What kind of folder for applications?

[Alt name 1]

Paper clips, do try to listen to and take the advice of the recently approved <grin>

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

I'm still a believer in the ACCO fasteners. They hold your petitions nicely. Once you get a big paper clip off, all those papers can just start flying.

[pushbrk 12,877]

I'm still a believer in the ACCO fasteners. They hold your petitions nicely. Once you get a big paper clip off, all those papers can just start flying.

USCIS is going to dissassemble and reassemble the file as they wish, so your fasteners will be removed anyway. If you've a two-hole punch and some fasteners to go with them, go for it. If not, anything besides a binder or staples that will keep the papers in order until they get there will do.

Unless there's a lot of wind, I don't imagine a lot of papers flying but I've never seen what happens when you get a big paper clip off.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Ahhh, exactly. This is a government office!

Unless there's a lot of wind, I don't imagine a lot of papers flying but I've never seen what happens when you get a big paper clip off.

[visaveteran1 33]

I went to Office Depot and bought a 10-page set of clear "sheet protectors." You may need more depending on your situation. They can be either separate sheets or attached together like a packet. They work great and you can make notations on the sheet protectors explaining the contents inside the protector using a Sharpie. And the forms can't be harmed or lost easily and no need for punching holes. I think it makes the packet more "idiot-proof."

[Urge To Race 2]

USCIS will two hole punch the top to fasten it to their folder and use Prong Fasteners regardless of how you send it. You can do them the favor of punching the holes if you have a two hole punch, even with sheet protectors.

I went to Office Depot and bought a 10-page set of clear "sheet protectors." You may need more depending on your situation. They can be either separate sheets or attached together like a packet. They work great and you can make notations on the sheet protectors explaining the contents inside the protector using a Sharpie. And the forms can't be harmed or lost easily and no need for punching holes. I think it makes the packet more "idiot-proof."

[pushbrk 12,877]

I went to Office Depot and bought a 10-page set of clear "sheet protectors." You may need more depending on your situation. They can be either separate sheets or attached together like a packet. They work great and you can make notations on the sheet protectors explaining the contents inside the protector using a Sharpie. And the forms can't be harmed or lost easily and no need for punching holes. I think it makes the packet more "idiot-proof."

USCIS will take all the papers out of those sheet protectors and throw the protectors away, so this is a very bad idea. If you need to explain something on the forms, that's what the cover letter and extra attached sheets are for. USCIS deals with paper, not plastic.

[*JG* 2]

I'm a firm believer in packaging it so it is easy to follow and they don't lose anything. I used the ACCO fasteners.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

I think they are a whole lot more professional looking and keep the papers together properly. Go ACCO fasteners, go! Boo, paperclips!

I'm a firm believer in packaging it so it is easy to follow and they don't lose anything. I used the ACCO fasteners.

[visaveteran1 33]

I went to Office Depot and bought a 10-page set of clear "sheet protectors." You may need more depending on your situation. They can be either separate sheets or attached together like a packet. They work great and you can make notations on the sheet protectors explaining the contents inside the protector using a Sharpie. And the forms can't be harmed or lost easily and no need for punching holes. I think it makes the packet more "idiot-proof."

USCIS will take all the papers out of those sheet protectors and throw the protectors away, so this is a very bad idea. If you need to explain something on the forms, that's what the cover letter and extra attached sheets are for. USCIS deals with paper, not plastic.

How do you know the USCIS will throw out the sheets? I like them because you can use 'stickies" also and they'll remain where they belong. I also like to be able to label certain items like "Double-sided copies," etc. The kind of things that may not be obvious even with a table of contents. Also, USCIS does deal with plastic...plastic bags for the photos.

Using sheet protectors, I filed a K-1 and it flew through to approval and interview....3 months (March 07-june 07 Too bad the relationship went bad. And now I'm going K-3. I'd say the more organized and well labeled the packet, the better the officer will understand what he/she is looking at...even if at some point the sheets get tossed.

But, then again, maybe I'm wrong?

[Imua 0]

Wow, who'd have though so much debate could be generated over a (seemingly) simple question? I don't have a two-hole punch at home or work and would rather not buy one just to use this one time unless I have to, so I am tempted to go with binder clips unless people overwhelmingly think I should use ACCO fasteners- I think binder clips are more likely than regular paper clips to hold everything together and USCIS can still re-file the papers however they like. I like the idea of page protectors but then I remember what a PITA it is getting papers out of them - don't want USCIS to be aggravated with me over such a small thing.

[Minya's wife 24]

How do you know the USCIS will throw out the sheets? I like them because you can use 'stickies" also and they'll remain where they belong. I also like to be able to label certain items like "Double-sided copies," etc. The kind of things that may not be obvious even with a table of contents. Also, USCIS does deal with plastic...plastic bags for the photos.

Using sheet protectors, I filed a K-1 and it flew through to approval and interview....3 months (March 07-june 07 Too bad the relationship went bad. And now I'm going K-3. I'd say the more organized and well labeled the packet, the better the officer will understand what he/she is looking at...even if at some point the sheets get tossed.

But, then again, maybe I'm wrong?

I used ACCO fasteners for both my K-1 and now the AOS/EAD/AP paperwork. No problems so far...but then others used different methods and that worked too. You can use probably anything besides a heavy binder, or staples, as pusbrk states and it should be fine.

You had a K-1 approved in June of this year, that relationship ended, but you've since found someone, married her and managed to file by the end of November?

Edited December 17, 2007 by Paula&Minya

[Urge To Race 2]

Go Binder Clips!!!

Wow, who'd have though so much debate could be generated over a (seemingly) simple question? I don't have a two-hole punch at home or work and would rather not buy one just to use this one time unless I have to, so I am tempted to go with binder clips unless people overwhelmingly think I should use ACCO fasteners- I think binder clips are more likely than regular paper clips to hold everything together and USCIS can still re-file the papers however they like. I like the idea of page protectors but then I remember what a PITA it is getting papers out of them - don't want USCIS to be aggravated with me over such a small thing.

[pushbrk 12,877]

I went to Office Depot and bought a 10-page set of clear "sheet protectors." You may need more depending on your situation. They can be either separate sheets or attached together like a packet. They work great and you can make notations on the sheet protectors explaining the contents inside the protector using a Sharpie. And the forms can't be harmed or lost easily and no need for punching holes. I think it makes the packet more "idiot-proof."

USCIS will take all the papers out of those sheet protectors and throw the protectors away, so this is a very bad idea. If you need to explain something on the forms, that's what the cover letter and extra attached sheets are for. USCIS deals with paper, not plastic.

How do you know the USCIS will throw out the sheets?

Ask your wife if she sees any sheet protectors in your case file when she interviews.

[Caladan 19]

We just used paper clips. For the check, we put it in a baggie and stapled the baggie to a blank sheet of paper.