What's the "Brown Envelope"?

[roverdriver 0]

Reading embassy reviews I see frequent reference to a "brown envelope".

Is this something given at the interview? Or mailed? I'm asking because Laura wasn't given one, just her chest x-ray.

[JeanneVictoria 55]

Reading embassy reviews I see frequent reference to a "brown envelope".

Is this something given at the interview? Or mailed? I'm asking because Laura wasn't given one, just her chest x-ray.

The only "brown envelope" I know of is the one my husband received with his visa. It contains the paperwork (medical report, police report, petition copy, visa application copy. etc..) that he will give to the POE immigration officer upon arrival.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Ditto. When your wife receives her visa, it will come with a manila envelope that says "DO NOT OPEN". That's the one.

Congrats on your approval!!!!

[Mags 112]

Yes, in most cases it arrives with the visa. This contains everything pertaining to your case and is to be handed over to Immigration at your POE. Do not open it and pack it in your hand baggage not the checked baggage.

[Mononoke28 135]

Make sure the beneficiary carries it with him/her when traveling to the US because they will ask to see it. They asked my husband for it at 4 different times before boarding the plane.

Diana

[WestmorelandLove 0]

Are the items that are in the brown envelope returned to you? Especially, the medical information.

Pam

[Chris Parker 11]

Are the items that are in the brown envelope returned to you? Especially, the medical information.

The brown envelope technically is your immigrant visa. The machine-readable immigrant visa in the passport is just supplemental actually, before machine-readable visas were required, all you got for a visa was the sealed brown envelope.

The brown envelope contains what will become your A-file upon admission. That means it has the approved petition and the approved visa application together with all supporting documents. These documents in the sealed brown envelope will become classified information upon arrival in the U.S. and cannot be shown to you even under a Privacy Act request (A-files are exempted from disclosure in the interest of national security).

So no, nothing in the brown envelope is returned to you, ever. If you wanted a copy of the medical information, you need to request such from the panel physician that prepared it. If there are original documents you want back, go to the consulate and have them remove them and replace them with copies and re-seal the envelope.

[Hani2007 0]

Are the items that are in the brown envelope returned to you? Especially, the medical information.

The brown envelope technically is your immigrant visa. The machine-readable immigrant visa in the passport is just supplemental actually, before machine-readable visas were required, all you got for a visa was the sealed brown envelope.

The brown envelope contains what will become your A-file upon admission. That means it has the approved petition and the approved visa application together with all supporting documents. These documents in the sealed brown envelope will become classified information upon arrival in the U.S. and cannot be shown to you even under a Privacy Act request (A-files are exempted from disclosure in the interest of national security).

So no, nothing in the brown envelope is returned to you, ever. If you wanted a copy of the medical information, you need to request such from the panel physician that prepared it. If there are original documents you want back, go to the consulate and have them remove them and replace them with copies and re-seal the envelope.

supporting documents?!!

Could you tell me exactly what are they ?

[Minya's wife 24]

The "brown envelope" contains your original immigration petition, (which you filed at USCIS) the results of your medical examination, and all other documents pertaining to your case. Basically anything you handed it either with your original visa petition, or at the consulate.

You will present this brown envelope to the immigration officer when you arrive in the US. They will open it look it over before they stamp you I-94 when you enter the US. The contents of the brown envelope will eventually make their way back to the USCIS service center they originated from, where they become part of your file...if and when you file for AOS the papers from the brown envelope will be placed along with your AOS papers.

As was stated previously....you will not have access to these papers, so it is best that you have copies for your records.

-P

[Hani2007 0]

One more question :

What about the "Immigrant data summary" paper attached to the Brown Envelope ?

Will it be returned to me at POE ?

Thanks in advance