Notice of Action (NOA)

Summary

A Notice of Action (NOA) form (I-797 Form) is a printed form that the USCIS creates to document certain "processing" milestones on petitions. Typically an NOA form is printed when a petition is entered into the USCIS system (after being received) and again when the petition has been processed and a final decision reached. The USCIS will mail the NOA to your place of residence (listed on your petition). It may take a week for the NOA to reach you via the US Postal Service.

Frequently used terms

• NOA1: Typically refers to the NOA printed when a petition is first received by the USCIS

• NOA2: Typically refers to the NOA printed when a petition has been processed and a final decision has been made

Notice of Action Form Information

Notice of Action Forms contain very useful bits of information. NOA1's print the received date (the date your petition was received in the mail and entered into the system) and the NOA date (the date the NOA was printed). NOA2's contain the initial received date of the petition as well as the NOA date which indicates the date your application was adjudicated.

Examples:

NOA1, NOA2

More information

See Glossary for more common terms