# Five Steps to File at the USCIS Lockbox

Many USCIS forms are available to file online. You can review the list of Forms Available to File Online, learn how to Create a USCIS Online Account, and learn more about the Benefits of Filing Online, which would allow you to file and track your case anytime from anywhere.

If you cannot file your form online, the following steps will help you file successfully at the USCIS Lockbox.

Locate the USCIS form page for your application, petition, or request at our All Forms page.

Review the webpage for the form you plan to file for filing guidance, tools, checklists, fee requirements, and filing address information.

Download or print the current version of your form and the form instructions. If you need help downloading and printing forms, instructions are available at Downloading and Printing Immigration Forms.

The form edition date is listed on the **bottom** of each form, which can be checked in the Edition Date section of any form page to verify whether it is an acceptable version before you file.

Carefully review the form instructions. Form fees, eligibility requirements, fee waiver eligibility, required documents, and mailing addresses can vary depending on the form you are filing and the reason you are filing.

Determine what supporting documents you will need to include when you file.

If any supporting documents are not in English, you must include a full English translation, which the translator has signed and certified as complete and accurate and stating that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

Send legible copies of official documents, but do **not** send the original documents, unless the original is specifically requested. If you send an original document with your form when not requested, it may be destroyed. We will not return it to you automatically. 

In most cases, a copy of a USCIS notice, if available, is acceptable evidence of a prior, related filing, such as an approved petition or pending application. If you prefer to provide a copy of a complete prior application, petition, or request in support of a new filing, be sure to clearly mark the form as a “COPY” at the top of each page to ensure it’s processed as intended.

All forms and supporting documents submitted must be single-sided, 81⁄2 x 11 inch letter-size pages.

Do not submit duplicate copies of the same form or supporting documents.

Do not submit evidence using digital media, photo albums, scrapbooks, or binders because we cannot process them.

Form instructions provide detailed guidance on who may file, who may not file, and when to file.

Many form pages provide additional guidance, filing date calculators, and other tools to help you determine whether you are **eligible** to file and **when** to file.

Carefully review the guidance provided in the form instructions and form pages, as well as other USCIS correspondence and notices sent to you.

If your form has a filing deadline, be sure you mail it soon enough to arrive by that date, if you are not able to file the form online. USCIS Lockbox sites are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and on federal holidays and cannot receive package deliveries on those dates. For specific guidance on how USCIS determines timeliness, see the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part B, Submission of Benefit Requests, Chapter 6, Submitting Requests [1 USCIS-PM B.6]. 

Much of the information you need to complete any application or petition can be found on the supporting documents that you will be filing with your application, such as  Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, which shows your date of entry, class of entry, and I-94 record number; or your birth certificate, which verifies your birth name as well as your date and place of birth.

Ensure all information entered on the form is legible. We recommend that your form be typed, whenever possible. If you complete the form by hand, use black or dark blue ink. Everything entered on the form must be clearly written so the information provided can be accurately recorded when the form is processed.

If a question does not apply to you, you may enter N/A or leave the field blank.

Provide a complete, current, and reliable mailing address. USCIS uses the mailing address you provide to communicate with you after you file. Verify the mailing address you provide with your local Post Office or use USPS online. (Note: After you file, you will need to keep your address current with USCIS. Visit our How to Change Your Address page.) 

If the applicant is a child or if you are using a mailing address where you do not typically reside, include the name of the primary resident at that address in the *In Care of* Name box on the form. More on using an*in care of*line with your mailing address can be found on the USPS website: How do I address mail "In care of"?

After you complete your form, sign and date it, using black or dark blue ink, in the space provided for your signature. If you do not sign your form, we may reject your application, petition, or request .  

If the applicant is under 14 years of age, they may sign for themselves, if they are able to, or a parent or legal guardian may sign on their behalf. Applicants who are 14 years of age or older must sign their own applications. For more information on signature requirements, see the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part B, Submission of Benefit Requests, Chapter 2, Signatures [1 USCIS-PM B.2]. 

Include all pages of the form, even if some are blank.

All pages **must** be completed with the **same**, **current** version of the form or the form may be rejected. If you find that you need to revise or correct one or more pages of your form, be sure that the new pages are completed with the same version.

Ensure the form’s page numbers and edition date are visible at the bottom of each printed page. You may need to adjust the scale or margins in the print settings to ensure that the page numbers and edition date are visible at the bottom of the printed page.  

Print the form single-sided on 81⁄2 by 11 inch paper.

Do not use highlighters or correction fluid or tape on any document submitted. The scanners we use will not properly read information that is greyed out, highlighted, or corrected using correction fluid or tape.

To determine the correct payment:
                    - Check the Filing Fee section of the form’s webpage;
                    - Review the form instructions;
                    - Use the  Fee Calculator ; and
                    - Refer to the complete  USCIS Fee Schedule

Choose **one** of several methods of payment:
                    - A check or money order:                       - Dated with U.S. date format: MM/DD/YYY
                      - e.g., 01/11/2024 = January 11, 2024
                      - Payable to the  U.S. Department of Homeland Security
                      - In U.S. dollars and drawn from a U.S. bank
                      - If submitting more than one form at the same time, pay each filing fee separately to ensure proper intake processing.  
                    - Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions :                       - Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover are accepted.
                      - Provide a separate payment for each form. You cannot submit one Form G-1450 to pay the fees for multiple applications.
                      - For more detailed guidance, see  Pay With a Credit Card .

Filers who are requesting a fee waiver or reduced fee for forms that are eligible, can find guidance on several USCIS webpages:
                    - Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver
                    - Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
                    - Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request
                    - Form I-942, Request for Reduced Fee

For more detailed guidance on paying USCIS filing fees, see Filing Fees.

Once you’ve completed, printed, and signed your form, assemble your package. We recommend the following order, beginning at the top:
                    - Photos (if included)                       - When providing photos, provide your name and A-Number (if any) on the back of each photograph;
                    - Payment (check, money order, or G-1450 form) or fee waiver form;
                    - Form G-1145, Request for e-Notification  (if included);
                    - Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative  (if applicable);
                    - Forms being filed;
                    - Form supplements being filed (if applicable); and
                    - Supporting documentation.

Save a copy of your complete package for your records, including the documents submitted, your payment, money order receipts (if any), along with any tracking number provided by the mail courier.  Retaining this information will allow you to verify what was submitted and to monitor the status of its delivery. 

When addressing the package, be sure to enter the complete USCIS delivery address provided in the **Where to File** section for your form, including the Attn: line, to ensure your application, petition, or request is processed and routed correctly. 

You may send your forms using **only** USPS, FedEx, DHL, or UPS, but no other couriers.

If you mail your form to the wrong Lockbox facility, we will forward it to the correct processing facility whenever possible. However, if the form cannot be processed where it was received, or if the form is not one that can be processed by a Lockbox facility, your package will be returned to the address provided on your forms.

For more detailed guidance, see Tips for Filing Forms by Mail

                    - Lockbox Filing Information
                    - Tips for Filing Forms by Mail
                    - Filing Guidance
                    - When to Contact the Lockbox
                    - Case Status Online
                    - Check Case Processing Times
                    - Case Inquiry Online
                    - While My Case is Pending
                    - USCIS Contact Center  and other USCIS contact details
                    - Preparing for Your Biometric Services Appointment
                    - How to Change Your Address
                    - How to Track Delivery of Your Notice, Secure Identity Document, or Card
                    - Find a USCIS Office
                    - Multilingual Resource Center

01/22/2024

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