What the Beatles Could Learn About USCIS Service Center Filing Tips

The Beatles’ “Let It Be” is a fantastic song. If you call the lyrics a melodic masterpiece, you’ll hear no objection from us. If you call the cooing that backs McCartney’s lead vocal “heavenly,” again no objection. If you call Ringo’s drumming somehow simultaneously soothing and invigorating, you’ll still get no push-back from this blog. Just don’t listen to this song when you’re assembling filings that go to a USCIS Service Center: the carefree, everything-will-be-fine attitude that oozes out of song (even oozes out of the song’s title) is not the attitude you need for the task of assembling these filings.

It is important not to be laid-back when it comes to filing with a USCIS Service Center. It is best to be intently focused–focused on, among other things, following a number of detailed, objective, specific, concrete, practical best practices.

Only once you’ve followed the dozens of best practices for filing at a USCIS Service Center–or hired a law firm to handle your cases–should you return to listening to the Beatles.

And there are dozens and dozens of these best practices with regard to filing with a USCIS Service Center. In fact, there are about a dozen best practices related only to signatures in the filings (who can sign, how they should sign, etc.).

Below, we’ll point out ten general best practices for filing with a USCIS Service Center.

Best Practice #1

You should use ACCO fasteners to hold together thick petitions/applications and use a two-hole punch at the top of the papers for easy placement in USCIS’ file. You shouldn’t use binders or folders that USCIS cannot easily take apart.

Best Practice #2

Using tabs may be helpful in locating items listed as attachments. If you use tabs, you should place them at the bottom, not the side, of pages. Instead of tabs, the NSC suggests that you write “Exhibit 1,” “Exhibit 2,” etc., on documents themselves. Additionally, the NSC suggests that you use colored paper, rather than dividers, as tabs.

Best Practice #3

You should avoid using heavy duty staples.

Best Practice #4

You should mark the envelope and the cover letter, writing the kind of submission you are making. For example, you might write, “ORIGINAL SUBMISSION,” or “RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR EVIDENCE,” or “BRIEF FOR AN APPEAL.”

Best Practice #5

You should mark the envelope and the cover letter, writing the type of form(s) you are filing.

Best Practice #6

You should use an A-number (if there is one) as an identifier in the cover letter. Using this information, helps in the location of records. If applicable also use note the receipt number (provided on the I-797C). If a receipt number or A-number is unavailable, provide the complete name and date of birth of the petitioner/applicant.

Best Practice #7

You should avoid submitting over-sized documents. Generally, legible photocopies of documents are fine. Nonetheless, USCIS sometimes will request an original document.

Best Practice #8

If you submit more than one case in an envelope, you should separate the cases using a rubber band or clip fasteners.

Best Practice #9

If you submit multiple cases in an envelope, you should be sure to submit a complete packet of supporting documentation for each petition/application. Delays occur when the adjudicator must review prior files or records or look for documents submitted there. Delays also occur when the adjudicator needs to look for documents in the other petitions/applications that you submitted in the same envelope. Remember that USCIS now has broad authority to deny a case without an RFE when it determines there is a lack of sufficient “initial evidence.”

Best Practice #10

You should make note–in an attachment to the application/petition–of any special situations that require separate explanations by the petitioner/applicant. You should not only make note these situations in the cover letter.

Once you’ve followed the dozens of best practices for filing at a USCIS Service Center–or hired a law firm to make sure everything goes smoothly–you can let out a deep sigh, throw on “Here Comes the Sun,” and walk out of your house to find some roses to smell.