I-797 Reject Notice: I-129F re-submission procedure?

[RK_and_Inday 10]

Today I (RK) received I-797 Reject Notice because I made a date error on check submitted along with I-129F petition. So the rejection was totally my fault but I just want to know proper/recommended procedure for re-submitting to avoid any potential additional errors I might make during resubmission.

The I-129F petitition I had originally assembled and submitted was returned disassembled from the original clips/fasteners I had used and then re-assembled with one large staple through all pages of the packet plus the right hand page of all forms and supporting documents had been stamped.

My specific questions are:

1. Do I/may I resubmit the stamped pages [and with holes in each page because of the staple] or do I have to redo all this?

2. Do I need to re-do cover letter? And if yes, then do I include old cover letter with stamped pages too?

3. What other recommendations/advice do Visa Journey members have which I may not have thought to ask?

Thank you very much for your always welcome assistance…

RK

[LookyWhatIFound 38]

Well that sure stinks, and I wish I could tell you it was all an April fools joke! I don't have the answer.

I guess they gave you no instructions with the notice form? Do the stamps say anything on them? Its really hard to know, maybe the stamps were just part of the normal process, while disassembling the package? Is there any indication that they want you to return the package as is?

Don't think many people know what to do in this situation and unfortunately I think the service center is closed today so you can't ask them.

But then maybe they might be trying to tell you something. I've read that they recommend you package your I-129F to be easily disassembled. They say you should use ICO fasteners (whatever they are) or clips instead of staples, and nothing to make it very bulky. I've seen this somewhere, maybe on the USCS site.

Here's what I did, buy a light, thin 3 ring binder and a one of those packs of 12 or so transparent dividers with pockets. You can put a tab in for each divider with a word or so, on each side describing the contents. You can slide a cover letter in the first pocket and maybe a table of contents describing the contents of the tabs and how many pages. I know this is overboard but in the process I know I have covered everything. You can organize your boarding passes, and receipts on the scanner of your printer. Hand print anything you need to describe them on the pages and put them in one of the divider. The only place you need staples is when you are attaching a sandwich bag to the blank page that will have your passport photos or proof of meeting photos. Etc.

Hopefully you have copies and originals of receipts and things.

Edited April 2, 2011 by LookyWhatIFound

[Mike&Rach 0]

That does stink.

I'm not sure either :S What do the stamps say? and what was the date error on the check?

You haven't got the NOA1 right? so they haven't opened your case. I'd send it again as new, unless the stamps say something. We held all our papers together with a big clip and put our pictures in letter size photo sleeves... I have no idea if this is right. Plus I haven't really been any help lol BUT I want to show some support for a fellow March filer.

Rachel

Edited April 2, 2011 by Mike&Rach

[Zara_ 3]

Today I (RK) received I-797 Reject Notice because I made a date error on check submitted along with I-129F petition. So the rejection was totally my fault but I just want to know proper/recommended procedure for re-submitting to avoid any potential additional errors I might make during resubmission.

The I-129F petitition I had originally assembled and submitted was returned disassembled from the original clips/fasteners I had used and then re-assembled with one large staple through all pages of the packet plus the right hand page of all forms and supporting documents had been stamped.

My specific questions are:

1. Do I/may I resubmit the stamped pages [and with holes in each page because of the staple] or do I have to redo all this?

2. Do I need to re-do cover letter? And if yes, then do I include old cover letter with stamped pages too?

3. What other recommendations/advice do Visa Journey members have which I may not have thought to ask?

Thank you very much for your always welcome assistance…

RK

We had the same misery... wrong amount on the check (430 $ instead of 340 $)...we sended new papers, and we had no problems. You have no casenumber yet so they will treat your petition like a new one. Good luck!

[RK_and_Inday 10]

Well that sure stinks, and I wish I could tell you it was all an April fools joke! I don't have the answer...

Hopefully you have copies and originals of receipts and things.

LWIF--Thanks for reponse. Correct, no instructions on notice, no indication to return package “as is” or otherwise. Only a cover letter which includes this statement: “You are invited to resubmit your application package after you have corrected the reasons for rejection.” and which also says “When you resubmit your application, please enclose this letter with your re-submission. Place this letter on top of your aplication package.” The stamps I think are routinely done by someone as they are “pre-viewing” petition to make sure all required documents are present and all forms filled out correctly (found that info using search in old VJ posts). The stamps are each one long line all down right hand side of all pages, just a long series of numbers of which I can make no sense. Yes, I know about the fasteners. In original submission I essentially used dividers with insert tabs, sandwich bag with photos, etc.: very similar to—almost exactly--what you did. Oddly enough the dividers were not returned but my labeled insert tabs had been removed from dividers and returned along with other “pieces and parts” of my original package.

Yes, I absolutely do have copies and originals of all submitted! Mostly now trying do to what is quickest. For example, if the stamped pages indicated some part of the initial process—even if just a preview--was completed, wanted to make sure I could pass through that part ASAP. But perhaps it doesn’t matter. Perhaps any re-submission has to be previewed again to make sure everything is present and correct.

OKay, thank you for verification on your assembly method of I-129F petition, your understanding/empathy, comments and the questions. All is appreciated!!

RK

[RK_and_Inday 10]

That does stink.

I'm not sure either :S What do the stamps say? and what was the date error on the check?

You haven't got the NOA1 right? so they haven't opened your case. I'd send it again as new, unless the stamps say something. We held all our papers together with a big clip and put our pictures in letter size photo sleeves... I have no idea if this is right. Plus I haven't really been any help lol BUT I want to show some support for a fellow March filer.

Rachel

Rachel—Hello, my fellow March filer (and at least I’m hoping I can still be defined as such after this :-) ). Your support is absolutely most welcome and truly appreciated. To answer your questions, stamps are as described in post to LWIF. Date error was that I put wrong digit at end of year which made it a past year, invalidating the check. (And I was so very, verrry careful about everything and looked over submission I don’t know how many times. Don’t know how I could have done that or missed that. Ugh!). About NOA. That confused me too, when the Reject notice was actually on I-797C form which was labeled as “I-797C, Notice of Action.” I looked on some old VJ posts and now my basic understanding is that a Notice of Action (NOA), which is VJ terminology for form I-797C, can be issued for any variety of reasons. One reason of which—is as I inadvertently discovered—is rejection of submitted application. On the I-797C there are a number of boxes one of which is labeled as “Notice type.” So, yes I did receive a NOA, and yes it is a first NOA received by myself but doesn’t seem to be the coveted type of NOA1 as usually referred to as on VJ. But this (Reject) NOA did have a receipt number plus there were those stamps on all the pages. You see the reason for my confusion. Just provided all that extra info to help dispel some of the mystery surrounding various aspects of this process for you and perhaps for whoever might come across this thread later. Nothing like experience and I am sure getting an extra dose of it this go round :-)

Thanks for describing how you put your package together. From my other past post researches here on VJ I think how things are put together in the I-129F, as long as all required info is present, is not a big deal. I have read that the packages are re-assembled anyway by whomever is reviewing. However, I suspect submitting an organized petition is probably appreciated much.

At this point, I am leaning more towards following your recommendation for submitting package as new. I will wait a day or two to see other potential VJ members responses, use the time also to verrrry carefully review all in the petition yet again, then re-submit again ASAP.

Thanks again for your support! It is truly appreciated. Will be seeing you and all the others as we trek down the visa journey road!

RK

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Today I (RK) received I-797 Reject Notice because I made a date error on check submitted along with I-129F petition. So the rejection was totally my fault but I just want to know proper/recommended procedure for re-submitting to avoid any potential additional errors I might make during resubmission.

The I-129F petitition I had originally assembled and submitted was returned disassembled from the original clips/fasteners I had used and then re-assembled with one large staple through all pages of the packet plus the right hand page of all forms and supporting documents had been stamped.

My specific questions are:

1. Do I/may I resubmit the stamped pages [and with holes in each page because of the staple] or do I have to redo all this?

2. Do I need to re-do cover letter? And if yes, then do I include old cover letter with stamped pages too?

3. What other recommendations/advice do Visa Journey members have which I may not have thought to ask?

Thank you very much for your always welcome assistance…

RK

Correct the check issue and send it back as is, no other changes needed.

[pushbrk 12,883]

Correct the check issue and send it back as is, no other changes needed.

Exactly. Just the way it is with a new check on the top.

[RK_and_Inday 10]

We had the same misery... wrong amount on the check (430 $ instead of 340 $)...we sended new papers, and we had no problems. You have no casenumber yet so they will treat your petition like a new one. Good luck!

Zara—Thank you for your response. Sorry you ended up in same boat as I, petition reject-wise. I, of course, know how that feels. I am just glad this is something which can be apparently corrected fairly easily and relatively quickly. And I will just consider this a blessing in disguise to go over petition again with fresh eyes to make sure all else is indeed in order. General consensus seems so far as you also advise, to submit as new. Thank you for your response, recommendation, and good luck wishes. Good luck to you as well!!!! Be seeing you down the visa journey road!

RK

[RK_and_Inday 10]

Exactly. Just the way it is with a new check on the top.

G & A, pushbrk--Thank you very much for the responses & recommendation. Have previously seen various of your other posts/responses to members here on VJ and your helpfulness is truly appreciated!

RK

[LookyWhatIFound 38]

LWIF--Thanks for reponse. Correct, no instructions on notice, no indication to return package “as is” or otherwise. Only a cover letter which includes this statement: “You are invited to resubmit your application package after you have corrected the reasons for rejection.” and which also says “When you resubmit your application, please enclose this letter with your re-submission. Place this letter on top of your aplication package.” The stamps I think are routinely done by someone as they are “pre-viewing” petition to make sure all required documents are present and all forms filled out correctly (found that info using search in old VJ posts). The stamps are each one long line all down right hand side of all pages, just a long series of numbers of which I can make no sense. Yes, I know about the fasteners. In original submission I essentially used dividers with insert tabs, sandwich bag with photos, etc.: very similar to—almost exactly--what you did. Oddly enough the dividers were not returned but my labeled insert tabs had been removed from dividers and returned along with other “pieces and parts” of my original package.

Yes, I absolutely do have copies and originals of all submitted! Mostly now trying do to what is quickest. For example, if the stamped pages indicated some part of the initial process—even if just a preview--was completed, wanted to make sure I could pass through that part ASAP. But perhaps it doesn’t matter. Perhaps any re-submission has to be previewed again to make sure everything is present and correct.

OKay, thank you for verification on your assembly method of I-129F petition, your understanding/empathy, comments and the questions. All is appreciated!!

RK

RK - Well maybe its ok to resend everything. That one letter that they want on top might have something on it telling them why the rest of the docs have holes and stamps on them.

Your guess is better than mines, or you can talk to someone at the service center on Monday before you actually send it so you can get their opinion. That said I got the impression in the past, several years ago, that the service center aren't really told a lot of the details of the process.

So like you said it won't make too much difference either way. But they really shouldn't have sent the whole package back for a small error on the check. But its a set system/process and not setup to be able to adapt to minor glitches.

Good luck anyway, but you'll be fine.

[pushbrk 12,883]

RK - Well maybe its ok to resend everything. That one letter that they want on top might have something on it telling them why the rest of the docs have holes and stamps on them.

Your guess is better than mines, or you can talk to someone at the service center on Monday before you actually send it so you can get their opinion. That said I got the impression in the past, several years ago, that the service center aren't really told a lot of the details of the process.

So like you said it won't make too much difference either way. But they really shouldn't have sent the whole package back for a small error on the check. But its a set system/process and not setup to be able to adapt to minor glitches.

Good luck anyway, but you'll be fine.

The most likely "date error" on a check is to use the previous year, making the check not negotiable and it's alteration a felony. As such, rejecting the petition was the only viable option for USCIS.

[LookyWhatIFound 38]

The most likely "date error" on a check is to use the previous year, making the check not negotiable and it's alteration a felony. As such, rejecting the petition was the only viable option for USCIS.

I wasn't implying using the bad check, but isn't there the possibility of just putting it on hold pending a new check?

[RK_and_Inday 10]

RK - Well maybe its ok to resend everything. That one letter that they want on top might have something on it telling them why the rest of the docs have holes and stamps on them.

Your guess is better than mines, or you can talk to someone at the service center on Monday before you actually send it so you can get their opinion. That said I got the impression in the past, several years ago, that the service center aren't really told a lot of the details of the process.

So like you said it won't make too much difference either way. But they really shouldn't have sent the whole package back for a small error on the check. But its a set system/process and not setup to be able to adapt to minor glitches.

Good luck anyway, but you'll be fine.

LWIF--I understand your points. I think your best point is "But its a set system/process and not setup to be able to adapt to minor glitches." I work in an office myself where there are many frustrations for self, co-workers,and customers because taskings "out of the [established] flow" are not allowed even if less costly and more effective. Oh, well. Again, it was my fault in this case and I accept the consequences (a bit more work) and am using chance to look all over in petition again carefully. At anyrate, hope to re-submit very soon.

RK

[pushbrk 12,883]

I wasn't implying using the bad check, but isn't there the possibility of just putting it on hold pending a new check?

No.