Immigration

What is USCIS?

Most immigration issues are addressed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), a branch of the Department of Homeland Security; however, the Department of State grants visas to enter the country.

What is a visa?

A visa is permission to apply to enter the United States. Foreign citizens must apply for a visa at an American embassy or consulate abroad, when desiring to travel to the United States. Additionally, anyone who intends to immigrate to the United States will need to obtain an immigrant visa from their local consulate. Visas are also needed by intending immigrants who are already present in the United States.

How do I obtain an immigrant visa?

If you want to become an immigrant, you must go through a three-step process. First, the USCIS must approve an immigrant petition for you, which is usually filed by an employer or a relative for you. Second, a visa number, through the State Department must be immediately available to you, even if you are already in the United States. If you receive an immigrant visa number, it means that an immigrant visa has been assigned to you. Third, if you are already in the United States, you may apply to adjust to permanent resident status after a visa number becomes available for you. (If you are outside the United States when an immigrant visa number becomes available for you, you must then go to your local U.S. consulate to complete your processing.)

What is an immigrant visa number?

U.S. law limits the number of immigrant visa numbers that are available every year. This means that even if the USCIS approves an immigrant visa petition for you, you may not get an immigrant visa number immediately. In some cases, several years could pass between the time USCIS approves your immigrant visa petition and the State Department gives you an immigrant visa number. In addition, U.S. law also limits the number of immigrant visas available by country. This means you may have to wait longer if you come from a country with a high demand for U.S. immigrant visas.

 Where can I get more information about immigrant visas?

Go to the Department of State’s webpage on Visa Information for Permanent Immigrants. Please note that the United States issues a limited number of visas to immigrants in various categories each year. For each category, visas are allocated based on the priority date for that particular application. Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets an annual minimum family-sponsored preference limit of 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000.

Where is the nearest USCIS office?

The USCIS branch office in St. Louis serves all of the 1st Congressional District, and is located at the Robert A. Young Federal Building, 1222 Spruce Street, Saint Louis, MO 63103-2815.  The USCIS District Information Office is open from Monday through Friday, from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The office is closed Saturday, Sunday and Federal holidays.

To speak with an Immigration Officer, you must schedule an INFOPASS appointment. These appointments can easily be made online at the INFOPASS website.  If you do not have internet access there are INFOPASS kiosks available at 26 Federal Plaza that you can use to make an appointment between the hours of 7:00AM to 3:30PM Monday through Friday.

Mail items should be addressed to:

How can I check the status of an application?

To check the status of any applications you have filed with USCIS, you must contact the USCIS office that received your applications. You should be prepared to provide the USCIS staff with specific information about your application.

General Information

USCIS’s National Customer Service Center (NCSC) has developed a Case Status Online feature. With this feature, customers with applications pending at USCIS Service Centers are able to enter their receipt number and obtain the status of the USCIS processing of their case(s). USCIS also offers an automated Case Status system via telephone at 1 (800) 375-5283. Please have your reciept bnumber ready.  Both systems are toll-free.

To check the satus of applications filed online (e-file), or those filed or processed at the Service Center

Online: If you e-filed an application or petition and have your receipt number, or filed an application with a USCIS Service Center and have a receipt. Please have your receipt number ready. The service center receipts have three letters and ten numbers. You can find the status of your case through Case Status Service Online, also available en Español. This service provides you (and your representative) access to case status for applications you submitted to the USCIS Service Centers. This site provides around the clock and immediate access to this case status information.

By phone: You may obtain case status by calling 1 (800) 375-5283, and following the automated instructions. Please have your receipt number ready.

In writing: While calling can be more convenient, you may instead choose to request an update by writing the Service or Benefits Center where your case is pending. Specific information about the centers can be found under USCIS Field Offices.

If you write to USCIS, please be sure to provide the following in your letter:

• Your current name and address, and, if different, your name as it appears on your application;

• Any A-number, which is an 8 or 9 digit number following the letter "A", assigned to you or to your application

• Your date of birth;

• The date and place where your application was filed;

• Any receipt number from any receipt notice issued by INS or USCIS for your application;

• A copy of the most recent notice sent to you by INS or USCIS on your case, if you have received one; and

• The date and office where you were fingerprinted and where you were interviewed, if this has been done.

• If you filed electronically, include a copy of your Confirmation Receipt notice.

Sign your request, or, if you are preparing the request for the applicant, have him or her sign the request. Please mark your envelope: ATTN: Status Inquiry. Please send your inquiry to the address listed in the "About Us" section of the USCIS Field Office pages.

To check the satus of applications filed at a local USCIS office:

By phone: If your application is pending for longer than the processing time projected on your receipt, and you have not recently received any type of notice or update from the USCIS, you can call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 for information. When you call, please have your A-number, any receipt number issued to you after the USCIS received your application, and the last notice you received about your case. NCSC Customer Service Representatives use information provided by each local office to answer questions about case status and processing times.

In writing:  If you write, please provide the following in your letter:

• Your current name and address, and, if different, your name as it appears on your application;

• Any A-number, which is an 8 or 9 digit number following the letter "A", assigned to you or to your application;

• Your date of birth;

• The date and place where your application was filed;

• Any receipt number from any receipt notice issued by INS or USCIS for your application;

• A copy of the most recent notice sent to you by INS or USCIS on your case, if you have received one; and

• The date and office where you were fingerprinted and where you were interviewed, if this has been done.

Sign your request, or, if you are preparing the request for the applicant, have him or her sign the request. Please mark your envelope: ATTN: Status Inquiry.

In person: If you choose to go to the local USCIS office that is processing your application, please take the following:

• Any A-number, which is an 8 or 9 digit number following the letter "A", assigned to you or to your application;

• The date and place where your application was filed;

• Any receipt number from any receipt notice issued by INS or USCIS for your application;

• A copy of the most recent notice sent to you by INS or USCIS on your case, if you have received one; and

• The date and office where you were fingerprinted and where you were interviewed, if this has been done.