Best way to send AOS Package

[mirrortraveler 1]

Hello all,

So we are finally getting closer to mailing off our AOS package. Yay!

Quick question: How did you guys send yours out?

We have a joint sponsor for the I-864 and otherwise quite a bit of necessary paperwork to send.

Is it okay if I put it all into a 1 1/2 inch 3-ring binder? I was thinking of putting the cheque, photos, medical letter, forms, explanation letter, and cover sheet into plastic sheet protectors and 3-hole punching the rest of the paperwork (bank statements, earnings statements, etc.). Does this sound okay? Or should I do this differently?

Thank you all so much for your input!

[TBoneTX 45,536]

The USCIS mailroom staff who open the submissions will throw your binder away and will arrange your materials in the order that suits USCIS.

Just binder-clip everything, with paper clips or smaller binder clips to organize similar material.

On the outside of the envelope in which you mail everything to USCIS, visibly put "ORIGINAL I-485". If you're including the packages for EAD & AP, also put "ORIGINAL I-765" and "ORIGINAL I-131". This is not necessary, but the mailroom staff might appreciate it.

I really sweated the sending of the I-129F petition, as so many here do. I became less concerned as the journey proceeded. By Naturalization time, I mailed the citizenship stuff just regular first-class, with a one-line cover letter: "Attached is the original N-400 for [wife], [A#]."

[Mariane 1]

Hi Mirrortraveler! I just sent out my sister's AOS last Feb. 20 2015. Did they gave you a checklist and mentioned it there that you have to send photos, cheques, banking statement etc.,? If not, I'd rather save those and hand it to them when the beneficiary's interview comes up (if they needed more evidence). I'm the designated agent for my 3 siblings from the Philippines (IR2) and I only submitted whatever the I-864 form instructions said so and the checklist that NVC emailed. I received their reply today and they told me that I missed one question on the I-864 which is putting a 0 digit on the Part 6, item 10. Now, I have send a new I-864 form with the changes. But anyways, I recommend not to send them in a binder with those extra evidences since it will add up on your shipping rate. I placed my paperwork on a sealed envelop and overnighted it. I also put them in order and made 1 set of copy and clip them with binder clips. I wrote their NVC cases on top of every pages and separated the copies from originals. Also, giving them copies will lessen your worries about them misplacing your originals while making a copy of it. By the way, I am the joint sponsor since my dad (petitioner) does not have any source of income.

Documents I submitted:

2X I-864 form ( Petitiner & Joint Sponsor)

Dad's passport and my green card photocopy (I'm not a USC yet)

My sister's Birth Certificate

My sister's NBI Clearance

My Parents Marriage Certificate

My sisters 2x2 photos

My Dad and I's tax forms, transcripts and W2s.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Hi Mirrortraveler! I just sent out my sister's AOS last Feb. 20 2015. Did they gave you a checklist and mentioned it there that you have to send photos, cheques, banking statement etc.,? If not, I'd rather save those and hand it to them when the beneficiary's interview comes up (if they needed more evidence). I'm the designated agent for my 3 siblings from the Philippines (IR2) and I only submitted whatever the I-864 form instructions said so and the checklist that NVC emailed. I received their reply today and they told me that I missed one question on the I-864 which is putting a 0 digit on the Part 6, item 10. Now, I have send a new I-864 form with the changes. But anyways, I recommend not to send them in a binder with those extra evidences since it will add up on your shipping rate. I placed my paperwork on a sealed envelop and overnighted it. I also put them in order and made 1 set of copy and clip them with binder clips. I wrote their NVC cases on top of every pages and separated the copies from originals. Also, giving them copies will lessen your worries about them misplacing your originals while making a copy of it. By the way, I am the joint sponsor since my dad (petitioner) does not have any source of income.

Documents I submitted:

2X I-864 form ( Petitiner & Joint Sponsor)

Dad's passport and my green card photocopy (I'm not a USC yet)

My sister's Birth Certificate

My sister's NBI Clearance

My Parents Marriage Certificate

My sisters 2x2 photos

My Dad and I's tax forms, transcripts and W2s.

This post is about AOS= Adjustment of Status and not AOS= Affidavit of Support. The OP is filing for adjustment of status with the USCIS, needs the documents they mentioned in their post and is not dealing with the NVC.

OP, don't 3 hole punch down the side of your documents and use a binder. Just group them together best you can, separating each form and its supporting evidence using various sized paperclips. They will take it apart and place the forms in their own folders how they want them to go.

See these links about filing >

http://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips

http://www.uscis.gov/forms/forms-and-fees/general-tips-assembling-applications-mailing

http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/directorates-and-program-offices/lockbox-intake/lockbox-intake-processing-questions-and-answers

[naijaboy007 1]

pls how many passport picture does the petitioner need in an AOS concurrent filing case?

[mirrortraveler 1]

Thank you for your answers, guys!

ozeh36: I've been wondering about the same thing.

By the way, one of the reasons I was thinking about using a binder was because I'm still worried about some very sensitive documents getting damaged on the trip.

The medical "do not open" envelope, for instance, which should have been properly sealed with a seal, or sticker, or properly glued shut but was just kind of lightly "sealed" in the way a regular envelope would be, so the adhesive has already worn off on the sides. It's barely still shut in the center and I'm worried that it looks like it's been opened even though I never actually tried to. I know that if it looks like the letter has been opened, that can lead to an RFE or worse, right? So I have wrapped the letter in a clear sheet cover and am hoping for the best. I'm just not sure if it's enough.

[mirrortraveler 1]

Also, do all of the AOS packages need to go to Chicago or just the nearest USCIS branch? If so, which one is the closest to Florida?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

pls how many passport picture does the petitioner need in an AOS concurrent filing case?

You should ask your own separate, unrelated questions in the appropriate forum > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/130-adjustment-of-status-from-work-student-tourist-visas/

Someone adjusting from a K-1 will not have to provide all the supporting documentation you will, as they do not have to submit an I-130.

Also, do all of the AOS packages need to go to Chicago or just the nearest USCIS branch? If so, which one is the closest to Florida?

To answer your wondering about the passport photos, the USC petitioner/sponsor does not need to provide any when adjusting from a K-1. You are the AOS applicant. The forms and passport photos needed with them are of you only. You need a total of 6, 2 for the I-485, 2 for the I-765 and 2 for the I-131.

They are all mailed together to the Chicago lockbox, as instructed on the USCIS page for the I-485 > http://www.uscis.gov/i-485-addresses

[CowBoE 429]

I...

1) used little sticky notes to the side to label each documents

2) used either paper or binder clips to group related documents together

3) used small ziploc bag to place the picture and clip it to the related document

4) used a large ziploc bag to put entire content in (to protect it from any moisture during transit)

[carton025 38]

I used ACCO folders for all of my gals petitions and during her recent N-400 interview the USCIS IO officer had all of the peitions submitted by my gal and me still in the same ACCO folders they were submitted in. So, for my gal and I, anyways, using the ACCO folders was a "great choice."

Best of luck!

[carton025 38]

Correction, they were not ACCO folders, but manila folders with the 2-prongs inside at the top of the folders.

[raven52 233]

Keeping "like documents" together is the way I would do it, and then put in some kind of flexible folder, not a 3 ring binder, too rigid, to my thinking!

[squirrelisan 23]

Here you go, from the horse's mouth. There are numerous tips on package assembly, but I think this is the one you were asking about specifically.

• In preparing your packet, please take note of the following:
  • Do not use binders or folders that cannot be easily disassembled.
  • Use ACCO fasteners to hold together thick or bulky applications or petitions. Two-hole punching the top of the material for easy placement in the file is appreciated.
  • The use of tabs assist in locating items listed as attachments. The tabs should be placed on the bottom and not the side for ease in filing.
  • Avoid using heavy-duty staples; instead use ACCO fasteners or heavy clips.
  • Avoid submitting originals unless specifically required. Avoid submitting oversized documentation when possible.

http://www.uscis.gov/forms/forms-and-fees/general-tips-assembling-applications-mailing

[Marco&Bettina 502]

You should ask your own separate, unrelated questions in the appropriate forum > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/130-adjustment-of-status-from-work-student-tourist-visas/

Someone adjusting from a K-1 will not have to provide all the supporting documentation you will, as they do not have to submit an I-130.

To answer your wondering about the passport photos, the USC petitioner/sponsor does not need to provide any when adjusting from a K-1. You are the AOS applicant. The forms and passport photos needed with them are of you only. You need a total of 6, 2 for the I-485, 2 for the I-765 and 2 for the I-131.

They are all mailed together to the Chicago lockbox, as instructed on the USCIS page for the I-485 > http://www.uscis.gov/i-485-addresses

Super crazy but I only submitted 2 passport-style photos for my wife when I sent her packet off, not 6.. The EAD combo card she received Mar 27, 2015 is using the photo taken at her Biometrics. I wonder if we'll eventually get some kind of RFE for not sending enough photos. Or if we only really needed to send 2 because we filed AOS, EAD, & AP simultaneously.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Super crazy but I only submitted 2 passport-style photos for my wife when I sent her packet off, not 6.. The EAD combo card she received Mar 27, 2015 is using the photo taken at her Biometrics. I wonder if we'll eventually get some kind of RFE for not sending enough photos. Or if we only really needed to send 2 because we filed AOS, EAD, & AP simultaneously.

You won't. An RFE for the extra passport photos is rare, but has happened. I never understood why they asked for so many passport photos, and then used the digital photo from the biometrics anyway.