AoS filing and checks returned- Why?

[cinnabunny 0]

Hi VJers. My first time on this website and hoping you guys can help me out.

 

I'm applying for an adjustment of status as a spouse of a US citizen. I filled in all the necessary forms and my husband wrote personal checks for all the payments. I filled in the check with the information and according to the information I found on the USCIS website. My handwriting is very neat (I print in block letters for all legal documents) so I don't see how that is the problem.

All my forms and checks were returned to me yesterday with rejection notices for each individual form saying 'The payment amount is incorrect or has not been provided'. On all the checks, the Pay To line has been stamped over with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Services. According to the website, I only needed to write U.S. Department of Homeland Security for it to be accepted. I've tried calling and chatting with Emma on the USCIS website but can't find any information about why it has been rejected. 

 

Any ideas as to what might be wrong?

[Going through 5,671]

What exact forms did you file, and what was the exact amount you put on the cheque?  Possible the cheque was written for the wrong amount/was not signed (it's happened before!).

Edited July 29, 2019 by Going through

[cinnabunny 0]

I filed Form I-485, Form I-130, Form I-131, and Form I-765. Those were the ones that had a fee so had accompanying checks. I also filed other supporting forms which didn't have a fee. My son was also a dependent so I included an application fee for him but not a biometric fee as he's under 13. All the checks were for the same amounts as listed on the USCIS website and we made sure to have the updated information. (1,975 for I-485 which is myself + biometric fee + my son's application all went on one check) and the others were all separate (I-130 ($535), I-131 ($575), and I-765 ($410). 

 

The checks were all signed by my husband. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

4 minutes ago, cinnabunny said:

I filed Form I-485, Form I-130, Form I-131, and Form I-765. Those were the ones that had a fee so had accompanying checks. I also filed other supporting forms which didn't have a fee. My son was also a dependent so I included an application fee for him but not a biometric fee as he's under 13. All the checks were for the same amounts as listed on the USCIS website and we made sure to have the updated information. (1,975 for I-485 which is myself + biometric fee + my son's application all went on one check) and the others were all separate (I-130 ($535), I-131 ($575), and I-765 ($410). 

 

The checks were all signed by my husband. 

You don't pay for the I-131 and I-765 when filed with the AOS.  It is in the instructions.

 

You need to pay for the sons I-130 plus AOS less biometrics

 

You need to pay for your I-130/130A and AOS 

 

File for the I-131 and I-765 at the same time for both.  No charge.

[Going through 5,671]

7 minutes ago, cinnabunny said:

All the checks were for the same amounts as listed on the USCIS website and we made sure to have the updated information. (1,975 for I-485 which is myself + biometric fee + my son's application all went on one check) and the others were all separate (I-130 ($535), I-131 ($575), and I-765 ($410). 

i-765  is free when filing concurrently with the i-485.

Sounds like the cheque was written incorrectly, hence why it was returned.

[cinnabunny 0]

I didn't find that information on the website. It makes sense if I overpaid. Where can I find those instructions?

[Just Paul 4,595]

6 minutes ago, cinnabunny said:

I didn't find that information on the website. It makes sense if I overpaid. Where can I find those instructions?

https://www.uscis.gov/feecalculator    start with the AOS and add the AP and EAD

[cinnabunny 0]

So my 7 year old son also needs his separate AoS form (no biometric fee) and his I-130 form? 

[Just Paul 4,595]

From the I-765 instructions:

 

Exceptions Initial EAD. If this is your initial application and you are applying under one of the following categories, a filing fee is not required for: 1. (a)(3) Refugee; 2. (a)(4) Paroled as Refugee; 3. (a)(5) Asylee; 4. (a)(7) N-8 or N-9 nonimmigrant; 5. (a)(8) Citizen of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, or Palau; 6. (a)(10) Granted Withholding of Deportation; 7. (a)(16) Victim of Severe Form of Trafficking (T-1 Nonimmigrant); 8. (a)(12) or (c)(19) Temporary Protected Status if you are filing an initial TPS application and you are under 14 years of age or over 65 years of age. All applicants for TPS re-registration who want an EAD must pay the filing fee, unless granted a fee waiver; 9. (a)(19) Victim of Qualifying Criminal Activity (U-1 Nonimmigrant); 10. (c)(1), (c)(4), or (c)(7) Dependent of certain foreign government, international organization, or NATO personnel; 11. (c)(8) Applicant for Asylum and Withholding of Deportation and Removal (an applicant filing under the special ABC procedures must pay the filing fee); 12. (c)(9) or (c)(16) Any current Adjustment of Status or Registry applicant who filed Form I-485 on or after July 30, 2007, and paid the appropriate Form I-485 filing fee. If you file Form I-765 separately from your Form I-485, you must also submit a copy of your Form I-797C Notice for Form I-485, as evidence of filing Form I-485 on or after July 30, 2007, and payment of the appropriate filing fee. If you did not pay the appropriate Form I-485 filing fee because your filing fee was waived or you are exempt from paying it, you must pay the Form I-765 filing fee or request that the filing fee be waived;

1 minute ago, cinnabunny said:

So my 7 year old son also needs his separate AoS form (no biometric fee) and his I-130 form? 

Yes

[cinnabunny 0]

Okay. So just to double check that I understand the information correctly, I need to file:

 

Me:

File form I-485 (AoS) $1140+$85 biometric fee

File form I-130/130A (AP) $535

File form I-131 (ATD) No fee

File form I-765 (EAD) No fee

 

My son:

File form I-485 (AoS) $750 (no biometric fee)

File form I-130 (AP) $535 

 

Does that look correct?

        

[Just Paul 4,595]

9 minutes ago, cinnabunny said:

Okay. So just to double check that I understand the information correctly, I need to file:

 

Me:

File form I-485 (AoS) $1140+$85 biometric fee

File form I-130/130A (AP) $535

File form I-131 (ATD) No fee

File form I-765 (EAD) No fee

 

My son:

File form I-485 (AoS) $750 (no biometric fee)

File form I-130 (AP) $535 

 

Does that look correct?

        

Yes.  I'd file the I-131 for the son incase international travel is needed.

[cinnabunny 0]

Thank you so much, Paul. We met an immigration lawyer but evidently, she left out a lot of information. You've been very helpful. 

[arken 4,197]

4 minutes ago, cinnabunny said:

Thank you so much, Paul. We met an immigration lawyer but evidently, she left out a lot of information. You've been very helpful. 

I hope you didn’t pay the lawyer the same way you were about to pay USCIS. They usually don’t send back money for overpaying.

[cinnabunny 0]

I don't think so. It was a lawyer on a plan from my husband's work. Not sure how much he paid but clearly any payment was overpaying. 

 

One last question: Since my son can't fill out the form, I assume that all the contact information/address/signature needs to me mine and I fill in the preparer's section of the form. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 minute ago, cinnabunny said:

I don't think so. It was a lawyer on a plan from my husband's work. Not sure how much he paid but clearly any payment was overpaying. 

 

One last question: Since my son can't fill out the form, I assume that all the contact information/address/signature needs to me mine and I fill in the preparer's section of the form. 

You can file it out as preparer.  If he is able to sign that is totally ok.