3 Questions regarding the filling out of form i-485

[zeveljones 3]

Hi I have some questions regarding filling out the i-485 form:

1. At the end of PART 1. it asks about the I-94 number and expiration date. My wife's I-94 stub in her passport doesn't have an exact expiration date but rather says: DS. I believe this means Duration of Status. From what I've understood this basically means that her I-94 is good for as long as she is actively a student at the institution through which she received the student visa. The school year ended on June 30 this year, so I'm assuming that her DS was until May 1. Yet she was also told that there is a 60 day grace period, meaning that she can still remain in the US until the end of July. So the question is what does she put down in the form where it asks expiration date? May 1st (which already passed)? Or June 30 which would be the end of the grace period?... someone told me to put down exactly what it says on the I-94 stub - meaning the letters "DS". But the form clearly asks to put down an answer in mm/dd/yyyy format. So I'm confused about this and haven't been able to get answers anywhere.

2. I've filled out most of the form on the computer, using the PDF form. Then I printed out the form but with some of the spaces still blank. Now can I fill in those blank spaces in pen? Ultimately the result will be that the form will be partially filled out by computer and partially by handwritten pen. Is that okay?

3. The instructions on the forms clearly state to use BLACK INK PEN if filling out by hand. Yet, I've seen several posts on different forums saying that lawyers demanded that signatures be in BLUE ink. Also, I've seen posts mentioning forms being returned by the USCIS which were signed in black ink and required blue ink signatures so to distinguish originals from copies. Most of these posts I've read date from 2008 and earlier. Does anyone know what the final word on this issue is? Can I fill out the form in BLACK ink and then sign in BLUE although instructions say to fill in BLACK? confusing...

Thanks!

[engineer21 51]

Hi! I think you posted in the wrong forum. If your wife is here on a student visa, then you're not filing for K-3 visa for her.

But my response is in bold

Hi I have some questions regarding filling out the i-485 form:

1. At the end of PART 1. it asks about the I-94 number and expiration date. My wife's I-94 stub in her passport doesn't have an exact expiration date but rather says: DS. I believe this means Duration of Status. From what I've understood this basically means that her I-94 is good for as long as she is actively a student at the institution through which she received the student visa. The school year ended on June 30 this year, so I'm assuming that her DS was until May 1. Yet she was also told that there is a 60 day grace period, meaning that she can still remain in the US until the end of July. So the question is what does she put down in the form where it asks expiration date? May 1st (which already passed)? Or June 30 which would be the end of the grace period?... someone told me to put down exactly what it says on the I-94 stub - meaning the letters "DS". But the form clearly asks to put down an answer in mm/dd/yyyy format. So I'm confused about this and haven't been able to get answers anywhere.

When I did this, I put the date from my I-20 which is the estimated completion date. But if you know she is finishing in June for sure, I would put the end of school year plus the 60 day grace period. Personally D/S is not going to answer that expiration date question very well, especially since she is so close to being done.

2. I've filled out most of the form on the computer, using the PDF form. Then I printed out the form but with some of the spaces still blank. Now can I fill in those blank spaces in pen? Ultimately the result will be that the form will be partially filled out by computer and partially by handwritten pen. Is that okay?

Yes, you can partically handwrite the form if you decide to write D/S. I would send her I-20 along with the I-94 to show that she has been in school

I did this on the G-325A form because there were things that absolutely couldn't fit when typed on the computer.

No problems with doing this whatsoever.

3. The instructions on the forms clearly state to use BLACK INK PEN if filling out by hand. Yet, I've seen several posts on different forums saying that lawyers demanded that signatures be in BLUE ink. Also, I've seen posts mentioning forms being returned by the USCIS which were signed in black ink and required blue ink signatures so to distinguish originals from copies. Most of these posts I've read date from 2008 and earlier. Does anyone know what the final word on this issue is? Can I fill out the form in BLACK ink and then sign in BLUE although instructions say to fill in BLACK? confusing...

We have typed/printed/written/signed every USCIS form using black ink/pen.

Thanks!

Good luck!!

[Ontarkie 13,917]

moved to adjustment of status from work-student-tourist-visas

[ChrisPG 30]

Hi I have some questions regarding filling out the i-485 form:

1. At the end of PART 1. it asks about the I-94 number and expiration date. My wife's I-94 stub in her passport doesn't have an exact expiration date but rather says: DS. I believe this means Duration of Status. From what I've understood this basically means that her I-94 is good for as long as she is actively a student at the institution through which she received the student visa. The school year ended on June 30 this year, so I'm assuming that her DS was until May 1. Yet she was also told that there is a 60 day grace period, meaning that she can still remain in the US until the end of July. So the question is what does she put down in the form where it asks expiration date? May 1st (which already passed)? Or June 30 which would be the end of the grace period?... someone told me to put down exactly what it says on the I-94 stub - meaning the letters "DS". But the form clearly asks to put down an answer in mm/dd/yyyy format. So I'm confused about this and haven't been able to get answers anywhere.

2. I've filled out most of the form on the computer, using the PDF form. Then I printed out the form but with some of the spaces still blank. Now can I fill in those blank spaces in pen? Ultimately the result will be that the form will be partially filled out by computer and partially by handwritten pen. Is that okay?

3. The instructions on the forms clearly state to use BLACK INK PEN if filling out by hand. Yet, I've seen several posts on different forums saying that lawyers demanded that signatures be in BLUE ink. Also, I've seen posts mentioning forms being returned by the USCIS which were signed in black ink and required blue ink signatures so to distinguish originals from copies. Most of these posts I've read date from 2008 and earlier. Does anyone know what the final word on this issue is? Can I fill out the form in BLACK ink and then sign in BLUE although instructions say to fill in BLACK? confusing...

Thanks!

I was also adjusting status from an F1 student with "D/S" on the I-94. I just typed everything that I could on the computer and filled out the rest in black ink, including all dates and signatures. I wrote "D/S" in black ink also when asked for the expiration date of the I-94.

[zeveljones 3]

thanks engineer21 for the reply!

her school year ended on MAY 1. so the end of her status as a student + 60 days would actually be JUNE 29. so from what you're saying - we should put down JUNE 29 as expiration date?

yes i guess this particular question belongs to the AOS forum, though we'll be filing for AOS and K-3 visa simultaneously (AOS package + i-30 form). this is how i understand it. or possibly i've misunderstood what each means...

we're trying to do this without a lawyer. in your case did you require one? or is it manageable if you read the instructions carefully and double check everything?

and of course no out-of-the-ordinary issues or circumstances.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

1. DS is fine

2. Yes fine. As the form states use black ink to complete (fields that is)

3. sign in blue. "Completed" means the form fields, signature doesn't count. I've signed everything in blue and have had zero issues (obviously) with forms being returned because my signatures were in blue or didn't look original. There is a USCIS link that states to sign in blue ink but it's on a link about student visas or something...

I completed my process without RFE or interview in less than 3 months. I was AOSing from a K1 though so you WILL have an interview but just so you know - signatures in blue ink are fine. Your choice.

Edited May 28, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony

[jdh 103]

1. DS is fine

2. Yes fine. As the form states use black ink to complete (fields that is)

3. sign in blue. "Completed" means the form fields, signature doesn't count. I've signed everything in blue and have had zero issues (obviously) with forms being returned because my signatures were in blue or didn't look original. There is a USCIS link that states to sign in blue ink but it's on a link about student visas or something...

I completed my process without RFE or interview in less than 3 months. I was AOSing from a K1 though so you WILL have an interview but just so you know - signatures in blue ink are fine. Your choice.

This is a good answer to all your questions.

Don't over think it too much. That happens a lot.

In regards to the signature color I really don't think that matters. I did it in black and also had no RFE's with green card in hand in less than 90 days...

Like Van&Tony said - your choice.

[grrrrreat 109]

This is a good answer to all your questions.

Don't over think it too much. That happens a lot.

In regards to the signature color I really don't think that matters. I did it in black and also had no RFE's with green card in hand in less than 90 days...

Like Van&Tony said - your choice.

I agree Vanessa&Tony gave good answers. I would not write anything but D/S for I-94 expiration, because expected completion dates can only indicate when the F-1 status might expire; it could always take someone longer to finish their program, etc. Even if you know you're graduating on a particular date, your I-94 is still valid for your "duration of status". However, I don't think it will negatively impact anyone if they wrote something else, since I-94 expiration is largely irrelevant for the spouse of a U.S. citizen.

The blue signature color is a traditional choice. It is helpful to sign things in blue because it is then easier to distinguish document originals from black and white photocopies.