I-751 - bulky packet - how to mail?

[Elle84 20]

Hello knowledgeable folks! I have just completed my I-751 packet and want to mail it out on Monday. The problem is that it's extremely thick!! I'm sure this is a common problem with people frontloading their petition so I am asking: how did you organize and mail it? Right now I have a stack of letter-size paper that is 2.5 inches tall (also due to multiple paper clips that I tried my best to minimize but yet again, they don't like staples so I only stapled some of the documents). I used colored sticky tabs that I stuck at the bottom of the docs to say what they are (did the same thing for my CR-1 I-130 petition and they seemed to have liked that so I did it again). 

I have 1 sturdy letter size envelope (ridiculously small for my stack, it doesn't fit in!) and a plastic bubble envelope that is bigger but still my stack doesn't fit inside that either. Please help a noob out!! How do I get this monster to USCIS? Reducing the number of pages is obviously out of the question

Thank you so much!!

[Dashinka 24,512]

Someone at USCIS is going to have fun with that package.  I am curious, did you include all pages of multiple bank statements from a joint account?  I know you said you do not want to reduce the package, but 2.5 inches of paper is about the same a standard printer paper pack which is quite excessive.  Back when my wife and I sent our’s in, it was about an inch thick.

 

Anyway, why not send it using the small or medium USPS box.

 

Good Luck!

[Sukie 1,463]

Take the staples out immediately.  Every page has to be scanned into a machine, and staples mean someone has to tear off each page, or go through and take out the staples.  You risk them losing pages.

 

Our packet was about 3.5 inches tall, and we used a Post Office box.

 

Good luck!

 

Sukie in NY

[Daphne . 1,866]

That sounds like a huge packet, are you sure you need absolutely everything? You don’t have to send 100 pictures when only 25 will do, for example. Do you have a case that requires this much evidence?
 

My I-751 packet was 35 pages and no issues! I know mine was super small, but you are at the other end of the spectrum. 
 

Take out the staples though! 

[Rocio0010 5,579]

Hey hey hey!!! I’m coming your way for help!!!

I sent a six pounder. Yes, you read that right. Six pounds. I included the 24 bank statements and that’s actually most of the bulk. 
Here’s what I did: I cut a piece of cardboard for the back, for support. Then I double punched every page, at the top. And lastly, I held everything together by using a 3 inch Acco binder. Then I went to FedEx, where they put my package into one of their boxes, and off it went.

[Loren Y 2,755]

USPS medium flat rate box should work fine.

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-flat-rate-medium-box-2-P_O_FRB2

[Fe.Ta 874]

3 hours ago, Elle84 said:

Hello knowledgeable folks! I have just completed my I-751 packet and want to mail it out on Monday. The problem is that it's extremely thick!! I'm sure this is a common problem with people frontloading their petition so I am asking: how did you organize and mail it? Right now I have a stack of letter-size paper that is 2.5 inches tall (also due to multiple paper clips that I tried my best to minimize but yet again, they don't like staples so I only stapled some of the documents). I used colored sticky tabs that I stuck at the bottom of the docs to say what they are (did the same thing for my CR-1 I-130 petition and they seemed to have liked that so I did it again). 

I have 1 sturdy letter size envelope (ridiculously small for my stack, it doesn't fit in!) and a plastic bubble envelope that is bigger but still my stack doesn't fit inside that either. Please help a noob out!! How do I get this monster to USCIS? Reducing the number of pages is obviously out of the question

Thank you so much!!

To each their own.  You sound confident and are not willing to budge on the 2.5 inches.  You do you!  Just like @Rocio0010, I am here to say if you feel sane and that this will help your peace of mine, send that baby!  Definitely take the staples and clips out.  You should only separate things by using the tabs and they should be at the bottom.  A cover letter will help them navigate it with the tabs.  I would recommend using UPS or FedEx.

 

Ours was 3 inches and it was 5 pounds.  Unlike most people would assume, we did not send 24-36 statements nor did we send 100 pictures.  But, we did make sure we had enough evidence and different types just to cover our bases.

 

We actually mailed ours using ACCO clips to hold everything in place (the biggest there is), then put it in an expandable file folder (see below), and finally a bubble wrap envelope.  It was going to be cheaper than using a box because UPS measures bla bla and charges you more.

[Sarge2155 4,587]

4 hours ago, Elle84 said:

Hello knowledgeable folks! I have just completed my I-751 packet and want to mail it out on Monday. The problem is that it's extremely thick!! I'm sure this is a common problem with people frontloading their petition so I am asking: how did you organize and mail it? Right now I have a stack of letter-size paper that is 2.5 inches tall (also due to multiple paper clips that I tried my best to minimize but yet again, they don't like staples so I only stapled some of the documents). I used colored sticky tabs that I stuck at the bottom of the docs to say what they are (did the same thing for my CR-1 I-130 petition and they seemed to have liked that so I did it again). 

I have 1 sturdy letter size envelope (ridiculously small for my stack, it doesn't fit in!) and a plastic bubble envelope that is bigger but still my stack doesn't fit inside that either. Please help a noob out!! How do I get this monster to USCIS? Reducing the number of pages is obviously out of the question

Thank you so much!!

Take a look at this one. I sent it FedEx using a medium box. I also inserted packing paper inside the box so if the packet decided to move it would not rub up against the inside of the mailing box. It did fit quite snug though. The bottom line as several people have said you have to do you. I wanted piece of mind so I sent everything including the kitchen sink, some folks send less and go through no problems, some send more and go through just the same, that's why we say you have to do YOU:

 

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by Sarge2155

[Mobius1 175]

Good. You may avoid an interview with that much evidence. Just send it by ups or FedEx certified. Little price to pay for the benefit 

[Elle84 20]

Hi guys! First of all thank you so much to all of you for your advice! It was really helpful in finalizing my packet! I ended up shipping it today with UPS in one of their boxes. It ended up being a 6 pounder (including the box). I did take out all the staples (which took me more or less an hour lol). Originally my packet wasn't supposed to be THIS thick but I read so much stuff on this forum with people putting in a lot of documents, that every week I got new ideas of things to add. Our case isn't particularly complicated but I was like better safe than sorry, I really don't want an RFE and who knows, maybe we won't even get an interview (even if we do have to do one, it's totally fine). I know some people will say it's an overkill while others will say what I included is not enough.

 

Here's what I included as proof of bona-fide marriage  (extract from cover letter after deleting personal information):

• Copy of the birth certificate of our son 
• Copy of the social security card of our son showing our current physical address
• Copy of our marriage certificate showing my name change (because the birth certificate of our son lists my maiden name and not my married name)
• Copy of our joint lease at our current physical address (lease 2021; renewal in 2022)
• Joint checking account statements for 2021 and 2022 showing joint expenses such as rent, car payment, etc.
• Joint savings account statements for 2021 and 2022 showing contributions from our joint checking account
• My checking account statements for 2021 and 2022 showing regular/ongoing contributions to our joint checking account
• Credit card statements:

o   Chase Sapphire – showing payment to our fertility clinic and fertility pharmacy; also attached copy of credit cards (hubs is main cardholder, I am an authorized user)

o   Chase Freedom Unlimited – showing payments to our fertility clinic; also attached copy of credit cards (hubs is main cardholder, I am an authorized user)

o   Chase Freedom Unlimited (a different one) – showing payment to our fertility clinic; also attached copy of credit cards (I am the main cardholder, hubs is an authorized user)

o   American Express – showing payment to our fertility clinic; also showing payments both by the main cardholder - hubs - and authorized user - me)

• Joint car loan contract
• Joint tax transcripts & returns filed in 2022 (for 2021) and 2021 (for 2020)
• Car insurance cards showing both of us on the policy for our car
• Proof of joint residence for our main residence (copies of our drivers’ licenses)
• Extract from my work benefits showing hubs as the beneficiary of my life insurance
• Joint renters’ insurance from 2021, and renewal from 2022
• Joint checking account statement from 2019 (while we were living in Romania, my home country).
• Proof we lived together in Romania (2019-2020): my Romanian ID cards and hubby's Romanian Residence Permits showing the same address
• Proof of travel together with husband's family Bucharest – Naples (Sept-Oct 2019) (boarding passes)
• Proof of travel together Bucharest – Buenos Aires (December 2019) (flight itinerary)
• Photos of us together, and together with our families and friends, covering the timeframe from our civil marriage (August 2019) to the present day

What added the most bulk were the 2 years of statements for 3 bank accounts (joint checking, joint savings, and my checking), the tax returns, and the lease. The lease had A LOT of pages (44 pages 2021, 38 pages 2022) and I didn't have the courage to skip pages because it had our initials from DocuSign on every page, plus they were numbered.

 

Anyway. This monster is out the door and now time to sit back, relax and finally enjoy what's left of my maternity leave!! (or maybe I'll truly enjoy it once I see they charged the credit card lol). Side note, this petition stressed me out also because the HR at my job ALREADY asked me to send them the petition receipt in MAY. I was like ma'am my card doesn't expire until 12/19 and I can't even file before 9/20 so yeah.

 

[Chancy 6,241]

20 hours ago, Elle84 said:

this petition stressed me out also because the HR at my job ALREADY asked me to send them the petition receipt in MAY. I was like ma'am my card doesn't expire until 12/19 and I can't even file before 9/20 so yeah.

 

If HR asked specifically for your ROC receipt for I-9 purposes, what they did was illegal.  From https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/employee-rights-and-resources/employee-rights -- "Your employer may not: [...] Demand a specific document when reverifying that you are authorized to work."

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by Chancy

[Elle84 20]

3 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

If HR asked specifically for your ROC receipt for I-9 purposes, what they did was illegal.  From https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/employee-rights-and-resources/employee-rights -- "Your employer may not: [...] Demand a specific document when reverifying that you are authorized to work."

 

They asked for an "unexpired permanent resident card" or "receipt that I filed for extension". I don't think it came from a place of bad will on their side, but of limited knowledge. I guess they could also just verify my social security number since it doesn't have restrictions on it, but they just don't know. 

[beloved_dingo 1,979]

On 10/1/2022 at 6:19 PM, Rocio0010 said:

Hey hey hey!!! I’m coming your way for help!!!

I sent a six pounder. Yes, you read that right. Six pounds. I included the 24 bank statements and that’s actually most of the bulk. 
Here’s what I did: I cut a piece of cardboard for the back, for support. Then I double punched every page, at the top. And lastly, I held everything together by using a 3 inch Acco binder. Then I went to FedEx, where they put my package into one of their boxes, and off it went.

I did the exact same thing (card board backing, ACCO fasteners). Our package was also huge, thanks to the 24 months of bank statements. I sent it via USPS Priority Mail Express, and used one of their big padded envelopes. 

[Elle84 20]

You guys, we  made it! I feel I owed an update lol :).

I got my receipt/notice of action/extension letter in the mail last week. Now for another 2 years of peace and quiet, or, better said, I guess I should start stressing about my N-400 application although that doesn't seem half as labor intensive.

Thank you all so much again!

[OldUser 6,708]

1 hour ago, Elle84 said:

Now for another 2 years of peace and quiet, or, better said, I guess I should start stressing about my N-400 application although that doesn't seem half as labor intensive.

Thank you all so much again!

N-400 is almost as intensive as I-751 if applying under 3 year rule. Same evidence needed. Under 5 year rule, yes, less intensive.