What to do if USCIS has lost your documents, and how to protect yourself from this - ForumDaily
The article has been automatically translated into English by Google Translate from Russian and has not been edited.
Переклад цього матеріалу українською мовою з російської було автоматично здійснено сервісом Google Translate, без подальшого редагування тексту.
Bu məqalə Google Translate servisi vasitəsi ilə avtomatik olaraq rus dilindən azərbaycan dilinə tərcümə olunmuşdur. Bundan sonra mətn redaktə edilməmişdir.

What to do if USCIS has lost your documents, and how to protect yourself from it

Unfortunately, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is no different from any other large government organization - they are heavily burdened with a heavy workload and are not the most efficient organization. More than 9 million forms are submitted to USCIS annually, reports CitizenPath.

Photo: Shutterstock

In fact, several agencies make up the overall immigration system. Consular offices, the Department of State, and the National Visa Application Center have a role to play. Even if you have followed our advice on preparing USCIS forms, these agencies sometimes lose part of your application package, or even the entire package. But there are some preventative measures.

Do not send originals

Typically, USCIS only requires you to submit photocopies of the requested supporting documents. In some cases, they may request originals. Only on special request should the original document be sent. Documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates and other documents can almost always be photocopies.

Store originals in a safe place. In some cases, you may need them for your interview. Copy the original document (assuming the original is the official version) and send a copy to USCIS or the requesting agency. USCIS or a consular officer will usually be able to view the originals when you bring them to your interview.

If they specifically request that you mail the original to them, you will have to do so, but make copies for yourself first!

On the subject: Season will be tough: IRS announces start date for 2021 tax returns

USCIS prefers single-sided photocopies of 21,59 x 27,94 cm (8½ x 11 inches). You can reduce a 21,59 x 35,56 cm (8½ x 14 ") document to fit on a 21,59 x 27,94 cm (8½ x 11") paper. However, do not try to cut out a photocopy of a small document (such as an ID card) to fit the original document. Instead, keep it on a 21,59 x 27,94 sheet (8½ x 11 inches).

Make photocopies of everything

We recommend making photocopies of everything they send in the mail. Some of these documents may take a long time to obtain. It takes time to obtain copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates and action notices. Depending on the application or petition, you may have photographs, declarations, affidavits, or other important documents.

Be sure to keep a copy of your payment method. If you lose your money order, you will need to apply for a refund.

Keep copies of all your immigration documents in a safe place. They can come in very handy later. In some cases, applicants were forced to use a photocopy of the original as a new application if the first one was lost.

So if USCIS loses your application, you have everything under control.

Keep different statements separate

Applicants submitting forms at the same time often want to submit applications together. For example, a husband and wife who naturalize at the same time may want to apply together. Or a family of permanent residents may want to send their green card renewal applications together. Unfortunately, mixing apps creates another opportunity to mix up documents, lose items, and create lag.

In any case, USCIS will process applications separately. Generally, there is no advantage in combining them. Therefore, it is best to keep statements completely separate. This eliminates the possibility of USCIS confusing documents.

If there is a compelling reason to jointly process applications, USCIS may do so at its sole discretion. For example, a naturalizing couple may want to attend the same oath ceremony together in order to become US citizens together. In this case, each applicant must attach a cover letter to the N-400 application requesting that he / she be able to attend the same oath ceremony. USCIS will grant this request at its discretion. If you are submitting applications together, make sure they are clearly separated as two separate sets of documents.

Place your payment on top

In many cases, your application or petition is sent to the USCIS locker. A personal account is a service designed to receive and process payments. USCIS safes are simply places that receive your form / application and process your payments.

New Application Sorting is a common time when elements of an immigration application disappear. They look for your payment first. Make sure your receipt or payment method is affixed to the top of the app bundle. This will minimize the amount of search they have to do.

Submit your claim by mail using a traceable method

Track your application package as you mail it to USCIS. Traceable mailing options are available from the United States Postal Service (USPS) or private courier services such as FedEx and UPS.

If you are applying from the United States, USPS offers an inexpensive option to track your package. You may receive updates as your package moves to its destination, including delivery date and time or delivery attempts. This will confirm the receipt of your package.

US Express, also available at USPS, provides online tracking and signature verification. It costs a little more, but provides some additional benefits that will bring you peace of mind.

Finally, if you need to mail documents from outside the United States, it is best to use a courier service such as FedEx or UPS. Be aware that courier services cannot deliver to PO Box and many USCIS service centers access PO Boxes. Find an alternative courier service center address listed on USCIS website.

Too Late - USCIS Lost My Application

If USCIS has already lost your application, the easiest way is to submit another copy. If you have kept copies of all documents, you can easily resubmit them. Remember that the application needs an original signature. You also need to cancel the check and write a new check.

If USCIS cashed your check or lost important documents, you may need additional help from an immigration attorney. An experienced attorney will know how to best make additional inquiries and can help you write letters of explanation to the appropriate USCIS or consulate.

USCIS and other immigration agencies sometimes lose parts of the application, and sometimes the entire application package. Unfortunately, there is no way for you to hand over the documents in person. Most applications must be mailed to USCIS or other agencies.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.

The problem, of course, is that lost documents create significant delays in your case. This can be frustrating at best. In the worst case, this can create more serious problems as it delays immigration benefits or even forces the applicant to miss the deadline.

By using the guidelines above, you can minimize these problems.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Tesla started selling tiny autonomous homes: what they have and how much they cost

California's 'Leaning Tower of Pisa': San Francisco's residential skyscraper tilts 10cm a year and could soon become dangerous

Arizona company offers $ 5000 to every quitting employee: what's the catch

Miscellanea In the U.S. USCIS loss of documents copy
Subscribe to ForumDaily on Google News

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis. 



 
1080 requests in 1,183 seconds.