Adjustment of Status in US

[BlueBonnet 84]

I just did the OAS package. Im one of those people that goes over everything 3 times, and still worries about errors. Im sure I read that each submission required its own check except the I485 and bio could be combined, I did find this though.

Filing Fee :

$985. (Add $85 biometric fee for a total of $1070, where applicable. See the form instructions for payment details.)

Special Instructions :

Notes on fees: You may combine the $985 filing fee and $85 biometric fee into one payment of $1070. Checks must be made payable to Department of Homeland Security

I think it was so that if you had multiple forms and multiple fees, that maybe one of the forms had errors and they could send that one petition back, along with its check, while keeping and processing the rest. Whereas if you send 1 check, and the amount was wrong, USCIS would have to return everything. Seeing as how I cant find it right now, to back up my statement, I could very well be wrong, but Im positive I read something along those lines.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I just did the OAS package. Im one of those people that goes over everything 3 times, and still worries about errors. Im sure I read that each submission required its own check except the I485 and bio could be combined, I did find this though.

Filing Fee :

$985. (Add $85 biometric fee for a total of $1070, where applicable. See the form instructions for payment details.)

Special Instructions :

Notes on fees: You may combine the $985 filing fee and $85 biometric fee into one payment of $1070. Checks must be made payable to Department of Homeland Security

I think it was so that if you had multiple forms and multiple fees, that maybe one of the forms had errors and they could send that one petition back, along with its check, while keeping and processing the rest. Whereas if you send 1 check, and the amount was wrong, USCIS would have to return everything. Seeing as how I cant find it right now, to back up my statement, I could very well be wrong, but Im positive I read something along those lines.

One check is fine. There is no reason to send separate checks for the I-485 and biometrics fees.

You're correct about the reason for sometimes sending separate checks, but this can cut both ways. For example, if someone entered with a tourist visa and married a US citizen then they'd need to submit both an I-130 and an I-485. They could include separate checks for each petition. This way, if the I-485 were rejected for some reason then USCIS could continue processing the I-130. While that may or may not be a good thing, what would NOT be a good thing is if they rejected the I-130 but continued processing the I-485. Without an I-130, the I-485 would not be approvable - USCIS would deny the I-485 and keep the fee.

If you're sending multiple petitions or applications that are interdependent on each other then you might want to consider sending only one check. If one petition or application is rejected then all will be rejected - they can't partially cash a check, and they're not supposed to accept payment unless it's exactly the right amount for the petitions and/or applications they are accepting.