Preparing the package

[ScottishTom 2]

I know there are a lot of topics on here, and on google too but nothing seems to give a concise amount of information on how to exactly put the package together.

 

so, a few main questions

 

1 - How did everyone attach their check or money order? To a piece of paper? (Did you use a paper clip or a staple?) 

2 - I know not to use staples on any of the forms, but did you use separators to indicate different forms and documents, out just place them one after the other without separation?

3 - How did you attach passport photos? I have seen some places mention to leave them loose and others say put them in a ziplock and staple them to a piece of paper? How did you do it?

4 - And the same question for photos for proof of bonafide marriage - how did you attach these? Loose, or in a bag? How did you attach the bag?

5 - How did you separate the I-130 documents and I-485 documents? folders? elastic bands? Ive seen mentions of each and others.

6 - Did you do a seperate folder our band for the I-130 and I-485 and include all the medical examine and proof of support in the I-485, or did you give these their own separate folder?

 

Hopefully this will get us some clarity!

[dandk 72]

25 minutes ago, ScottishTom said:

I know there are a lot of topics on here, and on google too but nothing seems to give a concise amount of information on how to exactly put the package together.

 

so, a few main questions

 

1 - How did everyone attach their check or money order? To a piece of paper? (Did you use a paper clip or a staple?) 

2 - I know not to use staples on any of the forms, but did you use separators to indicate different forms and documents, out just place them one after the other without separation?

3 - How did you attach passport photos? I have seen some places mention to leave them loose and others say put them in a ziplock and staple them to a piece of paper? How did you do it?

4 - And the same question for photos for proof of bonafide marriage - how did you attach these? Loose, or in a bag? How did you attach the bag?

5 - How did you separate the I-130 documents and I-485 documents? folders? elastic bands? Ive seen mentions of each and others.

6 - Did you do a seperate folder our band for the I-130 and I-485 and include all the medical examine and proof of support in the I-485, or did you give these their own separate folder?

 

Hopefully this will get us some clarity!

When we did ours, we follow the suggestion on this thread.

 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/218159-i-751-cover-page-and-acco-prong-fasteners/

 

[dandk 72]

And here is the formal guide on how to send in your packet from USCIS.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips

 

 

[JoelThai 313]

38 minutes ago, ScottishTom said:

I know there are a lot of topics on here, and on google too but nothing seems to give a concise amount of information on how to exactly put the package together.

 

so, a few main questions

 

1 - How did everyone attach their check or money order? To a piece of paper? (Did you use a paper clip or a staple?) 

2 - I know not to use staples on any of the forms, but did you use separators to indicate different forms and documents, out just place them one after the other without separation?

3 - How did you attach passport photos? I have seen some places mention to leave them loose and others say put them in a ziplock and staple them to a piece of paper? How did you do it?

4 - And the same question for photos for proof of bonafide marriage - how did you attach these? Loose, or in a bag? How did you attach the bag?

5 - How did you separate the I-130 documents and I-485 documents? folders? elastic bands? Ive seen mentions of each and others.

6 - Did you do a seperate folder our band for the I-130 and I-485 and include all the medical examine and proof of support in the I-485, or did you give these their own separate folder?

 

Hopefully this will get us some clarity!

Although this may not answer all your questions, if you have not already done so, review the USCIS Form Filing Tips.   

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips

 

In my personal experience, when I filed my I-129f, I did the following and was processed quickly and without RFE...

 

1) Attached Payment to the top with a paper clip

2) I placed separator (title pages) between major sections of my submission.  I used Avery Colored tabs at the bottom of the separator pages.  (The filing instructions state:"Sticky tabs assist in locating items listed as attachments. For easy filing, place the tabs on the bottom of the page, not the side.")

3) I placed passport photos in a small ziplock type bag which was taped to a full size page to avoid possible loss.   I wrote in pencil on the back side of the photo the name of the person appearing in the photo.

4) Photos for proof of relationship were also placed in a sandwich sized ziplock bag as in question 3.

 

Per the form filing instructions, I use a two hole punch (2 1/4" Center - Sparco #00785)  and ACCO Prong Fasteners (#12990) to secure my documents together.   I used the two hole punch to punch holes into the top back portion of a letter sized Manilla Folder, placing the ACCO fastener through the back of the folder, and then placing the documents into the folder and secured to the folder by the ACCO fastener.   It made for a secure, protective and compact submission that is easily dismantled if necessary.

 

Your remaining questions did not apply for the I-129f, so hopefully others can share their experiences...

 

Edited September 26, 2018 by JoelThai

[ScottishTom 2]

1 hour ago, dandk said:

And here is the formal guide on how to send in your packet from USCIS.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips

 

 

Hey, this link doesn't seem to work unfortunately

[ScottishTom 2]

1 hour ago, JoelThai said:

Although this may not answer all your questions, if you have not already done so, review the USCIS Form Filing Tips.   

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips

 

In my personal experience, when I filed my I-129f, I did the following and was processed quickly and without RFE...

 

1) Attached Payment to the top with a paper clip

2) I placed separator (title pages) between major sections of my submission.  I used Avery Colored tabs at the bottom of the separator pages.  (The filing instructions state:"Sticky tabs assist in locating items listed as attachments. For easy filing, place the tabs on the bottom of the page, not the side.")

3) I placed passport photos in a small ziplock type bag which was taped to a full size page to avoid possible loss.   I wrote in pencil on the back side of the photo the name of the person appearing in the photo.

4) Photos for proof of relationship were also placed in a sandwich sized ziplock bag as in question 3.

 

Per the form filing instructions, I use a two hole punch (2 1/4" Center - Sparco #00785)  and ACCO Prong Fasteners (#12990) to secure my documents together.   I used the two hole punch to punch holes into the top back portion of a letter sized Manilla Folder, placing the ACCO fastener through the back of the folder, and then placing the documents into the folder and secured to the folder by the ACCO fastener.   It made for a secure, protective and compact submission that is easily dismantled if necessary.

 

Your remaining questions did not apply for the I-129f, so hopefully others can share their experiences...

 

Thank you for this, I just ordered some letter sized manilla folders and some Acco 2 3/4 (I couldn't find the 2 1/4) fasteners to copy this procedure! Maybe a dumb questions, but do you remember roughly how close to the top of the document you hole punched them? (I want to make sure I dont destroy anything on any off the documents information!)

 

For the sticky tabs, did you label the tabs? Or just leave therm blank? And did you have them sticking out at all? (Im guessing so, but wanted to check - being a little paranoid)

 

And, I assume you labeled the front of each manilla folder with what was inside?

Edited September 27, 2018 by ScottishTom

[JoelThai 313]

8 hours ago, ScottishTom said:

Maybe a dumb questions, but do you remember roughly how close to the top of the document you hole punched them? (I want to make sure I dont destroy anything on any off the documents information!)

 

For the sticky tabs, did you label the tabs? Or just leave therm blank? And did you have them sticking out at all? (Im guessing so, but wanted to check - being a little paranoid)

 

And, I assume you labeled the front of each manilla folder with what was inside?

The hole punch I used placed the holes about 1/4" from the top of the page.  Similar to what a 3 hole punch would do, or the punches on a Sheet of binder paper.   

 

I did not label the sticky tabs, but I do not think it would hurt if you did so.   I placed the tabs so they were only hanging about 1/4" to 1/2" below the bottom of the page.   My idea is that they would be helpful for the adjudicator to quickly identify where each section began.   I did print on the spacer pages that the labels were attached to with a Title of Purpose  (Ex:  "Supporting Evidence of Relationship", "Evidence of Citizenship", etc   (These titles may not be relevant to your purpose. but were used for my I-129f submission))

 

And finally yes, I did label the front of each folder.   I used a Brother Label Maker, but only because I had one handy.  Printing carefully by hand is probably just as useful.

 

 

Edited September 27, 2018 by JoelThai

[JoelThai 313]

8 hours ago, ScottishTom said:

Thank you for this, I just ordered some letter sized manilla folders and some Acco 2 3/4 (I couldn't find the 2 1/4) fasteners to copy this procedure!

 

2 3/4" is correct.   My apologies for causing confusion.  😕

[ScottishTom 2]

9 hours ago, JoelThai said:

 

2 3/4" is correct.   My apologies for causing confusion.  😕

Haha thank you for this, I spent a good 30 minutes looking for 2 1'4 thinking I was going crazy! 

[SteveE 25]

We placed each form into it's own manilla envelope with the form name in large print at the top.

 

In one of the corners we put my name & Alien Registration #.

 

Under where we had written the form name we put an itemized list of all of the contents of the envelope.

 

When attaching anything to the forms we used paper clips.