USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)

USCIS describes itself as the federal agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States, and as a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its work covers citizenship, family immigration, temporary and permanent work programs, E-Verify, humanitarian programs and adoptions.

US immigration is split between several agencies, and knowing which one does what saves a lot of confusion:

• USCIS decides petitions and applications, such as an employer's Form I-140 or an application to adjust status to permanent residence inside the US.
• The Department of State issues visas at embassies and consulates abroad and publishes the monthly Visa Bulletin.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) admits you at the border and creates your I-94 record.
• The Department of Labor handles PERM labor certification and prevailing wages.

None of them license you to practice. That is done by state boards, as our state licensure page explains.

• Nurses and physical therapists on the green card route: the employer files Form I-140 with USCIS, with a Schedule A application attached instead of a Department of Labor certification.
• Physicians on H-1B: the employer files Form I-129 with USCIS. See our H-1B page.
• J-1 physicians: USCIS makes the final decision on a Conrad 30 waiver, and decides change of status applications for doctors already in the US.
• Self-petitioners filing for a National Interest Waiver.
• Anyone adjusting status inside the US, including their work permit (EAD).

1. Keep the receipt notice, a Form I-797. USCIS says the receipt number consists of three letters followed by 10 numbers, for example starting EAC, WAC or LIN.
2. Enter the number without dashes in Case Status Online on uscis.gov. It shows the last action on the case and any next step.
3. Create a free USCIS online account at my.uscis.gov, which shows case updates, including up to the last five actions, and lets you file some forms online.
4. Answer any Request for Evidence by its deadline, and keep copies of everything you send.

USCIS publishes all its fees in Form G-1055, the fee schedule. The edition dated 10/26/26 says a form sent with the wrong fee will be rejected, and that there is often a $50 discount for filing online. Examples relevant to health professionals:

• Form I-140: $715 on paper or $665 online, plus an Asylum Program Fee of $600 for a regular petitioner, $300 for a small employer or self-petitioner, or $0 for a nonprofit.
• Form I-765 (work permit): $520 on paper or $470 online in most cases.

Fees change, sometimes yearly, so check G-1055 on the day you file.

• Reading a receipt as an approval. A receipt only confirms that USCIS has your case.
• Rejected filings. The I-140 page says USCIS rejects forms with missing required fields or improper signatures, including typed or stamped signatures, and petitions with an expired labor certification.
• Expecting USCIS to set your queue. For green cards, the Visa Bulletin decides when a visa number is available, not the date USCIS approves your petition. See priority date.

Our USA overview shows where USCIS fits in the full route.