How to Check Your Visa Status Online (All Categories)

Introduction: Why Visa Status Checking Is Important in 2025

Whether you are applying for a tourist visa, a work visa such as H1B or L1B, or an immigrant green card, checking your visa application status is critical. Government processing times are now more transparent than ever—but it depends on who knows where and how to see them. The majority of the applicants are unaware about the exact step-by-step ways to check visa application status are and therefore end up in delays, confusion, and even canceled travel.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to check all types of U.S. visa statuses online—from nonimmigrant visa status to immigrant visa approvals—using official portals and verified methods.

Understanding Visa Status: What It Means

A visa status reflects the current stage of your application with an immigration authority. It could be:

• Submitted: Your form has been received.
• Under Review: The officer is assessing your documents.
• Administrative Processing: Additional background checks.
• Issued: Visa approved and waiting for stamping.
• Refused or Denied: The application was not up to the mark.

Whether you are attempting to check h1b visa status, check b2 visa status or your immigration visa check status, you need to be aware of what each of these terms indicates.

Types of Visa Applications You Can Track Online

There are four major types of visas you can track online:

Non-Immigrant Visas

1. Examples: Tourist (B1/B2), Student (F1), Business (B1), Employment-based (H1B, L1B)

Immigrant Visas

1. Examples: Family-based (I-130), Employment-based (EB1–EB5), Green Card lottery

Humanitarian Visas

1. Examples: Refugee, Asylum, U and T visas

Transit/Diplomatic Visas

1. For government officials, aircrew, or transit travelers

Each category has a different portal and process for visa status checks by passport number or application ID.

How to Check Non-Immigrant Visa Status Online (H1B, B2, L1B)

1. H1B Visa Applicants

If you’ve applied for an H1B visa, here’s how to check h1b visa application status:

USCIS Case Status Portal

• Visit https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus
• Provide the 13-character receipt number beginning with EAC, WAC, LIN, or SRC
• Click Check Status

1. This process assists you in checking your H1b visa status, checking your H1 application status, or even following up on petitions filed by your employer.

H1B Lottery Result Check (For First-Time Applicants)

1. You will be notified if selected. To check for visa status after the lottery, the case must be filed formally by the employer.

H1B Visa Stamping Status

1. To check h1b visa status online when the petition has been approved, utilize the CEAC portal.

2. B1/B2 Tourist and Business Visas

To check b2 visa status or a combined B1/B2 visa:

• Utilize the CEAC Visa Status Check tool
• Choose the visa category and location of your application
• Provide your DS-160 barcode and your passport number

This approach facilitates visa checks online by passport number and is ideal for short-term visitors to the U.S.

3. L1B Visa – Intra-Company Transfers

To follow l1b visa status, the procedure is the same as H1B:

• Take the USCIS Case Status tool
• Use your receipt number (your I-129 petition confirmation has it)
• Use the CEAC portal after the petition approval to follow the stamping status

Remember, to check the status of your visa or know if you’re approved for stamping, USCIS and CEAC work in tandem.

Using CEAC to Check U.S. Visa Stamping and Interview Status

The Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) allows applicants to track the U.S. visa stamping status and interview outcomes.

How to Use CEAC:

1. Visit https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC
2. Select Check My Visa Application Status
3. Choose either IV (Immigrant Visa) or NIV (Non-Immigrant Visa)
4. Enter your Case ID (e.g., MTL2022123456 or AA00234567)

Enter your passport number if asked.

1. Tip: If your status reads Administrative Processing, it can stay the same for weeks. This doesn’t necessarily mean denial.

How to Check Immigrant Visa Status (I-130, DS-260, EB Categories)

For green card or permanent resident applicants, it is important to know how to check the status immigrant visa.

1. USCIS Case Status (For Petition-Based Immigrant Visas)

• Track your I-130 (family), I-140 (employment), or I-485 (adjustment of status)
• Go to the CEAC portal
• This covers us visa application status and immigration visa check status

2. DS-260 Visa Status Check (For Consular Processing)

Once your petition is approved and you’re going through consular processing, the DS-260 becomes critical.

Steps to check the status of DS 260:

1. Visit the CEAC portal
2. Choose “IV” and enter your case number (from NVC)

Click Submit to see your immigrant visa status.

1. This tool also responds to how to check whether your immigrant visa is available, particularly in family-based cases with lengthy wait times.

Check Visa Status by Passport Number (Simplified Option)

Some embassies and visa centers permit you to check your visa status by passport number or even send SMS notifications.

Options Include:

• Embassy Tracking Page

(Enter passport number and DOB)

• Email/SMS Notifications from VFS or USTravelDocs
• Works for how to check my visa status or visa status check by passport number

Pro Tip: Bookmark your embassy’s tracking page. It’s faster than logging into the entire CEAC system.

What to Do If Your Status Isn’t Updating

If you’ve tried every tool and still can’t see progress, here’s what to do:

• Wait 5–7 business days after submission for updates
• Check if your email or phone number is correct in your application
• Call the customer service hotline of USCIS, IRCC, or the country’s embassy
• Don’t take the help of forums or third-party agents to guess your status

Learning how to check the status of my visa application is essential, but patience and the right information are equally important.

Mobile Apps and SMS Tracking Tools

New-age visa systems provide real-time notifications to monitor the progress. Follow these steps on how to make use of them.

1. USCIS Case Tracker App

• Can be used on Android & iOS
• Append your receipt number and turn on alerts
• Supports checking h1b visa status, l1b visa status, etc.

2. IRCC & UKVI Notice Emails

• IRCC provides status updates if you turn on notifications
• UKVI and TLS/VFS also provide email and SMS tracking (usually paid)

If you want to know how to check my visa application status while on the move, apps and SMS are the way to go.

Final Thoughts: Be Informed, Be Secure

Whether checking your nonimmigrant visa status, following an immigrant visa check status, or merely attempting to determine how to check a visa application status, the optimal strategy is to:

• Use official government sites
• Preserve your reference numbers securely and organized
• Avoid third-party scams or paid agents claiming fast-tracking

For us applicants in particular, it is important to learn how to manage tools such as CEAC, USCIS Case Tracker, and DS-260 if you want to stay ahead of your application status.

Know Where You Stand—We’ll Guide You Forward

Have a visa status and are you still confused? Don’t know what to do next? Let our experts at Passage Law simplify the process.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today