Visa & Green Card
USCIS Receipt Number Decoder for Indians
What does your USCIS receipt prefix mean? Select IOE, LIN, SRC, EAC, WAC, or MSC to see which service center has your case — no full number needed.
Educational estimate only. Not legal, tax, immigration, or financial advice. Full disclaimer below.
Receipt prefix decoder
What does my USCIS receipt prefix mean?
Select only the first 3 letters of your receipt number — no full number needed.
Select the first 3 letters of your receipt number above to see the explanation.
A USCIS receipt number can tell you which filing system or service center is handling your case from its 3-letter prefix, plus the fiscal year it was received. It does not reveal your exact processing speed or the outcome — it's an identifier, not a status.
Your 13-character receipt number encodes where and roughly when your case entered the system. This page breaks down the format and the service-center prefixes so you can look up the right processing time and track your case.
- Who this tool is for
- Anyone with a USCIS receipt number who wants to understand what the prefix and digits mean and which service center or system is handling their case.
Key inputs & documents you'll need
- Your 13-character receipt number (from your I-797 receipt notice)
- The 3-letter prefix (e.g., IOE, LIN, SRC, EAC, WAC, MSC, NBC)
- The form type the receipt belongs to
Related USCIS guides
Receipt Number Explained
Full guide: what it is, where to find it, what each prefix means
Case Status Meaning Tool
Decode your USCIS status message — H1B, I-140, I-485, EAD
USCIS Case Status Guide
Every status message explained for Indian applicants
RFE Guide
What to do when USCIS sends a Request for Evidence
USCIS Hub
Full USCIS overview for NRIs and Indian applicants
Case Approved — What Next
Post-approval steps for H1B, I-140, I-485, EAD, N-400
After the tool
What your result means
Decoding the receipt number tells you the handling system/center and the fiscal year received — useful for looking up the correct processing time and tracking case status. It does not predict how fast your case will move or what the decision will be, so use it to find the right official estimate rather than to guess an outcome.
Service center / system prefixes
| Prefix | System / center |
|---|---|
| IOE | USCIS electronic immigration system (ELIS) — online filings and electronically processed paper filings |
| LIN | Nebraska Service Center |
| SRC | Texas Service Center |
| EAC | Vermont Service Center |
| WAC | California Service Center |
| MSC | National Benefits Center |
| NBC | National Benefits Center (some filings) |
How the receipt number is structured
First 3 letters (prefix)
Identify the filing system or service center handling the case (for example, IOE for the electronic ELIS system, or a physical center code). This tells you where to look up processing times.
Fiscal year (next 2 digits)
The two digits after the prefix indicate the government fiscal year the case was received — a quick way to see how old the case is.
Computer workday (next 3 digits)
Represent the workday the case was entered into the system during that fiscal year — an internal processing-day figure, not a calendar date you need to act on.
Case sequence number (final digits)
The remaining digits are the unique sequence number identifying your specific case within that batch.
Step-by-step process
- Find your receipt number on your I-797 receipt notice (13 characters).
- Read the first 3 letters to identify the system or service center.
- Note the next two digits for the fiscal year the case was received.
- Use the prefix to look up the correct processing time for your form and center.
- Track your case with the official USCIS case-status tool using the full receipt number.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the receipt number reveals your approval date — it doesn't predict speed or outcome.
- Looking up processing times for the wrong center by misreading the prefix.
- Confusing the internal 'workday' digits with a calendar date.
- Mistyping the 13-character number when checking case status.
- Assuming an online (IOE) case and a paper-center case move at the same pace.
Related NRITOUSA tools
Frequently asked questions
What does IOE mean?
IOE is the prefix for cases in the USCIS electronic immigration system (ELIS). It means your case is handled through that electronic system rather than a specific physical service center. It is typically an online filing, but not necessarily — USCIS also assigns IOE numbers to paper filings processed or digitised electronically. Unlike traditional service-center numbers, the digits following IOE do not encode a fiscal year and computer workday.
What does LIN mean?
LIN is the prefix for the Nebraska Service Center. A receipt number starting with LIN means that center received and is associated with your case, which tells you where to look up the relevant processing time.
What does SRC mean?
SRC is the prefix for the Texas Service Center. A receipt beginning with SRC indicates your case is associated with that center, so you'd check the Texas Service Center's processing times for your form.
What does WAC mean?
WAC is the prefix for the California Service Center. A WAC receipt number means your case is tied to that center, so use the California Service Center's posted processing times for your form type.
Does the receipt number show an approval timeline?
No. The receipt number identifies the handling system/center and the fiscal year received, but it doesn't predict how fast your case will be decided or the outcome. Use it to find the correct official processing-time estimate rather than a guaranteed date.
Where is the receipt number on the I-797?
On an I-797/I-797C notice, the 13-character receipt number is usually printed near the top, often labeled 'Receipt Number.' It's the identifier you enter into the USCIS case-status tool to track your case.
Disclaimer, assumptions & sources
This tool is for general education and planning only. It does not replace advice from a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, USCIS, IRS, State Department, or other official source. Rules, limits, forms, fees, dates, and government processing information may change. Always verify before filing, investing, or making immigration, tax, or financial decisions.
- For educational use only — not legal advice.
- Not tax advice.
- Not financial advice.
- Not immigration advice.
- Numbers, forms, fees, dates, rules, and limits may change at any time.
- Always verify with official sources before acting.
- Consult a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, or the relevant official agency (USCIS, IRS, State Department) when it matters to your situation.
Always verify at uscis.gov and consult a licensed immigration attorney for your situation.
See our full site disclaimer for complete terms.