I am currently living in New Zealand with my spouse (I am the US citizen). We gathered all our documents for submitting the I-130 application, checked our list about 20 times...followed all the "general tips for submitting applications" found on the USCIS website, and sent our application to the TSC.

I called up the customer helpline (at 3 am my time) to find out what shipping options we had available to us and the woman I spoke to said to just send it general mail because that's the only way anyone can send documents to them. I wasn't comfortable with that because of all the personal information being sent (I have identity theft paranoia). The woman at the post office here said we only had 2 options for sending documents internationally- send it general mail (and hope that it gets there) or Track and Trace, which tracks it from the moment it leaves the post office here until it reaches its destination in the US, upon which it requires a signature to confirm it's been received. She said there would be no problem sending it signature required to the P.O. Box there, they've always been accepted.

We sent it Track and Trace...then traced it online all the way from the post office to TSC. According to the tracking system the delivery attempt on June 8th was unsuccessful. So now it's on its way back to New Zealand and we're out our postage (about $20 USD) plus the return fees, which may be more than the initial postage! But the worst part of it is we'll have an application that's still not submitted. *sighs*

So, I'm curious, has anyone tried sending them documents by any other means than general mail? I could swear I've read in other people's timelines that they had their documents signed for upon delivery, but maybe I'm just misreading what they've written. Surely I'm not the only one with issues about sending documents internationally and then pacing the floor 'til you get notification they've received it.

I'm hoping someone here has had some experience with this and can offer a solution... Thanks for reading my post!

-Tiara

I wouldnt be so quick to say the documents didnt get delivered.
Usually anything trying to be delivered to a Service centre after noon on a Friday, will get that "undeliverable" message. Regardless of where it's sent from. I would wait til Tuesday, i think you may be surprised!!

Jodee

Thanks for your reply, Jodee! In that case, we'll wait for either a status update saying it's delivered, or for a card to arrive in our mailbox telling us to go to the post office to collect the undelivered package. In the latter case, we'll resend it using a different address.

You see, when Tiara phoned up USCIS, the agent there said there was no alternative address for TSC other than the PO Box listed. So, we sent our package to the PO Box address. However, we have since discovered, to our chagrin, that the agent was wrong and there is indeed a courier delivery address listed (it is in a very inconspicuous place on the TSC page on the USCIS website, unlike the CSC page). It's not in Mesquite, so I don't know if using that address will hold up delivery even further, but if it's the only chance we have, so be it.

Either way, here's hoping no further drama...we've already had more than our share....

Cheers,
Chris.

Hi Chris,
All service centers accept courier delivery. Not sure if yours would be classified as such. This link is to the USCIS page about the Texas Service Center that has the various addresses. Did you use the PO Box address or the "Courier Delivery" address?

If my memory serves me correctly, I sent my stuff via regular US mail with "Return Receipt Requested". It went to the PO Box and I got the signature card returned to me.

I think you'll be fine, as jodee indicated. There is usually more than 1 delivery attempt before returning to the sender.

Best of luck,

G

Probably what happened is USCIS had already picked up their mail when your pkt arrived. They should get it tomorrow. Good luck.

Meriem

Thanks for that, G. Yes, our package was sent by courier, but because we were unaware of the courier delivery address at the time of sending (much thanks---not!---to the USCIS agent who told us that the PO Box was our only option), it was addressed to the PO Box address. If it gets returned, we will use the courier delivery address---but I hope not, because we'd have wasted about two weeks of time and $50 through no fault of ours, except perhaps taking a USCIS agent at their word.

Cheers,
Chris.

Thanks Jodee! I guess we'll just bide our time then... I hope they try to redeliver it, I don't know how long it will sit there before they send it back! *sighs* This would have been much easier if the US Consulate would let me apply here... *grumbling*




Thanks Meriem! It got there before noon on Friday, but if they close early on Fridays I bet their pick up time is different. I hadn't thought of that before...

What an unusual spelling of your name (it's said like Miriam, right?). I like it!

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Thanks for your replies everyone. I kind of feel like a dork because apparently a lot of people have this same problem with TSC and post about it on VJ. I had tried searching to find any posts about it before I posted my question, but I guess I just wasn't using the right word combinations to bring any of them up. I ran across a few of those threads by chance last night and did the whole *D'oh!* thing... *grin* My apologies... I don't mean to be an annoying newbie! I appreciate your patience with my question...

-Tiara

Our documents were delivered today at 5:55 am!! Yay! I'm so thankful they got there... Thanks everyone for your help!

-Tiara

Awesome news!!

Jodee