USCIS Case Status Message Explorer

Did you get a USCIS case status update message? What is USCIS case status message "Document Was Returned To USCIS"? What comes next and how long does it usually take? Explore the interactive chart below to find out! (Please note: Each USCIS case is unique and we cannot guarantee that your case will progress in a way that is represented here)

Last updated: Dec 14, 2025|Next scheduled update: Dec 15, 2025

Find out more about I-765 case processing times and trends across different service centers on our USCIS Case Processing Times & Trends page

Document Was Returned To USCIS

31% of cases received

New Card Is Being Produced

177 Days on average

31% of cases received

Document Was Mailed

30 Days on average

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19% of cases received

Case Was Approved

170 Days on average

12% of cases received

Expedite Request Denied

169 Days on average

USCIS Case Status Message Explorer was created based on Lawfully-analyzed 187,379 cases of I-765 in All other applications for employment authorization category from the most recent year.

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Community Post

I-129F Document was Returned to USCIS

Has anyone received this notice with their case in the past ? if so how did you manage it ? Did it cause any delays to your K1 petition ?

Community Post

Hello brothers, I hope you can explain to me what it means document was returned to uscis.... You must send us a request before 180 p.m. or we will destroy your petition. What does this mean?

On September 7, 2023, the Post Office returned your document to us. We will hold your document for 180 days or until March 5, 2024. Please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request that we resend the document to you. If you do not submit an online request by March 5, 2024, we will destroy your document and you will need to file a new Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) I hope someone who understands and knows can help me explain

Community Post

K1 Visa Status is not being updated online?!?!

My fiancé and I are trying to get some clarification on our K1 status. I am a US citizen living in South Korea, and she is Korean. We applied on 12/21/2022 and never received a receipt of our package delivery, even though I completed the form to receive notification of when payment would be received. I know the package was received, because the check was cashed by USCIS. Next, I checked the website every day, and then saw an update that on 02/02/2023 our document was returned to USCIS…So, after that, I sent numerous e-requests as suggested on the website to resend the documents. 2 months later, we finally received the receipt document in the mail that our case was being processed as normal from 03/14/2023. However, the website and “Lawfully” phone app still aren’t updating that the case is being processed as NOA1. The website still says our document was returned to USCIS on 02/02/2023. Does anyone have any insight as to what I should do???

Community Post

Document Was Returned To USCIS"?

I came to USA with j1 visa and change of my status to j1 to b2 and then b2 to f1. I have f1 status now and applied green card on Eb3. today I received rfe for i485. they are asking me about all approval notice and change of status document . I realized I haven’t received approval notice for b2. I check with case number on uscis . it shows that the approval notice returned to uscis because it could not delivered. how can I get my approval notice? it was 2 years ago. could you please help me ?