How and where to mail your I-485/I-767/I-131

[Noktor 4]

2 hours ago, Dashinka said:

What happens is once you submit the AOS package to the lockbox address, it is initially reviewed to make sure all the required forms and required evidence is included, then USCIS will cash the check or charge your credit card, and they will issue an acceptance Notice of Action (NOA) which will be your proof that you properly filed the AOS and are authorized to stay until your AOS is decided.  This review is fairly quick and the NOA should show up fairly quickly.  If you were to leave the US before receiving your AP card or GC, then you will have abandoned your application.  Once you get your EAD and SSN you can legally take a job (you can look for one before getting the EAD, but cannot officially start working until you actually receive it).  Then in 12-18 months or so, your AOS should be decided.

 

Good Luck!

We also will be submitting forms I-767 (EAD/Work Permit) and I-131 (Travel Docs) along with the AOS. Typically how long will it take for her to get approved for the I-767 and I-131? I hope those 2 won't take long as the I-485.

Edited April 14, 2023 by Noktor

[Dashinka 24,639]

2 minutes ago, Noktor said:

We also will be submitting forms I-767 (EAD/Work Permit) and I-131 (Travel Docs) along with the AOS. Typically how long will it take for her to get approved for the I-767 and I-131? I hope those 2 won't take long as the I-485.

The I765 and I131 (EAD and AP) are taking 6-8 months, but I have been hearing anecdotal stories of some being approved faster.  As to the I765, if you have a solid job offer, you can request an expedite.  

[mam521 2,113]

16 hours ago, Family said:

Did you make a DIY decision to leave ? I cannot imagine a skilled immigration attorney telling you consular process was the only option…

Hubs was LPR when we got married.  I was in the US on L1b, 5 years was up and we'd recaptured as much time as we could (4mo, I think?).  He applied for citizenship prior to our filing, but took 19mo.  Had he been a citizen, things would have been different.  

[Chancy 6,243]

23 hours ago, Scandi said:

There's always a ton of border protection cars parked all over the place there but have only seen them stop traffic once, so doesn't appear to be common. It should be a warning though, it CAN happen and does happen to some, evidently.

 

Here's another case of foreigners getting their fateful encounters with ICE after being asked for immigration papers at a traffic stop.  This one in North Dakota --

 

 

[Family 4,065]

5 hours ago, mam521 said:

22 hours ago, Family said:

Did you make a DIY decision to leave ? I cannot imagine a skilled immigration attorney telling you consular process was the only option…

Hubs was LPR when we got married.  I was in the US on L1b, 5 years was up and we'd recaptured as much time as we could (4mo, I think?).  He applied for citizenship prior to our filing, but took 19mo.  Had he been a citizen, things would have been different.  

Understood. You had a lot at stake. Thank you for replying. Vent away..you did jammed by delays

[Noktor 4]

Does it matter which method of payment to use when submitting your AOS packet? I heard that personal check is recommended and the safest but would like to hear your thoughts? I got a money order through my bank last time when submitting my I-129F.

[Mike E 11,741]

56 minutes ago, Noktor said:

heard that personal check is recommended

Personal check all the way.

 

* no need to put the address of the receiver on the check as you can with a money order. I estimate a century of total time has been wasted on visa journey asking and answering this question

 

* easier to follow the money. You will know when it is cashed. And cashing it means USCIS got your petition. It is possible to do this with money order and cashier check but it is harder

 

* less likely your bank will reject as fraud as we see at least once a month with credit cards

 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

Another vote for a personal check....for the reasons @Mike E stated.  In addition, If necessary, stopping payment would be easier for a personal check.

[Scandi 4,173]

Personal checks have been great throughout my whole immigration journey. The only time I didn't use one was for my citizenship because everything was online then, no paper filing. 

[TBoneTX 45,604]

Multiple threads on a continuing topic have been merged.  If they're difficult to follow now, that's the consequence of starting multiple concurrent threads.  Please confine future questions to THIS thread only, and don't start any more new ones.

Edited April 23, 2023 by TBoneTX

[Sarge2155 4,590]

On 4/12/2023 at 9:56 AM, Noktor said:

I have looked at the I-485 guide and still have a few questions. I will be submitting all 3 applications. Do I put each application and its required documents into 1 envelope each and then consolidate them all into 1 envelope and mail out just that? or do I keep them all in 3 seperate envelopes and mail them individually?

 

Also where do I need to mail them to?

This is where people filing for the AOS in April 2023 will gather:

 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/798432-april-2023-aos-filers/

 

[Noktor 4]

If using personal check to pay, can the person be someone other than yourself? I don't use personal checks, and would like to ask for someone else in my family to write out a check to USCIS and then I will just pay that person back. Or does the name/address on the check need to match the name of the person that's on the envelope?

 

So for example, the AOS packet that I'm about to send, which is for my wife to get her greencard, work permit and travel docs, etc. I'm assuming her name needs to go on the envelope and not mines? Because last time when filling out the I-129F, it was my name on the envelope. Again, just want to be safe and sure that I'm doing it correctly. As I do not want them to reject our AOS packet.

[powerpuff 6,744]

8 minutes ago, Noktor said:

If using personal check to pay, can the person be someone other than yourself?

Yes that’s fine

 

8 minutes ago, Noktor said:

I'm assuming her name needs to go on the envelope

Yes, those are her petitions 

[Noktor 4]

The guide on here says to send the AOS packet to the lockbox in Chicago, however when looking at the filing location chart on USCIS's website it shows the following. Since I'm located in Texas, should I be sending it to that location instead?

 

screen shot capture

[powerpuff 6,744]

ALWAYS only rely on official USCIS instructions. Follow what it says on the chart.