How to Add a Paper-Filed Case to Your myUSCIS Account
If your employer filed your H1B or green card petition on paper, here is how to link it to your myUSCIS account for online tracking.
In a nutshell
Most employer-sponsored H1B and green card petitions are paper-filed by your employer's attorney. To track these in your myUSCIS account, you either need your attorney to enter your USCIS online account number on the petition before filing, OR you use the online access code that USCIS mails to you after filing. Both methods are free and do not require sharing your A-Number or receipt number with USCIS again.
Method 1 — Online account number (before filing)
This method requires coordination with your attorney before the petition is submitted.
- title: Method 1 steps
- Create a myUSCIS account at my.uscis.gov if you do not have one
- Go to your profile and locate your USCIS online account number
- Send this number to your employer's immigration attorney
- The attorney enters it in the appropriate field on the paper petition (e.g., Part 5 of I-129 for H1B)
- After USCIS receives the petition and creates a receipt, the case links to your account automatically
Method 2 — Online access code (after filing)
This method works after filing, using a code USCIS mails to you.
- title: Method 2 steps
- Wait for USCIS to mail an online access code notice to the address on your petition
- Create or log in to your myUSCIS account at my.uscis.gov
- On your dashboard, click "Add a case" or "Link a paper case"
- Enter your 13-character receipt number from your I-797 notice
- Enter the online access code from the separate mailed notice
- The case appears in your myUSCIS dashboard within 24–48 hours
What you can see after linking
Once a paper case is linked to your myUSCIS account, you can typically:
- View the current case status (same as egov.uscis.gov, but in your dashboard)
- Receive email or text notifications when your status changes
- In some cases, respond to RFEs or upload evidence electronically
- See notices associated with the case
What you cannot do via myUSCIS for paper-filed cases
- You cannot change the filing details or petition contents
- You cannot file new forms through the paper case link — those require separate filings
- Not all paper-filed forms have full online functionality — I-485 updates may be more limited than I-129
Common situations
H1B worker (I-129 petition)
Your employer's attorney files I-129 on paper. Give your attorney your USCIS online account number before they file. After filing, USCIS sends an access code to your address as a backup linking method.
I-140 green card petition
I-140 is filed by your employer on your behalf. Same process: give attorney your online account number before filing, or use access code after receipt notice arrives.
I-485 adjustment of status
I-485 can be filed on paper (typically by an attorney package). If concurrently filed with I-140, both may appear in your account once linked.
Frequently asked questions
My attorney says they did not enter my online account number. Can I still link my case?
Yes — use Method 2 (access code). USCIS will mail the code to the address on your petition. If you have not received it after 8 weeks, contact your attorney or USCIS.
I have multiple cases. Do I need to link each one separately?
Yes. Each paper case must be linked individually using its own receipt number and access code (or your account number, if the attorney entered it for each petition).
Can my attorney see my myUSCIS account after I link the case?
Linking a case to your account does not automatically give your attorney access to your account. Your attorney has their own representative account with USCIS. Your myUSCIS account is personal.
Check your USCIS case status meaning
Once your case is linked, use the USCIS Case Status Meaning Tool to understand what each status update means.
Not sure what a USCIS notice means?
Use the USCIS Notice Decoder — select your notice type and form for plain-English guidance.
Try the Notice Decoder →