USCIS is experiencing delays in issuing receipt notices for some applications and petitions (OPT, STEM Extension, Severe Economic Hardship) filed to USCIS lockbox facilities. This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors that are out of CIS’s control.
According to USCIS: “If you have already filed your application and are waiting for your receipt notice, we appreciate your patience. We are working as quickly as possible to complete the intake of all filings. You can take steps to decrease the time it takes us to process and send your receipt notice or find out the status of your case:
- File online (if this option is available for your form type) and receive immediate confirmation that we have received your form instead of waiting for the mail;
- Create a free USCIS online account and check the status of your case from your mobile device, anywhere, anytime using our case status online tool; or
- Complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and clip it to the front of your form when filing at a USCIS lockbox to request a text message and/or email when we accept your form.
Finally, visit our Form Filing Tips webpage for more information on filing with USCIS and our online tools for help in managing your application.”