Hello: New member with urgent help with paper filing i-131 (self-filing)

[dsneyog]

Hi All,
I am self-filing my i-131 application this week. Here are the briefs about status:

Current Status: Working on EAD, 485-pending (July 2007 Application)

I am dependent on my husband's green-card application. I used my 6 years of H1-B and started working on EAD about 6 months back. We never applied for AP before. My husband extended his H-1B beyond 6 years as I-485 is in process.

I am tryin gto find complete list of documents for the application. I am planning to travel on Caribbean Cruise on Feb 27, 2010. I hope to get my AP approved by then. To avoid any RFIs I wnat to make sure I am sending everything that is needed.

1. Completed form I-131
2. 2 Photographs (size 2x2) with white/grey background. Head height and eye positions as per USCIS guidelines.
3. Copy of EAD
4. Copy of I-797C (I-485 receipt)
5. Copy of Arrpoved I-140
6. Copy of all pages of Current passport
7. Copy of all pages of expired passport
8. Copy of Driver's License
9. Marriage certificate (do I need this? Because I am am dependent on my Husband's 485 application)
10. Birth certificate (again do I need this. but I read somewhere)
11. Letter explaining why I qualify for AP (is there standard format for this? )

I really appreciate all help regarding this. I read many posts but most of them were about renewing AP or EAD/AP together.

Thanks a lot.

[number30]

Originally Posted by dsneyog

Hi All,
I am self-filing my i-131 application this week. Here are the briefs about status:

Current Status: Working on EAD, 485-pending (July 2007 Application)

I am dependent on my husband's green-card application. I used my 6 years of H1-B and started working on EAD about 6 months back. We never applied for AP before. My husband extended his H-1B beyond 6 years as I-485 is in process.

I am tryin gto find complete list of documents for the application. I am planning to travel on Caribbean Cruise on Feb 27, 2010. I hope to get my AP approved by then. To avoid any RFIs I wnat to make sure I am sending everything that is needed.

1. Completed form I-131
2. 2 Photographs (size 2x2) with white/grey background. Head height and eye positions as per USCIS guidelines.
3. Copy of EAD
4. Copy of I-797C (I-485 receipt)
5. Copy of Arrpoved I-140
6. Copy of all pages of Current passport
7. Copy of all pages of expired passport
8. Copy of Driver's License
9. Marriage certificate (do I need this? Because I am am dependent on my Husband's 485 application)
10. Birth certificate (again do I need this. but I read somewhere)
11. Letter explaining why I qualify for AP (is there standard format for this? )

I really appreciate all help regarding this. I read many posts but most of them were about renewing AP or EAD/AP together.

Thanks a lot.

Usualy Following is the list
AP application
2 photos Photo
Check
I-94
A letter explaining why you need AP(sample letters from immihelp),
Copy of I485 receipt
Covering letter
Copy of Arrpoved I-140
Marriage certificate

[smaram1]

• Confirmation Receipt of E-filing
• Letter with the reason explaining why do I need to travel
• Copy of I-485 receipt
• Copy of I-140 receipt
• Copy of I-94 both front & back
• Copy of EAD
• 2 Passport photos
• Copy of marriage certificate
• Copy of Driver License
• Copy of Passport

[dsneyog]

Can I e-file? I read that if my I-485 application is pending and I am applying for AP separately and for the first time, then I can not e-file?
I thought e-filing is for renewals only?

Thanks to you both for providing list of docs.

[dsneyog]

I would still like to know if I can e-file? This is the first time I am filing for AP. I didn't do it along with my EAD application.

Thanks

[h1techSlave]

Pretty much every body recommends not sending unwanted documents like all copies of Passport.

[puddonhead]

I have filed for and recieved AP twice so far. I have done both paper and e-filing and combinations. When I lawyer files, he e-files. When I do it - I paper file. I have done different combinations. First time, with 485 - lawyer filed both for me and wife. Next year, my company suddenly decided they dont want to pay the lawyer fee for the dependent AP/EAD - so I paper-filed for my wife while mine was e-filed. Next year - my company decided to pay for both and my lawyer did e-filed mine and paper-filed my wife's application (dont know why).

Based on my experience (which is pretty extensive on both modes of filing as explained above for both AP and EAD) - I will always perfer paper filing. It has always been faster, easier and less hassle for me.

It sounds counter-intuitive that paper-filing would be faster/easier than e-filing - but that is USCIS for you.

[ksircar]

Can someone please advice which immigration documents (apart from Passport and AP) should I carry to re-enter US using AP?

Please share your experience.

Thanks in advance.

[dsneyog]

Thank you. I have my package ready. I am thinking about including prepaid self addressed envelope so I can track the package. How do you do it? Just go to postoffice and get one from them? I always ship out packages using paypal and I was thinking about printing a shipping label for priority envelope. Not sure if I should do that.

Originally Posted by puddonhead

I have filed for and recieved AP twice so far. I have done both paper and e-filing and combinations. When I lawyer files, he e-files. When I do it - I paper file. I have done different combinations. First time, with 485 - lawyer filed both for me and wife. Next year, my company suddenly decided they dont want to pay the lawyer fee for the dependent AP/EAD - so I paper-filed for my wife while mine was e-filed. Next year - my company decided to pay for both and my lawyer did e-filed mine and paper-filed my wife's application (dont know why).

Based on my experience (which is pretty extensive on both modes of filing as explained above for both AP and EAD) - I will always perfer paper filing. It has always been faster, easier and less hassle for me.

It sounds counter-intuitive that paper-filing would be faster/easier than e-filing - but that is USCIS for you.

[ksircar]

Originally Posted by ksircar

Can someone please advice which immigration documents (apart from Passport and AP) should I carry to re-enter US using AP?

Please share your experience.

Thanks in advance.

Any advice, guys?