Use USCIS Case Status Online when Form I-129 was filed with USCIS. Use the Department of State’s CEAC Visa Status Check when the E-2 visa application was filed through a U.S. embassy or consulate. The two systems use different reference numbers and neither provides a guaranteed decision date.
Use the tracker operated by the agency handling the filing. A USCIS receipt number will not work in CEAC, and a DS-160 application or consular case number will not work in USCIS Case Status Online.
| Filed through | Use | Number needed | Official tool |
| USCIS — Form I-129 change or extension of status | USCIS Case Status Online | 13-character USCIS receipt number from Form I-797 | USCIS Case Status Online |
| U.S. embassy or consulate — nonimmigrant visa application | Department of State CEAC Visa Status Check | Application ID or case number; select NIV and the application location | CEAC Visa Status Check |
1. If You Applied Within the U.S. (Change of Status)
If Form I-129 was filed with USCIS, locate the 13-character receipt number on Form I-797. Enter the number in USCIS Case Status Online without dashes. The system displays the latest recorded action for that receipt number. A myUSCIS account may also provide notices or alerts when available. If the case is outside the published normal processing range, use the USCIS processing-times and case-inquiry tools rather than estimating a decision date from the status wording alone.
2. If You Applied Outside the U.S. (Consular Processing)
If you applied at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, your case is handled by the Department of State:
If the E-2 visa application was filed through a U.S. embassy or consulate, open the Department of State CEAC Visa Status Check, select ‘NONIMMIGRANT VISA (NIV)’, choose the application location and enter the requested application ID or case number. Follow any instructions provided by the embassy or consulate handling the application.
3. Key Status Meanings
| Status shown | What it safely means | What to do |
| Case Was Received | USCIS recorded the filing under the receipt number | Save the receipt notice and monitor the official account or status tool |
| Case Is Being Actively Reviewed | USCIS indicates that the case is under review | No decision is promised; respond only if USCIS issues a notice |
| Request for Evidence Was Sent | USCIS issued a notice requesting additional evidence | Read the notice and respond by the exact deadline; the status page is not a substitute for the notice |
| Approved | USCIS approved the petition or request described in the notice | Review Form I-797 and the attached I-94, if any, because approval of status is not the same as a visa stamp |
| Administrative Processing | The Department of State says the case requires further processing before a final decision | Follow the post’s instructions; timing varies |
| Issued | The Department of State records the visa as issued | Wait for passport-return instructions before making final travel plans |
| Refused | The Department of State records a refusal; some cases may later change after required action or processing | Review the written or post instructions and seek advice if they are unclear |
QUESTION: Which tracker should I use for an E-2 case?
ANSWER: Use USCIS Case Status Online for a Form I-129 filed with USCIS. Use CEAC for a nonimmigrant visa application filed through a U.S. embassy or consulate.
QUESTION: What if the status has not changed?
ANSWER: A status message does not provide a guaranteed decision date. Check the official processing-time or embassy guidance for the filing route. If the case is outside the applicable inquiry date or the agency has requested action, follow the official inquiry instructions or speak with the legal team handling the case.
This article explains how to track your E-2 visa application status with USCIS or a U.S. Embassy/Consulate using receipt numbers and online tools.
