Contacting BCIS - No Phones, But Online Case Status

In the middle of 2003, BCIS decided that it would free resources if the four Service Centers that process the vast majority of immigration cases disconnected their public telephone numbers, and even the numbers reserved for attorney use.  While some attorneys have managed to secure clandestine telephone access to the Service Centers, the vast majority is unable to do so.

BCIS asserts that it has provided increased staff for the toll-free telephone number previously used for general immigration law inquiries (800) 375-5283.  But the call agents at this number have no access to case-specific information beyond the updates found on the BCIS website.  It is not possible to resolve problems through these agents and they have no access to Service Center personnel.  Problems like Service Center errors and clearly erroneous decisions may only be resolved through other means.  The California Service Center has retained its fax inquiry system, which is slow, but effective.  Other Service Centers have no system for processing errors and errors from those Centers must be resolved by letter written to the “personal attention of the Service Center Director.”

In late 2002, INS implemented a new online case status database that allows interested persons to obtain the same case information online that they could previously obtain only via an automated telephone system called INS Direct.  The improvement is significant because the various numbers to INS Direct for each service center were customarily busy and hours were required to connect on weekdays.  The URL for this service is:

https://egov.immigration.gov/graphics/cris/jsps/caseStat.jsp

Only the case number is required to use the system – it may be found on the top left corner of the INS receipt notice.  Should BCIS fail to send a receipt notice, the case number will also be printed on the back of the deposited filing fee check.  Please note that the processing dates provided on this system are highly inaccurate and fluctuate monthly.  The printed times on receipt notices remain the same for years.  For current processing times, visit www.usvisa-law.com and choose your Service Center from the menu on the left side of the page.