FTA0: Database Checks Received
What "FTA0: Database Checks Received" means on your USCIS case, and what to do next.
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What does “FTA0: Database Checks Received” mean?
FTA0 is an internal USCIS event code meaning the required background and security database checks for your case have been received and are being processed. It appears in your raw case data — not in the public status message — and is one of the most common signs your case has started active back-end processing after receipt. Many applicants see FTA0 in the internal API while the public tracker still shows "Case Was Received."
What we see in real cases
From 4,800+ de-identified cases people checked with CaseStatusAPI that show code FTA0. Updated daily.
- Cases
- 4,800+
- Last seen
- Oct 2026
- Usually after filing
- 28 days
Forms it appears on
These are cases people checked here, not every USCIS case, so they lean toward online filings and people watching their case closely. Your own case can move faster or slower.
What should you do?
No action is needed — FTA0 is a normal internal milestone, not a request for anything. It generally means your file has moved past intake into background checks. From FTA0, cases commonly move next to FTA1 (a supervisory or secondary review), biometrics, an interview, or a decision, depending on your form type. Because FTA0 is a silent, internal event, checking the internal API is often the only way to see it.
Looking for other statuses? Browse the full USCIS case status & code index.
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Check my case freeWe are immigration applicants and technologists who built CaseStatusAPI to help others navigate the USCIS process with transparency. Our guides are informed by firsthand experience, community feedback, and deep analysis of USCIS internal API data.
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