What is I-140?
Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) is the petition the employer files with USCIS after PERM is approved by the US Department of Labor. With the I-140, the employer shows that the position is real, that they are able to pay the registered wage, and that the worker meets the requirements of the position. For EB-3, your Priority Date is usually the date the PERM was filed.
Step 1 – Get the receipt number
When USCIS receives the I-140, it sends a receipt notice, Form I-797C (Notice of Action), to the filer (the employer or their attorney). It shows a 13-character receipt number: 3 letters + 10 digits, for example IOE0123456789 (sample number). Ask for a copy of the receipt notice, or at least the receipt number.
Step 2 – Check on Case Status Online
- Go to uscis.gov/casestatus (Case Status Online – free).
- Enter the receipt number as one string, with no dashes and no spaces.
- Click Check Status and read the latest status.
Some common statuses (in English on the USCIS site):
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Case Was Received | USCIS has received the case and it is waiting for review. |
| Request for Additional Evidence Was Sent | USCIS is asking for more evidence (RFE) – the filer must respond by the deadline. |
| Case Was Approved | The I-140 is approved – the next step is waiting for your priority date to become current. |
To get automatic updates, the filer can use a my.uscis.gov account.
Step 3 – Compare with processing times
Go to egov.uscis.gov/processing-times, select I-140 and the processing office (shown on the receipt notice) to see current processing times. The employer can pay an extra fee for premium processing (Form I-907) on the I-140 – but this only speeds up the I-140 review; it does not speed up the visa queue on the Visa Bulletin. See Two parallel tracks.
After the I-140 is approved
When the priority date becomes current, applicants processing from Vietnam continue through the NVC (National Visa Center) and an interview at the US Consulate. People already in the US may file an I-485 when the visa chart allows.
Watch out for scams
- Only check on .gov sites – do not pay any site to “check for you”.
- USCIS does not ask for fees by phone or email, and does not accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo or gift cards.
- No one can “buy” priority review – only USCIS decides on faster processing.
Sources: USCIS – Form I-140 · USCIS – Processing Times · USCIS – Common Scams.
📌 General information, not legal advice for any specific case. Independent information & referral page.