Damaged I-94, visa and passport before AOS interview.

[Rittle Rabbit 0]

Hi everyone, I have an awkward issue with my original important documents. My passport with F1-student visa and I-94 stamp got damaged real bad after I accidentally threw it in the washer . I know this is a big stupid mistake because I filed for AOS based on marriage to a US citizen in March 2011. I received text message/email and website update today that my EAD is in production. Hopefully, I will receive my interview letter in the next 3 or 4 months. I know it is required to bring all original documents with me on the interview date. For now I have uncertified copies of them all, and the original documents are still readable, just my pictures are messy, blurry and absolutely unrecognizable. What do you think I should do?

- Should I have them all replaced? i.e to get new documents before the interview? I can always apply for a new passport, file form I-102 and pay $380 to have my damaged I-94 replaced with a new one. But my (expired) student visa won't be replaced unless I go back to my home country and go through an application process for student visa at local embassy again. I really don't need nor want to do that.

- What may happen if I bring those damaged but readable documents to the AOS interview? Will this affect the interview at all? Will they ask me to go back home, have all those documents replaced and reschedule my interview? If this is the case, it would be bad. I heard rescheduling will take the case forever to be done. And well, if those documents MUST be replaced before the interview, I can start doing it now. Just thought if it is necessary to pay $380 for a new I-94 that will eventually be taken if I get approved at the interview.

Thank you, any advice would help a lot.

[Little_My 464]

I would get a new passport, make sure to have the old damaged one as well, and go with that. I don't think the F1 visa will be an issue, don't see why you would need to get that renewed for the interview purposes. If you have your last I-20, that is sufficient proof to show your status before submitting the AOS. Since this happened after you had already submitted your AOS with all the necessary copies, I don't know if you would even need to get the I-94 replaced - maybe someone else has an opinion on that. Passport you will eventually need anyway, so might as well get that done now - and, when you have your interview, if they were to approve you on the spot you need to have a valid passport for them to be able to stamp it.

[katgrl 14]

Since you sent in copies, they will be able to see that you did have valid documents. Form I-102 can take up to a year. My husband's I-94 was not entirely legible neither. The IO made a comment about it, but nothing serious. She just took the I-94 out of the passport and no problems. He was out of status, though, so his passport was expired anyway. As Little_My said, I'd go ahead and get a new passport, but don't worry about the visa or I-94. And take the original, damaged one with you also.