Form I-824 | Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition

Form I-824 is used to request documents that USCIS has already approved or, in case of their misplacement, theft, damage, or loss, to get a duplicate.

This form is named the Application of Action I-824. Other purposes of the Form I-824 are:

1. Inform the National Visa Center and the Department of State about completed naturalization and US citizenship.
2. Inform USCIS about changes in your status, such as becoming a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the US. USCIS will, in turn, notify the National Visa Center. The same is done to let your family join you and live in the US.
3. Inform agencies such as the U.S. Consulate that the nonimmigrant visa petition was approved.

In loss cases, duplicates will be sent to you from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Admissibility Review Office (ARO), even if the decision isn’t clear yet and has been requested together with Form I-825.

Fill Form I-824

Fill the form in black ink. Use Part 7 for additional writing if you lack space.

Write the date, your name, surname, and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) at the top of each sheet you fill in. Sign each sheet. Give full and accurate information about yourself and write ‘N/A’ for those that don’t apply to you or your family members.

There are 7 parts to fill in.

Part 1. Information: legal name, current immigration status, A-Number, company name (if applicable), IRS Tax Number, Citizenship Number or Certificate of Naturalization, U.S. Social Security Number, birthdate, country of birth, citizenship, and nationality.

As you fill Form I-824 out, add your USCIS online account number and your physical and mailing address.

Part 2. Reason to Request.

Part 3. Other Information about your family members if you are applying for their follow-to-join benefits (in Part 3, Item Numbers 5.a. - 34.). Providing a separate Form I-134 (Declaration of Financial Support) for each beneficiary is a must.

Part 4. Applicant’s Statement, Contact Data, Declaration, Certification, Signature.

Part 5. Contacts of your Interpreter, their certification, and signature. They also sign and date your application if this service is provided.

Part 6. (*Only if the person preparing the application is other than the applicant) Contacts, declaration, and signature of the person preparing the document.

Part 7. Additional Information.

Instructions / Checklist Form I-824: General Instructions

Follow the instructions on Form I-824 to make your request clear and approved.

• Signatures should be on every page.

Stamped or typewritten names in the places where signatures won’t be accepted. For people under 14, parents or legal guardians may place their signatures instead.

• Attending your biometric appointment.

Biometric services appointment might be assigned for the USCIS to take fingerprints, photo, and signature. This will be done in tune with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to ensure your criminal history is clean.

• Paying filing fees.

Filing presupposes paying a fee. For those filing it with CBP, look for additional instructions at CBP’s site and use tags ‘Form I-824’ and ‘I-824’.

• Giving proof and evidence.

Documental evidence should correspond to the Specific Instructions, particularly the section ‘What Evidence You Must Submit.’

• Providing copies.

Attach legible photocopies of each document the USCIS requests (unless providing an original is stated).

As the last point of the checklist Form I-824, you might need to offer translations (if any).

Fee / Pricing Form I-824

You will have to pay a fee Form I-824 requires, which is $465. You can pay with a personal check, money order, or cashier’s check. Remember that the filing fee is non-refundable, and this fact doesn’t depend on the USCIS’s decision.

The pricing Form I-824 consists only of a filing fee. The form is free to download to request by mail in the paper form.

Processing Time Form I-824

The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol define the time of waiting. This time is 90 days from the submission date. Asking for updates on the processing time Form I-824 will require is available through aro.inquiry.waiver@cbp.dhs.gov.

Mail Address / Where to Send Form I-824

Where to send Form I-824, and is there only one way to do it?

Send it to: Form I-824 U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Admissibility Review Office, 22685 Holiday Park Drive, Suite 10, Sterling, VA 20598-1234. Another way is to submit it face-to-face at a port of entry designated by CBP.

The same can be done online through your account.

PDF Form I-824

The free form can be found on the USCIS website. Download PDF Form I-824 but make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader. Otherwise, call the Contact Center number of USCIS: 1-800-375-5283, and they will send it by post. All other forms that USCIS may request, such as Form I-140, Form I-192, or Form I-212, are also downloadable on the official website.