White-out on G-325a

[dap 5]

We will find out cause I used it on my form on the advice of alawyer. I have the clean copy ready in case we receive an RFE but I was told you can use it. I do agree as someone who works with the federal government you are not allowed to use whiteout on your documents. As the poster said, you are suppose to put a line through it and date and initial it. So we will see.

[gland 5]

Yeah, we're working on that now.

Make sure she prints the answers and use black ink.

[StraightShooter 62]

Make sure she prints the answers and use black ink.

See post #15.

[brian_n_phuong 193]

use black ink.

Actually that DOESNT matter anymore. Color Copiers made it obsolete!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I still would like to see a reference to a federal or departmental reg that states that it's an acceptable practice. I do realize that some documents may slip through USCIS and other places with errors corrected by white-out, but that doesn't mean it is ok through official policy.

It's my opinion to advise the OP to err on the side of caution and NOT use white out, if only to not raise suspicion with the consulate.

1. There are two adjudicators that drink tea at my dining room table with my wife. They say it is OK and will not send an RFE for white out. In both Russian and English.

2. A VSC department head is a personal friend. He says it is OK

3. I have stated this about 4,653 times in these forums and I have never heard from anyone that they got an RFE for a new one. (If you can even imagine it is not the first time this has been asked)

4. Another member here has a visa service and uses white out all the time and has never had a problem.

5. There is no requirement for the form to be completed by the person that signs it. My wife has never filled out any portion of any form at any time in her process. she gave me signed, blank, G-325a forms, I filled them out with her information.

6. Other members here are even more experienced than me in processing I-129f forms and none have stated I am wrong, severl have cited knowledgeable sources that agree. NONE have cited any source that says the G-325a will be tossed out.

7. My wife is an interpreter for USCIS and has used white out (and lining out) to correct forms during interviews at the local office.

8. My wife provides translation services for visa service companies and often uses blank forms, signed by the beneficiary and then calls the beneficiary in Ukraine or Russia to gather the information to fill out the form. If she makes a mistake she uses white out. Never has there been a problem

The requirement is for the G-325a to be legible and correct.

The G-325a is a historical data form, it is not a "legal document" in the manner an affidavit is (referred to above)

If you want some further info from within on a policy, feel free to go looking for it. If you find I am wrong, then post it. If you find someone whose G-325a was "thrown out and an RFE was sent for a new one" then paste a link to that post. Since you stated that is what WOULD happen I suppose YOU have some documentation. Right? Or is it only required of someone who disagrees?

I have passed on my sources, my experience and my opinion based on that. Others can decide whether to use my advice...or yours.

Edited January 18, 2012 by Gary and Alla

[brian_n_phuong 193]

If you want some further info from within on a policy, feel free to go looking for it. If you find I am wrong, then post it. If you find someone whose G-325a was "thrown out and an RFE was sent for a new one" then paste a link to that post. Since you stated that is what WOULD happen I suppose YOU have some documentation. Right? Or is it only required of someone who disagrees?

I have passed on my sources, my experience and my opinion based on that. Others can decide whether to use my advice...or yours.

I thought I responded to you in polite manner. I did not insist that I was right, I just was asking if you knew of some type of exception for USCIS for white out since it is not permitted for use in the agency I work for. There was no need to respond with such a chastising tirade.

No, I dont have any evidence from USCIS that white-out is prohibited. but only federal regulations from my own agency which wouldnt be applicable.

The only reference from USCIS about white out came from their website which is paraphrased below:

"If you must change your form, we recommend that you begin with a new form, rather than trying to white out information. Our scanners may see through the white correction tape or fluid and make your form incorrect, possibly leading to processing delays or rejection. "

Edited January 18, 2012 by brian_n_phuong

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

If you must change your form, we recommend that you begin with a new form, rather than trying to white out information. Our scanners may see through the white correction tape or fluid and make your form incorrect, possibly leading to processing delays or rejection.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=880264337c77e210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

[brian_n_phuong 193]

http://www.uscis.gov...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Darn ! I was trying to hide the source !

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Darn ! I was trying to hide the source !

Some good info there!

[brian_n_phuong 193]

Some good info there!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Darn ! I was trying to hide the source !

Recommendations are not requirements and that is why you do not see posts from people that have received RFEs for white out. White out is no more forbidden than blue ink.

You made a blanket statement that their G-325a would be thrown out and they would receive an RFE. This is not correct. Only your insistance on providing incorrect information for whatever personal agenda you have has resulted in this exchange.

You have since struggled to maintain some sort of credibility to that statement when there is none. You have challenged others to provide sources for their statements when you have not.

I do not ask people from other agencies who work on other forms for other purposes under other rules and standards what the requirements are for the G-325a as it relates to I-129f filings. That would be stupid. I do not extrapolate other agencies rules onto the USCIS, that would be stupid. Offering advice based on that to someone filing an I-129f is reckless and careless.

I ask adjudicators at the VSC of USCIS who actually handle these forms and make decisions in our petitions. I am not guessing. They DO NOT reject petitions or send RFEs for white out.

The ONLY exception to that would be if the white out was done so terribly as to make illegible the majority of the document. Most of the information on the G-325a is not material to the visa and the form is used if there are "hits" on background checks to sort out name confusions and not much else. Providing complete information could reduce a wait time for you, but not much else.

FYI they do not throw anything out either, though I presume you were being facetious in that statement.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

RI ask adjudicators at the VSC of USCIS who actually handle these forms and make decisions in our petitions. I am not guessing. They DO NOT reject petitions or send RFEs for white out.

What about all the other DHS and DOS offices? Do the internal policies in one office apply to the rest of the world of visas?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

What about all the other DHS and DOS offices? Do the internal policies in one office apply to the rest of the world of visas?

The only DHS office that deals with visa petitions is the USCIS. DOS does not use the G-325a. Nor do they send RFEs for G-325a It is not a DOS form (DS).

Edited January 19, 2012 by Kathryn41
to remove personal attack

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The only DHS office that deals with visa petitions is the USCIS. DOS does not use the G-325a. Nor do they send RFEs for G-325a It is not a DOS form (DS).

But you only talked to one USCIS office. Evidently, the Dallas Lockbox of the USCIS is concerned about white out. So, one office says they don't care, and the other office says it does. Since all these documents are scanned and forwarded to the State Department, as well as the various other USCIS offices, I bet they are the ones complaining about illegible transmittal's. But, since the VSC seems to be slower than molasses in the dead of winter with original documents, I wouldn't put too much stock into what a few folks that hang out with you instead of working on I-129f petitions have to say.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

But you only talked to one USCIS office. Evidently, the Dallas Lockbox of the USCIS is concerned about white out. So, one office says they don't care, and the other office says it does. Since all these documents are scanned and forwarded to the State Department, as well as the various other USCIS offices, I bet they are the ones complaining about illegible transmittal's. But, since the VSC seems to be slower than molasses in the dead of winter with original documents, I wouldn't put too much stock into what a few folks that hang out with you instead of working on I-129f petitions have to say.

me either. we'll go with what you say.