Last minute assembling questions....

[champ1979 0]

I had a few last minute questions:

1. For supporting evidence, such as an apartment lease, do they expect us to send a copy of all the pages of the lease or just the first page which have the names?

2. I understand that the USCIS recommends that we do not staple our documents. But can we staple the pages of a particular form together? For example, the I-485 has more than 1 page....do we staple that together? Right now I have them clipped with paper clips, and it's becoming messy.

3. I have seen a lot of advice been given about making sure to attach the passport photos and checks to the document in question. But how do you attach them? With staples? With paper clips?

4. Please give me some advise on the use of tabs. I've never used these before, but I have read that the USCIS would like us to organize our documents with tabs on the bottom. What kind of tabs do I get and do I attach the tab to a separate paper or on the application itself?

5. What kind of plastic bag do you use to place the photos? Can I get these bags at Office Max?

Thanks in advance!

[Cécy 44]

I had a few last minute questions:

1. For supporting evidence, such as an apartment lease, do they expect us to send a copy of all the pages of the lease or just the first page which have the names?

2. I understand that the USCIS recommends that we do not staple our documents. But can we staple the pages of a particular form together? For example, the I-485 has more than 1 page....do we staple that together? Right now I have them clipped with paper clips, and it's becoming messy.

3. I have seen a lot of advice been given about making sure to attach the passport photos and checks to the document in question. But how do you attach them? With staples? With paper clips?

4. Please give me some advise on the use of tabs. I've never used these before, but I have read that the USCIS would like us to organize our documents with tabs on the bottom. What kind of tabs do I get and do I attach the tab to a separate paper or on the application itself?

5. What kind of plastic bag do you use to place the photos? Can I get these bags at Office Max?

Thanks in advance!

1.We put the whole lease in our case... But I guess that's up to you to decide. I figured it would look more official and we even had it notarized (although that's not requested)

2. the only thing they say it's ok to staple is the checks.

Use Acco fasteners or paper clips. You can also separate each part with a folder... That's up to you.

3. We put the photos in zip lock bags and then used paper clips to attach it to the rest (I got some for spices from our local grocery store) but you can buy them in the supermarket too.

We used paper clips and it worked fine, the package looked pretty neat and clear.

4. tabs are to be put at the bottom of the page. Again it's one of those optional things. I only used them to label each part (I-130, proof of bona fide, I-485, etc.)

5. See answer 3

[cellarlily 0]

1. For which document are you sending a lease as supporting evidence? That type of evidence only seems applicable at an interview to prove you live together.

2. Try not to staple. If you use a combination of tabs and a large binder clip, it will stay together. Staples have to be removed from documents and it's such a pain (coming from someone who deals with hundreds of scholarship applications)

3. Photos can be taped to a blank sheet of paper and labeled at the top with your A# and name. Place the page behind the application (I-485 and any other applications that require passport-style photos). Or you can put them in a plastic bag...these don't need to be any special bags...just a Ziplock bag. Put your name and A# on the back of the photo. In this case, stapling the bag to the application would be a good idea, but I recommend just taping the photos to a blank sheet of paper. As for checks, we put ours in an envelope, marked the front and clipped it to the very front of the package.

4. I used side tabs because I didn't have bottom tabs. If you want to buy bottom tabs, I'm sure you can find them for cheap at Office Max. Otherwise, make your own with blank paper and attach a number at the bottom with a post-it or something like that. Put each important piece of your AOS application behind a tab...so tab 1 = I-485 and all supporting materials, tab 2 = Biographical sheets, etc. and put the directory on the cover page so they know where to find things. They'll likely put them in their own order, though, which is why it's best not to staple it.

5. Again, regular Ziploc bags will work...just remember to write on the back of the photos with a permanent marker.

[Cécy 44]

1. For which document are you sending a lease as supporting evidence? That type of evidence only seems applicable at an interview to prove you live together.

They apply from an H1B to AOS. So they have to file the I-130 and therefore proof of bonafide marriage is requested.

[cellarlily 0]

Ooh..gotcha. Sorry, I didn't see that!

[Cécy 44]

Ooh..gotcha. Sorry, I didn't see that!

No problem... We're all so used to doing things according to our own process. I'm the first to skip those kind of things

[champ1979 0]

Thanks for all your answers!

So, you can put all the checks together in an envelope and attach that envelope to the first tab?

[cellarlily 0]

Yes. You could put in the Memo line the application type for clarification, but since each has its own cost, they should be able to match the check with the application.

Or you could put each in a separate envelope and clip to the front of each application separately. In the end, all that matters is you have given them everything they need in a reasonably organized fashion.