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 use binders or folders that we cannot easily disassemble.
      • Do not use heavy-duty staples.
      Filing Multiple Applications, Petitions, or Requests in the Same Envelope
      • 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.
      Mail Your Application, Petition, or Request
      • 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.