter the two step verification code that was sent to your email ID, you will see the message ‘Two-step verification successful‘ on the USCIS website and you will be given a backup code. This is your backup code, in case you lose access to your device and do not have access to the email as well for whatever reason. You can either take a note of the backup code or export that as PDF file using the option and select proceed button. It looks like in the below screenshot.

Two Step verification Backup Code
Two Step verification Backup Code

Step 5: Provide Password reset Questions, Answers

After you take note of the backup code, USCIS will ask you to select 5 questions and answers for Password reset. These questions would be asked, in case you forgot your password or for any reason, if they see any security breach. You should take a note of the 5 question and answers you entered for your reference, so that you do not lock yourself out.

The 5 questions are pre-defined and you need to click on the dropdown to see the questions. You have a wide choice of questions, pick something that you remember. Below is how it looks

Provide Password Reset Answers - Security Questions USCIS Account Creation
Provide Password Reset Answers – Security Questions USCIS Account Creation

Some of the questions that USCIS has predefined are as listed below

  • What is the last name of your favorite childhood teacher?
  • In what city/town did you meet your spouse?
  • What was the first team sport you played?
  • What is the first city you visited without your parents?
  • What is the first and last name of your oldest cousin?

Below is the screenshot of how the questions look in the dropdown.

Questions that are shown in dropdown
Questions that are shown in dropdown

Once you have added all 5 questions and answers, you will need to click on the submit button at the bottom. You will get confirmation saying “You have successfuly created your secret questions” and show “Welcome to your USCIS Account” screen with options on what you can do with your account as shown in below screenshot.

Welcome to your USCIS Account Screen and confirmation
Welcome to your USCIS Account Screen and confirmation

Step 6: Select USCIS Account Type, Created confirmation

You can edit the profile info by clciking on the ‘Edit My Account Profile’ from the options you see. The most important thing you need to do is, select the account type, for that you need to click on “My USCIS” to select the account type as shown in below screenshot

Select MyUSCIS Option to select Account Type
Select MyUSCIS Option to select Account Type

Once you click on that you will get two options that read as below and a message on top that reads ‘please choose an account type to continue’.

  1. I am an applicant, petitioner, or requestor
  2. I am a Legal Representative

You should select the first option that says ‘I am an applicant, petitioner, or requestor‘, in most cases, unless you are an attorney handling customers and have license to practice. See below screenshot.

Account Type Options during USCIS Account Creation
Account Type Options during USCIS Account Creation

Once you select the right account type and click on submit button in the bottom, you will get final confirmation telling that your USCIS account is created. The confirmation message will say ‘You have successfully created your account’ on the top of the screen as shown in below screenshot.

Confirmation message on USCIS account creation
Confirmation message on USCIS account creation

Step 7: Add your USCIS Case, Check Case History

As your USCIS account is created, now you have options to various things using the account. In our case, let’s try to add an existing USCIS case to your account to look at the case history.

Similar to above step 6, click on ‘My USCIS’ under ‘Login to a USCIS Service’, this will give you various options as listed below. You can also click directly on USCIS Onboarding page link

  • Add a case to your account
  • File a form online
  • Enter a representative passocde
  • Verify your identiy

You need to click on ‘Add a case to your account‘ option to add your USCIS case details to view the history and current status. See below screenshot on how it looks.

Options on what you can do with USCIS Online Account
Options on what you can do with USCIS Online Account

You will get an option to “Add a case to your account”. You will have an option to enter your USCIS Case Receipt Number. This is where you enter your 13 digit USCIS Case Number. Usually your receipt number starts with IOE, EAC, WAC, etc. You need to enter that in the receipt number field and click on ‘Add case’ button. This is the same receipt number that you usually use to check USCIS Case Status online. See below screenshot on how it looks.

Depending on your What your case number starts with, the system will either directly add the case and show the case history or ask you for additional infomrmation of “Online Access Code”

Add a USCIS Case to your USCIS online account
Add a USCIS Case to your USCIS online account

Added a Case that starts with WAC, EAC, LIN, etc. (Except IOE)

If you added a case that stars with tradition USCIS Case numbers, that are paper based and starts with EAC, WAC, LIN, etc. (except IOE), then your case is added immediately and you will see your case information under ‘Your Cases’ and have tabs ‘Case Status’ and ‘Case History’.

‘Case Status’ will show the latest staus and ‘Case History’ will show the entire history of the case with changes to the status. See below screenshot on how it looks

Case Status and Case History Information
Case Status and Case History Information

Added a Case that starts with IOE

If you have a USCIS Case receipt number that starts with IOE, the system will ask you enter the ‘Online Access Code’. The online access code is located on your receipt notice. You need to find that on your receipt notice and then add that online access code. Also, you need to add your date of birth to verify the same. It looks like in below screenshot.

Add a Case to your account with IOE Case number - Online Access Code
Add a Case to your account with IOE Case number – Online Access Code

Once you add the Online Access Code, then your case will be added and you will see your case details and history similar to above. The big difference is that with USCIS Case numbers starting with IOE, you see additional tabs such as ‘Documents’, ‘Representative’, etc. to submit documents online and exchange secure messages with USCIS.

See below screenshots on how it looks like.

USCIS Case History with IOE Receipt Number
USCIS Case History with IOE Receipt Number
USCIS Case History with IOE Receipt Number Taking Longer Time

Missing Access Code on your Receipt Notice

If ‘Access Code’ is missing on your receipt notice, you can request a new one on the same page. Below are the steps for the same:

Click on the ‘request a new one‘ link as in the below screenshot. It will take you to a page to select ‘who is requesting this information’ as shown below

Request a New one for missing Access Code
Request a New one for missing Access Code

You need to click on the ‘Applicant/Petioner‘, if you are looking for this info as an applicant or employer. Depending on your situation, you can select other options on that page. In our case, we are adding information as an applicant, so we will follow that flow.

You will be taken to a page to enter your personal information and information about your USCIS petition or application. You need to enter all of these accurately, so that they can send you the access code. After you complete the details, click on ‘Next’ button at the bottom.

Information of Applicant or Petitioner
Information of Applicant or Petitioner

You will be shown the option to select the reason for contacting under ‘I need help with:(required)‘ field and the ‘Form Filed‘. You need to select ‘Requesting a new Online Access Code‘ for the first field and the relevant form number for the ‘Form Filed’ filed. Once you are done with that, enter the Date your petition or application was filed and click on the ‘Send Message’ button.

You will get a response with a receipt notice within 30 days. USCIS say that they will send the access code within 30 days. So, keep an eye on the mail and your messages.

Select the relevant Form like I-129 for H1B
Select the relevant Form like I-129 for H1B

That’s the end-to-end process to create a USCIS account and add your case to view your case history. What was your experience creating a USCIS Online Account? Any questions or tips to share with the community? Ask or share it in the comments section below.

   

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6 Comments

    • GC,
      Well, it depends. Usually, if you are eligible for it, you would get it. Most of the times, it is for IOE. Email or call USCIS.

      Reply
    • Sandeep,
      we have updated the article to reflect your situation. You can request for OAC code, if you do not have it handy on your receipt notice. Check above article last step.

      Reply

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