Tips for Filing Forms by Mail
This page contains tips for filing paper forms by mail.
However, you can file many USCIS forms online. You can review the list of Forms Available to File Online, check out the Benefits of Filing Online, and learn how to Create a USCIS Online Account. If you are filing online, see our Tips for Filing Forms Online page.
You may download and print forms for free from the All Forms page.
Please be sure to carefully read and follow the form filing instructions. Form fees, eligibility requirements, fee waiver eligibility, required documents, and mailing addresses vary depending on which form you are filing and why you are filing it. These tips will help ensure we accept your application, petition, or request package for processing.
- You can download forms from our website, complete them electronically, and then print your forms to submit by mail. If you need help downloading and printing forms, read our instructions. Do not mail a form if you have already filed it online. If you print out an online form and mailed to the lockbox, we will reject it.
- Only use the current form edition when downloading and completing a form.
- Ensure that the form edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of the printed pages and that you complete all pages with the same edition of the form. If any of the form’s pages are missing or are completed with a different edition of the form, we may reject your application.
- If you hand write your answers, use black ink. Make sure that everything you write on the form is clear, so we can easily read the information on the scanned image we produce when we process your form.
- Do not use highlighters, correction fluid, or correction tape. We use both black-and-white and grayscale scanners that will not properly read information that is greyed out, highlighted, or corrected using correction fluid or tape. If you make an error, start over with a clean form.
- Complete the entire form, unless the form directs you to skip 1 or more items. If you do not complete all parts of the form, we may reject your submission for missing information.
- Remember to sign your form in the space provided for your signature. We will reject and return any unsigned form. For more information on signatures, see the USCIS Policy Manual.
- Pay the correct fee. We will reject forms submitted with incorrect or incomplete fees. Use the Fee Calculator to help you determine the correct fee.
- If you are filing multiple applications, petitions, or requests, we recommend sending separate payments for each application. If you submit 1 payment for multiple forms and we reject 1 of those forms, we will reject all the other forms included in that payments.
- We recommend assembling your package in the following order:
- Check or money order or Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you are paying by check or money order, write the form you are filing and your A-Number or other applicable identification on the check or money order. If you are paying with a credit card, see our Pay with a Credit Card webpage.
- Form G-1145, Request for e-Notification (if applicable).
- Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative (if applicable).
- Form being filed.
- Form supplements being filed, if applicable.
- Supporting documentation:
- Submit the documents or evidence listed in the form instructions.
- Supporting documents must be in English or accompanied by a complete English translation that the translator has certified as complete and accurate. The English translation must be accompanied by the translator's certification that they are competent to translate the foreign language into English.
- Submit legible copies of official documents. We may scan them in black and white or in grayscale. Legible copies are copies that:
- Are not blurry or faded;
- Do not have streaks or toner lines;
- Are not upside down, lopsided, skewed, or distorted;
- Do not have text or images that are obscured, partially cut off, or missing due to folded pages or improper copying; and
- Do not have pages that are completely illegible.
- Do not send original documents unless they are specifically requested in the form instructions or applicable regulations. If you send original documents with your form when they are not required or requested, we may destroy them in accordance with the Federal Records Act and applicable U.S. National Archives and Records Administration-approved general retention schedules or agency-specific retention schedules. We will not automatically return your original documents if we did not specifically request them.
- In most cases, a copy of a USCIS notice, if available, is acceptable evidence of a prior, related filing. If you prefer to provide a copy of a complete prior application, petition, or request in support of a new filing, please be sure that the prior application, petition, or request is clearly marked as a “COPY” at the top of each page to ensure we process it as intended.
- All forms and supporting documents submitted must be single-sided, standard 8½ x 11 letter-size pages.
- Please do not submit evidence using digital media, photo albums, scrapbooks, or binders. We cannot process them and will return them to you.
- When providing photos or other attachments, please provide your name at the top of the page or on the back of any photos. If you send original photos with your form, they may become part of the record or be destroyed.
- You may number support pages and include the total number of pages being attached (for example, “page 1 of 11”).
- If you forget to send in supporting documentation with your benefit request package, please do not submit it in a separate package to a USCIS lockbox. If you have an online account and are able to add your paper-filed case to the account, you can upload the supporting documentation in your online account. If you do not have an online account or cannot add your paper-filed case to your account, please keep the supporting documentation so you can submit it later to the appropriate location, upon request.
- Mark the envelope and the cover letter with the type of submission. For example, Original Submission, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485).
- Mark the envelope and the cover letter with the form number. For example, Form I-129, Form I-360, Form I-485.
- When you prepare your packet, remember:
- Do not use binders or folders that we cannot easily disassemble.
- Do not use heavy-duty staples.
- Do not mail responses to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) or similar notices to a USCIS lockbox location. Instead, follow the instructions in the RFE regarding where to send your response.
- Do not mail evidence in support of a previously filed appeal or motion to a USCIS lockbox location. If you are submitting a brief or evidence in support of an appeal, please refer to the AAO Practice Manual or the Board of Immigration Appeals Practice Manual for instructions. For motions, you must submit any brief or additional evidence together with Form I-290B at the time of filing. If we issue an RFE related to your motion, we will provide specific instructions to submit the evidence using an online account or by mail.
- If you are requesting premium processing service, submit only one Form I-907 for the associated, eligible form (such as Form I-140 or I-129).
We recommend only including multiple forms in the same envelope when the forms are related and eligible to be filed together (such as including a Form I-765 and Form I-131 with the Form I-485 that your eligibility is based on, or including multiple Forms I-485 or Forms N-400 for family members who are applying for adjustment or naturalization at the same time).
Do not include unrelated forms in the same envelope when filing. Forms are unrelated if the decision on one form does not affect the decision on another. For example, if you plan to file Form I-765 and Form I-485, and whether or not we approve your Form I-485 does not affect your Form I-765, then we recommend you file each form in a separate envelope. Doing so may avoid routing issues that could make it take longer to process your form.
If you are filing multiple forms in the same envelope, write your name, date of birth, and A-Number (if any) exactly the same way on each form (unless you have had a legal change of name or date of birth and provide proof of that).
If you are filing forms from multiple individuals in the same envelope, clearly separate the cases and follow the guidelines described above in Assemble Your Application, Petition, or Request.
If you are responding to multiple RFEs in the same envelope, clearly separate the responses by form and follow the guidelines described above in Assemble Your Application, Petition, or Request.
Do not mail responses to RFEs in the same envelope with unrelated applications, petitions, or requests.
- When addressing the package, be sure to enter the complete address provided on the USCIS website, including the Attn: line, which helps to ensure that we process and route the application, petition, or request.
- Mail your forms to the address listed on that form’s webpage. You may send your forms through USPS, FedEx, DHL, or UPS.
- We encourage you to save a copy of your payment, along with any tracking number provided by the courier, for your records and so you can verify the status of its delivery.
- If you mail your application, petition, or request to the wrong filing location, we may reject it as improperly filed and return it to you to re-file.