Chicago Lockbox: RETURN TO SENDER?

[SusieK 3]

My friend's I-130 also got returned back from the following address: (Po Box does not Exist).

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

I called few times to Nebraska Service Center. They don't care. What should we do? Any Idea?

Sighing call an Immigration Attorney tomorrow my only thoughts

Who knows anymore I give up with them

Cheers

[rjp44 1]

Sorry to hear about your problems with the current Chicago lockbox address.

We sent our I-130 yesterday via USPS Express Mail. The USPS tracker says it was delivered this morning.

I'd reccommend that service - it has next day delivery and automatically insured to $100.

Thanks for your response! You're having better luck starting out than we are! Now, just to be sure, out of the two Chicago Lockboxes, did you send it to this one:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

or to this one:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804616

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

The first one is the Box designated for, among other states, residents of Ohio, and the second Box is for New Jersey so I assume you mailed it to that second one, right?

PO Box 804825 is the one that we tried to send it to last week that apparently doesn't exist. Has anyone, ANYONE here managed to get their form successfully mailed to that Box number yet?

PS- Stilll haven't gotten precious package returned to us yet by post. Prayin' to the Lo' he gets it tomorrow.

If you sent it to Box 824825 that is not the correct box for either lockbox.

You said something about that number

[Paul & Ilona 0]

You said something about that number

rjp44,

You're right. My wife mis-typed up the original number, and your post added yet another wrong number. So, she apologizes for her initial mess up (OOPS!) , and I apologize for not looking over her post more carefully.

That aside, some new Zip + 4 info has come to light.

When you're on the USPS website and you're looking up zipcode information for the Chicago Lockboxes 804625 and 804616, when you put the whole address through the website spits back:

P.O. BOX 804625

CHICAGO, IL 60680-4107

YEP, that's right. A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT zip+4 code than the 60680-1029 that the USCIS website lists. The zip+4 of 4107 is given by the USPS zip code finder for BOTH lockbox numbers regardless of whether or not you include in the 1029 zip+4 code in your zip code inquiry.

THAT'S F***IN' NUTS!!!

So...does that mean that USCIS has both I-130 Chicago lockboxes addresses COMPLETELY wrong on it's website or that the USPS (both their website as well as their actual operation) has NO idea that USCIS has two working lockboxes in the 60680-1029 zip code?

I don't know which of those options is more palatable or more outrageous. And then, who do we even take this complaint up with? Won't they both just steer us to the other massive bureauocracy that ISN'T them?

[SusieK 3]

You said something about that number

rjp44,

You're right. My wife mis-typed up the original number, and your post added yet another wrong number. So, she apologizes for her initial mess up (OOPS!) , and I apologize for not looking over her post more carefully.

That aside, some new Zip + 4 info has come to light.

When you're on the USPS website and you're looking up zipcode information for the Chicago Lockboxes 804625 and 804616, when you put the whole address through the website spits back:

P.O. BOX 804625

CHICAGO, IL 60680-4107

YEP, that's right. A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT zip+4 code than the 60680-1029 that the USCIS website lists. The zip+4 of 4107 is given by the USPS zip code finder for BOTH lockbox numbers regardless of whether or not you include in the 1029 zip+4 code in your zip code inquiry.

THAT'S F***IN' NUTS!!!

So...does that mean that USCIS has both I-130 Chicago lockboxes addresses COMPLETELY wrong on it's website or that the USPS (both their website as well as their actual operation) has NO idea that USCIS has two working lockboxes in the 60680-1029 zip code?

I don't know which of those options is more palatable or more outrageous. And then, who do we even take this complaint up with? Won't they both just steer us to the other massive bureauocracy that ISN'T them?

OMG CANT THEY GET ANYTHING RIGHT

Off to clean the coffee off the computer screen that I just spit out.........sad shyte mate

Cheers and Happy Holidays

[rjp44 1]

I wonder if anyone has sent their package just putting the 5 digit zip code in the address and leaving off the 4 digit routing number.

[Paul & Ilona 0]

You said something about that number

OMG CANT THEY GET ANYTHING RIGHT

Off to clean the coffee off the computer screen that I just spit out.........sad shyte mate

Cheers and Happy Holidays

HAHAHA thanks, SusieK. That's the reaction I was going for.

[Paul & Ilona 0]

I wonder if anyone has sent their package just putting the 5 digit zip code in the address and leaving off the 4 digit routing number.

I wondered that myself. You'd think that it would stand a CHANCE of getting to the right place if the post office filled in the blanks. However, that assumes that USPS is right and that the USCIS info is wrong. I hope that's the case.

[SusieK 3]

You said something about that number

OMG CANT THEY GET ANYTHING RIGHT

Off to clean the coffee off the computer screen that I just spit out.........sad shyte mate

Cheers and Happy Holidays

HAHAHA thanks, SusieK. That's the reaction I was going for.

lmao what can I say it was true......try without the four digits or call immigration attorney to see, but whatever you do DONT CALL USCIS - omg thats an oxymoron

[rjp44 1]

I wonder if anyone has sent their package just putting the 5 digit zip code in the address and leaving off the 4 digit routing number.

I wondered that myself. You'd think that it would stand a CHANCE of getting to the right place if the post office filled in the blanks. However, that assumes that USPS is right and that the USCIS info is wrong. I hope that's the case.

Until they get this confusion straighted out, maybe the best thing to do is send any apps to the appropriate service center and let them forward it. This is a quote from the USCIS web site. Please don't choke on the sentence involving avoiding processing delays.

While the changes are effective December 3, 2007, any Form I-130 filed with the Service Center will not be rejected; it will be forwarded to the designated Chicago Lockbox. Petitioners are encouraged, however, to begin using the designated Lockbox filing address on the effective date in order to avoid processing delays. The revised form and filing instructions will be posted online as soon as they are available.

[aalam2 0]

Guys, this is what I have found for I-485 application:

For United Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:

USCISP.O. Box 805887

Chicago, IL 60680-4120

For private couriers (non-USPS) deliveries:

USCISAttn: FBASI427 S. LaSalle - 3rd Floor

Chicago, IL 60605-1029

Is it possible that we need to use 4120 for USPS and 1029 for non-usps?

[desilu 0]

Thanks for your response! You're having better luck starting out than we are! Now, just to be sure, out of the two Chicago Lockboxes, did you send it to this one:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

or to this one:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804616

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

The first one is the Box designated for, among other states, residents of Ohio, and the second Box is for New Jersey so I assume you mailed it to that second one, right?

PO Box 804825 is the one that we tried to send it to last week that apparently doesn't exist. Has anyone, ANYONE here managed to get their form successfully mailed to that Box number yet?

PS- Stilll haven't gotten precious package returned to us yet by post. Prayin' to the Lo' he gets it tomorrow.

Yes we sent to the second one. Luckily it appeared to work.

Sorry to hear you still having problems with the other address. Must be those last 4 digits. Altho it looks like aalam2 may have found you a possible answer - well done aalam2 I hope that solves it B)

Good luck

Edited December 18, 2007 by desilu

[Paul & Ilona 0]

I wonder if anyone has sent their package just putting the 5 digit zip code in the address and leaving off the 4 digit routing number.

Until they get this confusion straighted out, maybe the best thing to do is send any apps to the appropriate service center and let them forward it. This is a quote from the USCIS web site. Please don't choke on the sentence involving avoiding processing delays.

While the changes are effective December 3, 2007, any Form I-130 filed with the Service Center will not be rejected; it will be forwarded to the designated Chicago Lockbox. Petitioners are encouraged, however, to begin using the designated Lockbox filing address on the effective date in order to avoid processing delays. The revised form and filing instructions will be posted online as soon as they are available.

I called both USCIS and USPS today. I think it's as settled as it can be. Here's what I found out:

The USCIS person that I talked to seemed quite interested to hear both about the "vacant address" notice many of us seem to be getting as well as the USPS zip code discreptancy that I pointed out in Post #18. He said he would lodge a formal inquiry about it. He sounded sincere. He suggested that until the issue is resolved to send to the Chicago lockboxes as such (note the absence of the dubious zip +4 code at the end of the zipcode):

USCIS

P.O. BOX 804625

CHICAGO, IL 60680

This forces the USPS to figure out the proper Zip+4 code themselves, which they do on almost every single piece of mail that goes through their hands every day. It's done by computer, so there shouldn't be a worry about accuracy.

Just to be sure I called USPS and they recommended either using no zip+4 code (as shown above) or to put in the zip+4 code that the USPS comes up with when you enter the lockboxes address into their database which would make the address:

USCIS

P.O. BOX 804625

CHICAGO, IL 60680-4107

I think I'd recommend erring on the side of caution and leaving out the zip+4 code and having the USPS route it however they deem proper to that p.o. box. It just seems safer to me. That being said, it's up to you guys. I wanted you to have all the information as straight from the horse's mouth as possible.

So, case closed?

P.S. remember this all has to do with the Chicago lockboxes just for the solo I-130 apps, nothing else that I know of.

[aalam2 0]

Thanks Paul. It's been a big help.

[SusieK 3]

Thanks Paul. It's been a big help.

Well done, thanks hun for all that will need this.

Happy Holidays

[Justin and Masako 0]

Just because it hasn't been mentioned/asked it could be returned if you sent Return Receipt (as the guide suggests) as you cannot send return receipt to a P.O. Box. I am not sure if the original poster sent with Return Receipt or not but it could be a possible reason for the "Address Vacant" notice. I just sent our I-130 off today (12/24/2007) via Express Mail with delivery confirmation (from the Post Office's side, no addressee signature required) so I am really hoping it gets through. Wish us luck!

By the way I opted to just leave off the +4 on the zip, just in case.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Edited December 24, 2007 by Petaris