Paper size/type/organization for filing AOS packet and evidence?

[kwoodruff 4]

Hello all,

 

Some housekeeping questions regarding the submitting of the K1 adjustment of status packet:

 

• What paper type did you use? When we used an immigration lawyer for the initial K1/129F application, they printed on light gray, thicker paper. For the AOS, we are preparing the forms ourselves, and I was just going to use plain printer paper. Does it matter?
• What paper size did you use for the forms? I have read 8.5 x 11" is fine and the USCIS is not particular. Can anyone confirm?
• What paper type did you use for your evidence (photos, travel records, etc) - are screenshots from social media (to show date/location) acceptable? I was just planning to cut/paste the screenshots into a Word document and print them out. 
• Did you use tabs at the bottom of the forms to label each section (birth certificate, passport ID page, marriage certificate, etc)? In the instructions for i-485, it says tabs are acceptable if placed at the bottom and not the sides of the forms. Did anyone do this and feel like it made a difference?
• Did you use rubber bands or clips to separate the different forms/evidence? I watched a few YouTube videos about how to "format" your packet if you're submitting the 485/130/765/864 all together. Some used binder clips to separate the 4 different forms. What is your experience?

 

Please share any other tips that you would give that I might not have covered above!

 

Thank you!

 

[payxibka 10,047]

8 minutes ago, kwoodruff said:

Hello all,

 

Some housekeeping questions regarding the submitting of the K1 adjustment of status packet:

 

• What paper type did you use? When we used an immigration lawyer for the initial K1/129F application, they printed on light gray, thicker paper. For the AOS, we are preparing the forms ourselves, and I was just going to use plain printer paper. Does it matter?
• What paper size did you use for the forms? I have read 8.5 x 11" is fine and the USCIS is not particular. Can anyone confirm?
• What paper type did you use for your evidence (photos, travel records, etc) - are screenshots from social media (to show date/location) acceptable? I was just planning to cut/paste the screenshots into a Word document and print them out. 
• Did you use tabs at the bottom of the forms to label each section (birth certificate, passport ID page, marriage certificate, etc)? In the instructions for i-485, it says tabs are acceptable if placed at the bottom and not the sides of the forms. Did anyone do this and feel like it made a difference?
• Did you use rubber bands or clips to separate the different forms/evidence? I watched a few YouTube videos about how to "format" your packet if you're submitting the 485/130/765/864 all together. Some used binder clips to separate the 4 different forms. What is your experience?

 

Please share any other tips that you would give that I might not have covered above!

 

Thank 

No photos, travel records,  social media screenshots are required for AOS from k1 initial application 

Edited June 3, 2019 by payxibka

[Jaquelly 1,647]

15 minutes ago, kwoodruff said:

Hello all,

 

Some housekeeping questions regarding the submitting of the K1 adjustment of status packet:

 

• What paper type did you use? When we used an immigration lawyer for the initial K1/129F application, they printed on light gray, thicker paper. For the AOS, we are preparing the forms ourselves, and I was just going to use plain printer paper. Does it matter?
• What paper size did you use for the forms? I have read 8.5 x 11" is fine and the USCIS is not particular. Can anyone confirm?
• What paper type did you use for your evidence (photos, travel records, etc) - are screenshots from social media (to show date/location) acceptable? I was just planning to cut/paste the screenshots into a Word document and print them out. 
• Did you use tabs at the bottom of the forms to label each section (birth certificate, passport ID page, marriage certificate, etc)? In the instructions for i-485, it says tabs are acceptable if placed at the bottom and not the sides of the forms. Did anyone do this and feel like it made a difference?
• Did you use rubber bands or clips to separate the different forms/evidence? I watched a few YouTube videos about how to "format" your packet if you're submitting the 485/130/765/864 all together. Some used binder clips to separate the 4 different forms. What is your experience?

 

Please share any other tips that you would give that I might not have covered above!

 

Thank you!

 

Hello!
Seconding what @payxibka said. 

 

We used regular old white 8.5 x 11 paper from our printer at home.

 

We used tabs at the bottom. I think we used some clips, as well.

 

This is not rocket science - MUCH easier than the K1. 

[kwoodruff 4]

1 minute ago, Jaquelly said:

Hello!
Seconding what @payxibka said. 

 

We used regular old white 8.5 x 11 paper from our printer at home.

 

We used tabs at the bottom. I think we used some clips, as well.

 

This is not rocket science - MUCH easier than the K1. 

Thanks! Just trying to make sure I cover all my bases since the government seems to be very particular about odd things (paper type seems like it could be one of them, ha!). I appreciate your reply.

[Jaquelly 1,647]

1 minute ago, kwoodruff said:

Thanks! Just trying to make sure I cover all my bases since the government seems to be very particular about odd things (paper type seems like it could be one of them, ha!). I appreciate your reply.

They can be, and I'm sorry for my snide rocket science comment. I know what this feels like - you don't want there to be one single error, lest they lose your packet or etc etc etc.

 

What is most important is to just take your time with the forms. Have you and your spouse each fill out one, and compare. See what needs to be fixed on both, and then fill one out with the correct information. DOUBLE CHECK THAT. It is so easy to miss a box or misspell something.

 

You've got this - and the hardest part is over. You're together now <3 

[Scandi 4,180]

We used regular printer paper (standard US size) from Costco for all our applications. Didn't send a single "proof of bonafide marriage" with the i-485, other than the marriage certificate that is. So the package was small - meaning no tabs, binders or rubber bands needed.

Edited June 3, 2019 by Scandi

[Wuozopo 4,293]

 

 

1 hour ago, kwoodruff said:

Please share any other tips that you would give that I might not have covered above!

We used

Regular white letter size paper for applications and photocopies.

Only evidence of marriage was a photocopy of our marriage certificate. Pleaseeee skip that Facebook stuff. 

No tabs/dividers. Bulldog clip on the bigger package. Big paper clip on the smaller packets.

 

Tip

You are submitting THREE applications, not four.

1. Adjustment of Status
2. Employment authorization 
3. Advance Parole

The I-864 is evidence for the I-485 AOS packet. Some evidence goes in all three packets so duplicates. Read the instructions for the I-131 and I-765 to see what they need. 

[kwoodruff 4]

47 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

 

 

We used

Regular white letter size paper for applications and photocopies.

Only evidence of marriage was a photocopy of our marriage certificate. Pleaseeee skip that Facebook stuff. 

No tabs/dividers. Bulldog clip on the bigger package. Big paper clip on the smaller packets.

 

Tip

You are submitting THREE applications, not four.

1. Adjustment of Status
2. Employment authorization 
3. Advance Parole

The I-864 is evidence for the I-485 AOS packet. Some evidence goes in all three packets so duplicates. Read the instructions for the I-131 and I-765 to see what they need. 

Awesome, thanks for the tips! Always good to hear what others have done and what worked for them.

 

Yes on the three applications as well. I just refer to 864 as another "packet" in my head since we have to put accompanying information/evidence with that one as well. Thank you for your reply! This helps.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

9 minutes ago, kwoodruff said:

 

Yes on the three applications as well. I just refer to 864 as another "packet" in my head since we have to put accompanying information/evidence with that one as well. Thank you for your reply! This helps.

I paper-clipped the I-864 "packet" then put it in the bulldog clip with the rest of the AOS group.

 

i have to confess, I stapled the yearly tax return pages. 😩🤣

 

[Pitaya 2,577]

Here are the USCIS Filing Tips: https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips

 

For all of our petitions/applications/submissions/mailings to USCIS we successfully used:

• 8-1/2"  x 11" (216 x 279mm) plain, white copy paper. We even printed our photos on this paper, using a color laser printer.
• We 2-hole punched at the top of all of the pages, and used prong fasteners to keep everything together. 
• We separated sections with colored paper, with the topic (i.e., birth certs, divorce decrees, etc.)  printed in large font, centered on the page.
• Placed several sheets of blank paper at the front and back (printed with the notation "Blank page"), since the prong fasteners tend to shred them anyway, keeping the evidence in good shape.
• Rubber banded large groups of paperwork together as necessary.
• No need to get fancy, USCIS will "slice and dice the paperwork in the manner they see fit.

HTH.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

 

[K1visaHopeful 2,878]

4 hours ago, kwoodruff said:

Hello all,

 

Some housekeeping questions regarding the submitting of the K1 adjustment of status packet:

 

• What paper type did you use? When we used an immigration lawyer for the initial K1/129F application, they printed on light gray, thicker paper. For the AOS, we are preparing the forms ourselves, and I was just going to use plain printer paper. Does it matter? Cheapest you can find...
• What paper size did you use for the forms? I have read 8.5 x 11" is fine and the USCIS is not particular. Can anyone confirm? Letter size.
• What paper type did you use for your evidence (photos, travel records, etc) - are screenshots from social media (to show date/location) acceptable? I was just planning to cut/paste the screenshots into a Word document and print them out. No evidence is needed for the initial filing of I485. Your application is not judged before the interview.
• Did you use tabs at the bottom of the forms to label each section (birth certificate, passport ID page, marriage certificate, etc)? In the instructions for i-485, it says tabs are acceptable if placed at the bottom and not the sides of the forms. Did anyone do this and feel like it made a difference? Yes do it as described in the form filing tips.
• Did you use rubber bands or clips to separate the different forms/evidence? I watched a few YouTube videos about how to "format" your packet if you're submitting the 485/130/765/864 all together. Some used binder clips to separate the 4 different forms. What is your experience? I485 + I864, one clip with coverletters for each. I765, one clip with cover letter. I131, one clip with coverletter. Then all clipped together with a big clip.

 

Please share any other tips that you would give that I might not have covered above!

 

Thank you!