Received packet rejection form (I-797)-but no reason written on form

[khwaidee1 196]

No personal checks! Must be Money Order (not a cashiers check)

I'm not sure where you got this info from but, as stated elsewhere, it's wrong. Since you can't remember the amount of the fees or how you paid I'm not sure how you're helping the OP. We used personal checks for our I-129 and I-797, just followed the instructions on the USCIS web site with no problems. I suspect that the notation in the memo portion of the check may have caused the issue.

[Patra&Ricardo 4]

First it is apparent to me that calling 1-800-375-5283 for anything is useless. After being told initially by the call center rep that he couldnt help me because he has generic information(?) he said he would escalate it to someone who could see all of the documents I sent(I am assuming because they were scanned?)

So called escalation. The call rep, who sounded 100 years old, told me he could not help either. I told him did he realize that both he and the previous rep are not able to provide any viable information. He hung up.

Nevertheless I discovered that the packet had been stapled into four seperate packets by the Chicago lockbox. I noticed that all four packets had the same I-797 form attached to them with the same generic verbiage on them except one. One of the packets (the I-130 packet) had written that my address had not been written on the I-130.

Ridiculous. I checked the form again and again and all the addresses are filled out. The only address that was not filled out was question #19. That is because my wife is here and not overseas. And because she is here I filled out the left side of question 22 writing out the city and state we are in.

What a mess. The I-130 packet is correct with all addresses. The check is 100% written out properly yet it is stapled to the form like their is something wrong with it.

I have lost confidence in this process after spending so much time making sure everything is correct only to discover that the Chicago lockbox folks are not doing their job.

Any thoughts or comments? Just send it back again?

So sorry your petition got returned. At this point I would suggest that you go back through all the paperwork and see to it that all the forms are filled out completely. Anything that doesn't apply to you put either N/A or None. I would also you go as far as getting a cashier's check from the bank instead of a using a personal check just to be on the safe side.

[tehans 52]

Personal check is not the problem

[lizascissors 66]

Personal checks are fine people! If your check bounces, that's a totally different issue. Send personal checks, but different checks for each form.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

A personal check is okay, and your money amount was correct.

It seems to me that you wrote too much extraneous notes on the check itself, like adding "for wife;s name" in the margin, or adding her name to the top of the check.

Resubmit and write the check normally, no extra notes, and do not abbreviate the recipient name.

It is also possible that the check itself is not the issue at all, and that you failed to sign the forms or something. The rejection notice should give you some idea where the wrong part is, did it say it was the check?

Edited April 30, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[Ryan_and_Priscy 16]

Well, I assume it must be separate check but now surprises me that a full check has been accepted too (honestly, would like to find out the officer's name who accepted a single check with the full amount)?! As for personal checks, I just sent two personal checks on with my name and my husband names printed on it, the amount of the money and under memo, the name of the form. A process we are doing to petition my father who is applying for residence. All accepted.

[Jon and Krissy 452]

You can not send a personal check. Resubmit using only a cashiers check. I also believe the amount you sent was incorrect. make sure you are sending only the $300.00 or $400.00 something. Check on the amount

100% wrong. Personal checks are fine. Stop giving erroneous information.

[Jon and Krissy 452]

No personal checks! Must be Money Order (not a cashiers check)

Again, you are 100% bloody wrong. We've sent nothing but personal checks for all our dealings with immigration, and my wife is now a citizen. What, pray tell, is your expertise? Quit giving bogus advice, you don't know what you are talking about.

[jkelly07 120]

personal checks are fine I used them for my son my daughter never had any problem,

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

OP: so others might going to differ on this, and I'm not sure this is the case, but my gut feeling says you got rejected because of not writing your wife's home address in at point 19. Just because she is filing from here, especially with a tourist visa that is a no-intention-to-immigrate visa" she must have a home address back in her home country. She cannot NOT have a home address. Even if she doesn't reside there she has to have a home address. When we filed we put in the "home address" even though I was not living there for like 15 years as I was 5 when we moved to the states. I don't even know if that address that I put in who lives in...I am not saying for sure this is the reason, but if you're already resubmitting things, might as well write in her home address at point 19 at the I-130 form.

All the best~

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

OP: Another thing I just thought on your case. You said you have an address on your check as a PO BOX. I thought USCIS hates you and does not talk to you if you have a PO Box as an address. Or am I mixing something up here? Anyone care to elaborate on this? >.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Current address for an AOS from B2 does not need to be a foreign address. it should be a local address, in fact.

[Brian & Sil 1]

Let me ask something, when you change status with B2 visa you need I-130? Because I'm K1 and I already send my AOS and I'm aproved just with I-485 and fee: $ 1070 (Money order).

[a+j 77]

OP: Another thing I just thought on your case. You said you have an address on your check as a PO BOX. I thought USCIS hates you and does not talk to you if you have a PO Box as an address. Or am I mixing something up here? Anyone care to elaborate on this? >.

For my AOS we sent a personal check with my husband's P.O. Box printed on it, and it was accepted without a problem.

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

@a+j: Oh okay, thanks for the clarification on that. OP, you should ignore my comment on the PO address issue...Grazie, a+j!