Assembling Final I-130 and I-485 Packages

[Ethan&Simone 0]

Hey all,

 

I'm getting ready to finally submit my packages concurrently but I'm a little confused and can't find much guidance on how to finally assemble everything togethter.

I've used just heavy paperclips and separtated the files as they appear on the cover letter.

Attached are the two cover letters I have. Does that seem to encompass everything required? I just don't want to miss anything and then have an RFE requested.

A couple questions in regards to assembling the final package:

1) I currenlty have the I-130 (with supporting docs) and the I-130A in a manilla folder seperate from the I-485/765/864/131 which are also in a manilla folder. Is this correct or should they be together?

2) Are the cover letters stapled on the outside of the folder or just slid in on top of the other documents?

3) Does anyone have a picture on how the outside of the package looks so I can ensure it gets mailed properly, or does USPS put it in their own folder for shipping?

4) Is there anything I should put/write on the manilla folder if the above is true?

 

Just nervous on finally submitting it and having it sent back for whatever reason.

Thank you for your patience,

Ethan

Cover Letter I-130.pdf

Cover Letter I-485.pdf

[EvieMN 105]

I pretty much did the same you did!

Separated the I-130 + I-131 with their supporting evidence in one folder and the I-485 and the supporting petitions in another.

I actually did 3 cover letters:

- a general one - super short, just states all the petitions included

- one for I-130 - states everything in the first folder

- one for I-485 - states evrerything in the second folder

 

I didn't staple the cover letter; just put in on top of all the pages.

I didn't write anything on the manila folders but you can always put both of your  names for peace of mind if you want.

I just put the two folders in the shipping container they gave me from the post office.

Good luck!

[ajs1984 28]

Your package is processed by a person, not a machine. I would recommend you don't overthink it. Just follow the guidance on visajourney's website and the instructions on the USCIS website. It seems from the receipts you get through the mail that the forms have been checked and partially OCR'ed in the first week (for the C/O addresses, visa category info, etc.), so most likely somebody takes them apart right away.

 

The way I submitted our package was to hole punch at the top of the documents and use acco fasteners as they are easy to remove. I used paperclips only for the checks and bags containing photographs. I didn't provide separate I-130 and I-485 coverletters, and I didn't list all the things I had included (they're all bound together and labeled with tab stationary anyway). After all, if something gets lost, a cover letter won't help, and if you forget something, a cover letter won't prevent the RFIE/RFE!

 

A lot of people on this forum say that the I-130/I-130A and I-485+"everything else" packets might be split up and sent to different places. I don't know if that's true, but to help matters I just ordered my forms I-130+I-130A, I-485, I-864EZ, I-693, I-765, I-131, but I didn't bind any but the I-130 and I-130A together. There's no instructions anywhere telling you to bind the forms together (just the forms and their respective evidence). I'd recommend you follow each Form's instruction exactly and don't omit any documents, even if they are duplicate copies inside the package. But treat all the forms separately.

[Ethan&Simone 0]

4 hours ago, EvieMN said:

I pretty much did the same you did!

Separated the I-130 + I-131 with their supporting evidence in one folder and the I-485 and the supporting petitions in another.

I actually did 3 cover letters:

- a general one - super short, just states all the petitions included

- one for I-130 - states everything in the first folder

- one for I-485 - states evrerything in the second folder

 

I didn't staple the cover letter; just put in on top of all the pages.

I didn't write anything on the manila folders but you can always put both of your  names for peace of mind if you want.

I just put the two folders in the shipping container they gave me from the post office.

Good luck!

Thank you for the reply! Sounds good. Have you been given an RFI or NOA or anything?

 

 

4 hours ago, ajs1984 said:

Your package is processed by a person, not a machine. I would recommend you don't overthink it. Just follow the guidance on visajourney's website and the instructions on the USCIS website. It seems from the receipts you get through the mail that the forms have been checked and partially OCR'ed in the first week (for the C/O addresses, visa category info, etc.), so most likely somebody takes them apart right away.

I've read the instructions about 800 times just because I don't want to forget something.

 

4 hours ago, ajs1984 said:

A lot of people on this forum say that the I-130/I-130A and I-485+"everything else" packets might be split up and sent to different places. I don't know if that's true, but to help matters I just ordered my forms I-130+I-130A, I-485, I-864EZ, I-693, I-765, I-131, but I didn't bind any but the I-130 and I-130A together. There's no instructions anywhere telling you to bind the forms together (just the forms and their respective evidence). I'd recommend you follow each Form's instruction exactly and don't omit any documents, even if they are duplicate copies inside the package. But treat all the forms separately.

The only reason I had labeled them together like that is because the instructions kind of point to it that way. They're being sent in the same USPS package but just different manilla folders. They aren't necissarily "bound" together, but rather just in the same folder. 

 

Thank you both for the helpful advise. I'll be filing tomorrow and will linger in here from time to time.

[Arch_Angel 1]

Send all the forms in together.  I'd use the small clamp type paperclips to hold each set of forms together.

 

Lastly don't forget to send in the payment and make sure you signed all your forms.  Also make copies of everything before send it.

 

Best of luck.

Edited November 5, 2017 by Arch_Angel
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[EvieMN 105]

On 3.11.2017 г. at 12:28 AM, Ethan&Simone said:

Thank you for the reply! Sounds good. Have you been given an RFI or NOA or anything?

 

No, it's too early.

No response from USCIS yet.