Duplicate evidence for I-765 and I-131

[orionkh 3]

1 hour ago, Rocio0010 said:

My situation is different because I went home for around seven years. I included a letter of my then employee back home stating that I was working from xxx to xxx. I did not include flight tickets because I didn’t keep them. I did include passport pages showing the exit stamp.

That I remember, the only form that asks about the two year requirement is the I-485, so included the evidence only in that form. Does the I-131 ask about that too?

Thanks so much for your insight. And to answer your question, no it does not. It does not actually ask whether or not the applicant is subject to the two year requirement. However, in the filing instructions for I-131, it says USCIS may reject the application if the applicant is subject. 

[orionkh 3]

1 hour ago, Family said:

The last page of the I-485 is blank and allows you to WRITE IN any additional information pertinent to your claimed eligibility. It insures a record is made for any number of issues , same applies to any other form. 
 

I also encourage you to come up with more than just entry/ exit stamps for your physical presence spent back home. Each trip/ stay should have additional documentation of you being in that country 

The last page I’m seeing is boxes where they ask you to put the page number, part number , item number. Is this what you’re referring to? If it is, can I just write anywhere there without referring to any page number on the form that I’m adding extra info? 
 

And thank you for pointing that out! Most of the trips were short, between 30 and 90 days. I have one trip that is almost a year for which I have a letter of employment. For all other trips, I only have stamps, flight tickets, and some pictures with my family. Would that suffice? 

[Rocio0010 5,579]

4 hours ago, orionkh said:

to? If it is, can I just write anywhere there without referring to any page number on the form that I’m adding extra info? 

No. That’s only for form I-485

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

10 hours ago, Family said:

So the I-485 is your Main requested benefit ( end of the rainbow) . Everything else is an underlying app. You only need to submit ONE set of supporting docs, as long as you cover all requirements for each. They are neither treated , nor processed as standalone apps. 

Everyone seems to worry about the fact the various centers process different parts / apps, BUT remember USCIS is now digital and when they “ send “ something to various Service Centers ..they send DIGITAL files, not your neatly prepped duplicate /triplicate paper copies. 
Even pre-digital , USCIS only required ONE set of supporting docs. 

 

So the only thing that happens when you send duplicates/ triplicates of the same is that the Mailroom and then Contract ( non USCIS) staff who have to open/ scan / sort through/ input your initial submission gets a bit more work , and your Adjudication Officer probably grumbles when he has to look at xx pages of duplicates when x is what he needs to review. 
 

You do not get penalized for sending 3 copies of your birth certificate or too many copies of anything else… but it is not required and most certainly futile. 
 

In your case I suggest you add wording to the last page of the I-485 to the effect : I am no longer subject to the 2 year foreign residency condition as I have fulfilled the requirement ( post completion of my program date xxx) and lived in my country of origin xx between xx to xx for a total of 2 years and one month. 
 See attached 

 

The  I-131 doesn’t have a final blank page, so write Addendum to I-131 on a blank paper and write the same thing . 
 

 

Tell that to all the people we've seen here that had their applications for EAD/ AP rejected because they did what you suggested. It's great if that has worked for you but many others have failed that way.

Edited March 20, 2022 by Letspaintcookies

[Rocio0010 5,579]

8 hours ago, orionkh said:

, in the filing instructions for I-131, it says USCIS may reject the application if the applicant is subject. 

Not when you are filing the i485 concurrently I guess. You only need to send evidence of compliance with your I-485. However, you do need to send the rest of the documentation that the I-131 asks for, even if you send the same documentation for another form. I strongly suggest you to use the VJ guide -it’s concise and simple, yet complete and thorough.

I just remembered this: I had a Fulbright scholarship with a J1 visa subject to the two year requirement. So I sent a letter from HR stating that I was working in my home country during those two years. I also asked the Fulbright director in Argentina to write a letter stating that I complied with the requirement. And I believe I included either the passport stamps, or a copy of my travel history downloaded from the DHS webpage.

When I sent my application, I included evidence of compliance only with the I-485. I also made a cover letter and a table of contents where I listed the evidence in one of my exhibits. I never had a single issue with it. In fact, I was approved without an interview. 
I have read tons of cases where they sent documents for one of the forms, thinking that the different offices communicate with each other, and they end up with RFEs and long delays. As I said, it’s your choice. I would not risk it.

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

12 hours ago, orionkh said:

but I'm more leaning toward doing what you suggested because my proof of compliance with the 2 year foreign residency requirement is 65 pages long.

I advise you to treat each form as a stand alone package........send a complete set of supporting documents needed for EACH form.  Your choice....your consequences.  Each form is a separate entity......and they are not all processed together or at the same location.  I have seen RFEs for not providing supporting documents.  Your convenience should not be a factor here.

 

leaving this topic now. 

Edited March 20, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

13 hours ago, Family said:

Everyone seems to worry about the fact the various centers process different parts / apps, BUT remember USCIS is now digital and when they “ send “ something to various Service Centers ..they send DIGITAL files, not your neatly prepped duplicate /triplicate paper copies. 
Even pre-digital , USCIS only required ONE set of supporting docs.

Except USCIS is NOT completely digital.  If they were, every USCIS form would be filed online. 

Edited March 20, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Family 3,988]

10 hours ago, orionkh said:

And thank you for pointing that out! Most of the trips were short, between 30 and 90 days. I have one trip that is almost a year for which I have a letter of employment. For all other trips, I only have stamps, flight tickets, and some pictures with my family. Would that suffice? 

Again , get to work and submit something for each trip..this is where MORE is better! Affidavits with fancy stamps from family, bank / credit transactions that show overseas activities during periods, trips on trains/planes , visits to dentists/ doctors/ interactions w local authorities..spare no effort to pile it up. 
 

 

[orionkh 3]

6 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

Not when you are filing the i485 concurrently I guess. You only need to send evidence of compliance with your I-485. However, you do need to send the rest of the documentation that the I-131 asks for, even if you send the same documentation for another form. I strongly suggest you to use the VJ guide -it’s concise and simple, yet complete and thorough.

I just remembered this: I had a Fulbright scholarship with a J1 visa subject to the two year requirement. So I sent a letter from HR stating that I was working in my home country during those two years. I also asked the Fulbright director in Argentina to write a letter stating that I complied with the requirement. And I believe I included either the passport stamps, or a copy of my travel history downloaded from the DHS webpage.

When I sent my application, I included evidence of compliance only with the I-485. I also made a cover letter and a table of contents where I listed the evidence in one of my exhibits. I never had a single issue with it. In fact, I was approved without an interview. 
I have read tons of cases where they sent documents for one of the forms, thinking that the different offices communicate with each other, and they end up with RFEs and long delays. As I said, it’s your choice. I would not risk it.

Thank you for sharing the details! That's very helpful indeed. I didn't work during most of the short trips, but I did during the recent extended trip. do have an employment letter for the last trip, though.  I know photos are secondary, but I'm going to include my photos with my family and friends as well. 

 

It's amazing that you didn't even have to go to an interview!!! 

[orionkh 3]

4 hours ago, Family said:

Again , get to work and submit something for each trip..this is where MORE is better! Affidavits with fancy stamps from family, bank / credit transactions that show overseas activities during periods, trips on trains/planes , visits to dentists/ doctors/ interactions w local authorities..spare no effort to pile it up. 
 

 

Thanks for your advice. I'll pile up everything I could possibly retrieve from the past trips, mostly photos, entry/exit stamps, I-94 records, & flight receipts. 

6 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

I advise you to treat each form as a stand alone package........send a complete set of supporting documents needed for EACH form.  Your choice....your consequences.  Each form is a separate entity......and they are not all processed together or at the same location.  I have seen RFEs for not providing supporting documents.  Your convenience should not be a factor here.

 

leaving this topic now. 

Thank you for your advice!