CT

Case Tracker — Support

USCIS & NVC case status, ad-free and private.

Need help? Email [email protected] and describe what you were doing. I read every message.

Getting started

  1. Tap Add case.
  2. Choose what you're tracking — a USCIS receipt number or a FOIA request.
  3. Enter the identifier. A USCIS receipt number is 13 characters: three letters then ten digits, like IOE0912345678. It's printed on your I-797 notice.
  4. Optionally add a nickname ("Mom I-130") and the filing date from your notice — the filing date is what lets the app show how old your case is.
  5. Tap Save & check.

Understanding what you see

"Checked 3 mins ago"

Every case shows when it was last checked, not just its status. If the app hasn't been able to reach the source, it says so rather than leaving an old status looking fresh. Silence is never presented as good news.

"Auto-checks when app is open"

USCIS protects its status page with an anti-bot check. The app can clear that automatically while it's open, so your cases refresh when you use the app and when you pull down to refresh. It cannot do so while the app is fully closed — in that case you may get a reminder notification to open the app instead of a silent, stale result.

"Verification may be needed"

Occasionally the government site wants a human to complete its own verification step. The app shows you that step and waits. It never bypasses or automates those checks.

Moving to a new phone

  1. On the old device: Settings → Backup & restore → Export backup.
  2. Note the 6-digit PIN shown on screen — it stays visible until you tap Done, so you can read it after sending the file.
  3. Share the .casebackup file however you like (AirDrop is easiest between Apple devices).
  4. On the new device, tap the received file. Case Tracker opens straight into the import, asks whether to replace or merge, then asks for the PIN.

The backup file is encrypted. Without the PIN, nobody can read it — including me. There is no recovery, by design: that's what makes the file safe to send through a chat app or leave in cloud storage.

Sharing a single case

Open the case → ⋯ → Share case as backup. That produces the same encrypted file carrying only that one case, so the other person gets exactly that case and nothing else from your list.

Notifications

Notifications are generated on your device when a status actually changes. If you're not getting them, check Settings → Notify me on any change in the app, then iOS Settings → Case Tracker → Notifications. Quiet hours (in the app's Settings) hold alerts until the window ends.

Troubleshooting

A case says it can't be found

Double-check the receipt number, including leading zeros. Some newly filed cases take a few days to appear in the government system. Also confirm the number works on the agency's own website — if it doesn't work there, the app can't do better.

The app says a source changed or is unavailable

Government sites change their pages from time to time. When that happens the app tells you loudly instead of showing stale data. Please email me — it usually means the app needs an update, and reports like yours are how I find out quickly.

Case age is missing

USCIS only publishes the filing date while a case is at "Case Was Received". If yours has moved past that, open the case and tap Add filing date to enter the date from your I-797 notice.

Privacy

The app has no account, no ads, no analytics and no server. Your case data stays on your device. Full details in the privacy policy.

Not affiliated with the U.S. government

Case Tracker is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or provided by USCIS, the Department of State, the Department of Labor, or any other government agency. Always confirm official information on the agency's own website.