The “Error retrieving case status” message on the USCIS website is a generic technical error. It usually means the system is overloaded or having a temporary “handshake” issue with your browser.
It almost certainly does not mean something is wrong with your actual application.
Since today is Wednesday, December 17, 2025, there are no major scheduled maintenance outages reported (those usually happen on weekends).
Here is how to fix it:
1. The “Clean Slate” Fix (Most Likely to Work)
The USCIS site is very sensitive to old cookies.
Clear your cache/cookies: In your browser settings, clear data for
uscis.gov.Try Incognito Mode: Open a Private/Incognito window and try the Case Status tool again.
Switch Browsers: If you are on Chrome, try Edge or Safari (or vice versa).
2. Check Your “myUSCIS” Account Instead
The public “Check Case Status” tool (where you just type the number) often breaks while the secure login portal still works.
Go to my.uscis.gov and log in.
Your case history there is pulled from a different database and is often more stable.
3. The “Two-Zero” Typo
Double-check your receipt number (e.g., IOE, MSC, LIN).
Ensure you are not typing the letter “O” instead of the number “0”. This is the most common cause of “retrieval” errors.
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4. If You Need to Know RIGHT NOW
If the site remains broken for you, you can get the status via the automated phone system:
Call: 1-800-375-5283
Say: “Check case status”
Input: Speak or type your 13-character receipt number.
Note on “Validation Errors”:
If the error specifically says “Validation Error” or “User Defined Error,” that is a server-side crash at USCIS. In that case, you just have to wait 1-2 hours for them to reboot the service.
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