Filing Guidance

This page contains filing locations, checklists and other resources to help you understand our forms and filing requirements. To find a complete list of our forms, visit the All Forms page.

Each form has a webpage with important information about how to complete the form and where to file it. If you do not file your form with the correct office or with the correct fee, you will experience processing delays.

Please do NOT mail your application or petition to the “HQPDI” address on any form—that address is for submitting comments on the form itself.

Direct Filing Addresses by Form Type

Some forms have a separate webpage that tell you where to file your form, including:

• Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Departure Document
• Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
• Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)
• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
• Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
• Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal
• Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion
• Form I-360, Immigrant Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er) or Special Immigrant
• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
• Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility
• Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
• Form I-817, Application for Family Unity Benefits
• Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
• Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition

We strongly encourage you to read the instructions for the form you are submitting before you complete and submit the form.

In some circumstances, the form webpage will say that requirements for that form have changed, but the form’s instructions have not yet been revised. This warning will be shown in the Special Instructions section of the form landing page. Please make sure you follow those special instructions.

Many of our form pages have a checklist that will help ensure you submit all of the required documentation with your form. However, these checklists do not replace the official form instructions.

Photographic Requirements

You may have to submit photographs with your form. You can find the specifications for photographs in the form instructions.

Filing Tips:

You can read our Form Filing Tips webpage for general information on how to submit your form.

• Annual Reporting Information / Filing Tips: Form I-924A, Annual Certification of Regional Center
• Tips for Filing Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member
• Filing Tips for Form I-360
• Tip Sheet: Applying for Form N-600K, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
• Tips for Filing Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
• Tips for Filing Form I-864EZ, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA

FBI Privacy Notice

USCIS may use your biometrics to obtain the criminal history records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for identity verification, to determine eligibility, to create immigration documents (for example, Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Document), or any purpose authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended and any other applicable statute. You may obtain a copy of your own FBI record using the procedures outlined at 28 CFR 16.30-16.34. For more information, please visit: www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/compact-council/guiding-principles-noncriminal-justice-applicants-privacy-rights.

We provide free fillable forms through our website in PDF format, which means you can type your answers directly on the form instead of printing a blank form and writing your answers by hand.

For the best results, we suggest you download the PDF to your computer and complete the form using the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader rather than completing the PDF through your web browser. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free from the Adobe website.

Download Instructions

After opening the form in your web browser:

• In Microsoft Edge, click the Save icon (second from the right) in the ribbon at the top of the page, or press Ctrl (or Command ) and S on your keyboard. After saving the form to your computer, click on the form icon to reopen it in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• In Google Chrome or Firefox, click the Download icon (second from the right) in the ribbon at the top of the page or press Ctrl (or Command) and S on your keyboard. After saving the form to your computer, click on the form icon to reopen it in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • If you receive the error message: “An error occurred. An error was encountered while processing the file. Some features might not work.”, the Chrome extension might be on.

  You can remove or disable the Chrome extension by:
  1. Opening Chrome;
  2. Clicking the ellipsis in the right corner;
  3. Clicking "Settings";
  4. Selecting “Extensions”; and
  5. Removing or turning off the Chrome extension on the “Adobe Acrobat: PDF edit, convert, sign tools” tab.

  • In Safari, open the form, hover your mouse toward the bottom-center of the screen to bring up the gray icon, and click the Download icon on the right corner of the gray icon, or press Command and S on your keyboard. After saving the form to your computer, click on the form icon to reopen it in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

  If you complete and print the form to mail, make sure that the form edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of all pages and that all pages are from the same form edition. If any of the form’s pages are missing or are from a different form edition, we may reject your form.

  If you are required to sign the form , you must write your signature by hand before submitting your form. We will not accept a stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature.

  USCIS forms are available for free on our website. You can find the latest version of any USCIS form on our Forms page.

  Warning: Many non-USCIS websites offer immigration forms for downloading. These sites may ask you to pay for immigration forms and may not have the correct form version. Do not pay for any USCIS form. In some circumstances, your case may be delayed or rejected if you use an outdated form.

  “DS” Forms and other Non-USCIS Forms

  Certain forms relating to visas, passports and travel are not available on this site. If you are looking for “DS” forms relating to visas and passports, check the Department of State website. If you are looking for information on Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.

  Related Resources

  Before You File

  • Filing Fees
  • Expedite Criteria
  • “DS” Forms and other Non-USCIS Forms

  After You File

  • Form I-797: Types and Functions
  • Preparing for Your Biometric Services Appointment
  • How to Change Your Address
  • How to Track Delivery of Your Green Card, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and Travel Document
  • Card Delivery Tracking
  • Case Outside Normal Processing Time
  • Non-Delivery of Notice
  • Non-Delivery of Card
  • Non-Delivery of Document
  • Typographic Error