paper clips VS staple the pages

[MCG 0]

Hi,

I have a somewhat silly question. I am putting together the documents for applying for AOS. I have bunch of doucments such as passport ( front and back), birth certificate( front and back) like that we have 2-3 pages.

I wanted to know if I should staple them or just put a paper clip?

Right now I have them with paper clip, but since the pages are just 2 or 3 they slip out of paper clip more easily compared to if I had stapled them.

Advice? How did you people here put them together?

Thanks!

[CaroSL 68]

Paper clip is always a good idea. From what I understand they put all the file in their own format, scan docs etc. So they probably remove the staples anyway. In doubt, it is much easier to remove paperclips than stapples...

[bmiles62 5]

I used paper clips and it went through fine.

[Mitch.J11 2]

I 2 hole punched at the top and used acco fasteners

[Babar 0]

Paper clips are better than staples. They will likely remove them, so make it easier for them.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

No staples. And the instructions for the Chicago lockbox say no acco and no paper punching holes.

[Mitch.J11 2]

No staples. And the instructions for the Chicago lockbox say no acco and no paper punching holes.

I already punched holes in all the papers. Will they still accept it?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I already punched holes in all the papers. Will they still accept it?

Yeah, I think so.

[Go-Kart Mozart 0]

No staples. And the instructions for the Chicago lockbox say no acco and no paper punching holes.

Hi Harpa

What's the source?

(Attorneys filed my H1-B petition with acco fasteners)

Edited May 19, 2013 by Go-Kart Mozart

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The source? The horse's mouth.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=72a927c382f39110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1958b0aaa86fa010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

3. Take the following steps to avoid delays in processing applications or petitions through the Chicago Lockbox.

• Do NOT send original passports or other valuable personal documents. Make sure that copies of original passports or personal documents are made on standard white letter-sized paper (8.5” x 11”)
• Use paperclips when attaching supporting personal documents to forms (do NOT use “ACCO” fasteners; staples are acceptable when attaching fees).

Edited May 19, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[Go-Kart Mozart 0]

Ok so perhaps the general rules (updated 2010) are superceded by the Chicago Lockbox / NBC rules updated (2008).

Interesting.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The deal is that USCIS is going to undo whatever you do. I have read the mailroom procedures and they are very detailed. They have a certain way of organizing everything, so let them do it their way. People make the mistake of thinking that the package as they send it is moved around, and that it stays that way the whole time. In reality, USCIS puts it all in their own folders their own way. So I don't think it's smart to make them unstaple everything, make them take your pages out of sheet protectors, go through binders, or anything. I don't think it's smart to punch holes in the pages, what if you mispunch? Just send a stack of papers organized by clips and let them do it their professional way.

My opinion on immigration lawyers is that they like to think they have "special knowledge" so they do secret things that a normal person wouldn't do to help feed into this story. I don't buy it.

I am sure that they have industrial punchers and can punch your pages in a few seconds (if that is what they do). Doing it for them won't make your petition faster and risks messing your pages up.