Application for Action on an Approved Application

OMB No. 1615-0044; Expires 07/31/08

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

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Instructions
Please read these instructions carefully to properly complete this form. If you need more space to complete an answer, use a
separate sheet(s) of paper. Write your name and Alien Registration Number (A #), if any, at the top of each sheet of paper
and indicate the part and number of the item to which the answer refers.

What Is the Purpose of This Form?
Use Form I-824 to request further action on an approved
petition or application.

When Should I Use Form I-824?
You should use Form I-824 to request the U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) to provide further action
on a previously approved petition or application.
NOTE: USCIS will not process Form I-824 if your petition or
application has been denied or has not yet been approved.
This form should not be used to verify the status of a pending
petition or application.

General Instructions
You may file this form at any time while the application or
petition is valid.
A separate Form I-824 must be filed for each action being
requested. Follow the steps below to complete your
application:
Step 1 - Reason for Filing Form I-824
Step 2 - Fill Out the Form I-824

Step 1. Reason for Filing Form I-824
The reasons why you may request further action are listed in
the next column. Check the box in Part 2 of Form I-824 that
applies to your request.
1. If you are requesting:
A. A duplicate approval notice. Check Box A
NOTE: The duplicate approval notice will contain
only the information listed on the original Form I-797,
Notice of Action. A replacement employment
authorization card, Form I-94, permanent resident card,
or any other USCIS authorization document will not
accompany the duplicate approval notice.

A request for replacement of employment
authorization card may be filed on Form I-765. A
request for replacement of Form I-94 may be filed on
Form I-102. A request for replacement of permanent
resident card may be filed on Form I-90. Refer to the
respective form instructions for further information.
B. USCIS to notify a new U.S. Consulate through the U.S.
Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) or
Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) concerning the
approval of a nonimmigrant visa petition or to notify a
new Port-of-Entry concerning the approval of a waiver
application. Check Box B. If approved, USCIS will
send information regarding the approval of your
nonimmigrant visa petition to a new U.S. Consulate
through the NVC or the KCC, or the approval of your
waiver application to a new Port-of-Entry different
from that originally requested.
NOTE: This notification is not available for E or R
visa approval notification.
C. USCIS to notify a U.S. Consulate through the U.S.
Department of State's National Visa Center that your
status has been adjusted to permanent resident based on
an approved I-485 application. Check Box C. This is
to request USCIS to notify a U.S. Consulate through
the NVC that your status has been adjusted to that of a
lawful permanent resident based on an approved I-485
application so that your spouse and/or child(ren) may
apply for an immigrant visa.
NOTE: This notification is not available if you have
been issued an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or
consulate and have been admitted to the United States
as a lawful permanent resident. You may contact the
NVC for information on how to request following-tojoin benefits for your dependent(s). You may direct
your inquiry by sending an e-mail to
[email protected] or by writing to the National
Visa Center, ATTN: WC, 32 Rochester Avenue,
Portsmouth, NH 03801-2909. This notification is also
not available if you have been admitted to the United
States as a refugee or were granted status in the
United States as an asylee. Please refer to the
instructions on Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative
Petition, for specific information on following-to-join
benefits for your spouse or unmarried child(ren) under
21 years of age.
Form I-824 Instructions (Rev. 05/22/08) Y

D. USCIS to send your approved immigrant visa petition
to the U.S. Department of State's National Visa Center
(NVC). Check Box D. This is to request USCIS to
send your approved immigrant visa petition to the U.S.
Department of State through the NVC.
E. USCIS to notify the U.S. Department of State of your
U.S. citizenship status. Check Box E. This is to
request USCIS to notify the U.S. Department of State
that you have become a U.S. citizen through
naturalization.
NOTE: You may also notify the U.S. Department of
State of your status as a U.S. citizen by submitting a
copy of your naturalization certificate, without fee, to
the National Visa Center, ATTN: WC, 32 Rochester
Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801-2909.
2. You may not file this form to request:
A. A duplicate approval notice for an application or
petition that is pending or has been denied; or
B. A duplicate approval notice naming a spouse or
children accompanying or following-to-join the
principal beneficiary on an approved immigrant
petition; or
C. USCIS to send information to the U.S. Department of
State regarding the approval of your expired
nonimmigrant application or petition; or
D. USCIS to send information to the U.S. Department of
State regarding an employment based application or
petition if your employment for the original petitioner
has ended; or
E. USCIS to notify the U.S. Department of State of the
approval of a Form I-600A, Application for Advanced
Processing of Orphan Petition, and/or a Form I-600,
Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative,
as well as the approval of a Form I-800, Petition to
Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate
Relative, and/or a Form I-800A, Application for
Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a
Convention Country.

Step 2. Fill Out the Form I-824
1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. If extra space is needed to complete any item, attach a
continuation sheet, indicate the item number, and date and
sign each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. State that an
item is not applicable with "N/A." If the answer is none,
write "none."
This form is divided into Parts 1 through 5. The following
information should help you fill out the form.

Part 1. Information about you (Person filing this
application)
A. If you are requesting category A or B in Part 2 of the
application form, the application must be completed and
signed by the petitioner or the applicant of the underlying
petition or the application.
B. If you are requesting category C in Part 2 of the
application form, the application must be completed and
signed by the principal applicant of the I-485 application.
C. If you are requesting category D or E in Part 2 of the
application form, the application must be completed and
signed by the petitioner of the underlying immigrant visa
petition.
1. Family Name (Last name) - Give your legal name. If you
have two last names, include both and use a hyphen (-)
between the names, if appropriate.
2. Company or Organization Name - Give the entity's
complete name if the petitioner or applicant is a company
or organization.
3. Home or Business Address - Give your physical street
address. This must include a street number and name or a
rural route number. Do not put a post office box (P.O. Box
number here).
4. Mailing Address - Give your mailing address, if different
from your home or business address.
5. Daytime Telephone Number - Give a complete number
with area/country codes where you can be reached during
the day.
6. Country of Birth - Give the name of the country where
you were born.
7. Country of Citizenship - Give the name of the country of
which you are a citizen.
8. Date of Birth - Use eight numbers to show your date of
birth (example: May 1, 1979, should be written
05/01/1979).
9. IRS Tax # - If you are filing this application on behalf of a
business or organization, give the Internal Revenue Service
Tax Number of the business or organization.
10. A # - This is your Alien Registration Number
(immigration file number). If you do not have an A
number or do not know it, leave this blank.
11. U.S. Social Security # - If you do not have a U.S. Social
Security number, leave this blank.
Form I-824 Instructions (Rev. 05/22/08) Y Page 2

Part 2 - Reason for request
Check one box that applies to your particular request.

What Is the Filing Fee?

Part 3 - Additional information

The filing fee for Form I-824 is $340.

Provide the requested information regarding the original
application or petition.

Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check or
money order for the Form I-824 fee:

Part 4 - Signature

1. The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or
other financial institution located in the United States and
must be payable in U.S. currency; and

As the applicant, you must sign and date your Form I-824. If
you do not sign the form, the application will be returned as
incomplete.

Part 5 - Signature of person preparing form,
if other than applicant
If you, the applicant, did not fill out Form I-824, the preparer
must also sign, date and give his or her address.

Step 3. General Requirements
Attach copies, showing the front and back of the following
documents, if available.
1. A copy of the original petition or application.
2. A copy of the Form I-797, Notice of Action, for the
original petition or application.
3. A copy of the Form N-550, Certificate of Naturalization.

Copies. Unless specifically required that an original

document be filed with an application or petition, an ordinary
legible photocopy may be submitted. Original documents
submitted when not required will remain a part of the record,
even if the submission was not required.

Translations. Any document containing foreign language

submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English
language translation which the translator has certified as
complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that
he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language
into English.

Where To File?
You should submit this form and any related evidence to the
USCIS office that approved the original petition or
application. This could be either a USCIS Service Center or
local USCIS office.

2. Make the check or money order payable to U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, unless:
A. If you live in Guam and are filing your petition
there, make it payable to Treasurer, Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands and are filing
your petition there, make it payable to
Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.
NOTE: Please spell out U.S. Department of Homeland
Security; do not use the initials "USDHS" or "DHS."
Notice to Those Making Payment by Check. If you send us
a check, it will be converted into an electronic funds transfer
(EFT). This means we will copy your check and use the
account information on it to electronically debit your account
for the amount of the check. The debit from your account will
usually take 24 hours, and will be shown on your regular
account statement.
You will not receive your original check back. We will
destroy your original check, but we will keep a copy of it. If
the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you
authorize us to process the copy in place of your original
check. If the EFT cannot be completed because of insufficient
funds, we may try to make the transfer up to two times.
How to Check If the Fees Are Correct
The fee on this form is current as the edition date appearing in
the lower right corner of this page. However, because USCIS
fees change periodically, you can verify if the fees are correct
by following one of the steps below:
1. Visit our website at www.uscis.gov, select
"Immigration Forms" check the appropriate fee;
2. Review the Fee Schedule included in your form
package, if you called us to request the form or
3. Telephone our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 and ask for the fee information.

Form I-824 Instructions (Rev. 05/22/08) Y Page 3

Address Changes
If you change your address and you have an application or
petition pending with USCIS, you may change your address
on-line at www.uscis.gov, click on "Change your address with
USCIS" and follow the prompts or by completing and mailing
Form AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card, to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134
For commercial overnight or fast freight services only, mail to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
1084-I South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744

Processing Information
Any Form I-824 that is not signed or accompanied by the
correct fee, will be rejected with a notice that the Form
I-824 is deficient. You may correct the deficiency and
resubmit the Form I-824. An application or petition is not
considered properly filed until accepted by USCIS.

Initial processing. Once a Form I-824 has been accepted, it
will be checked for completeness, including submission of the
required initial evidence. If you do not completely fill out the
form, or file it without required initial evidence, you will not
establish a basis for eligibility and we may deny your Form
I-824.
Requests for more information or interview. We may
request more information or evidence, or we may request that
you appear at a USCIS office for an interview. We may also
request that you submit the originals of any copy. We will
return these originals when they are no longer required.
Decision. The decision on Form I-824 involves a

determination of whether you have established eligiblity for
the requested benefit. You will be notified of the decision in
writing.

USCIS Forms and Information
To order USCIS forms, call our toll-free number at
1-800-870-3676. You can also get USCIS forms and
information on immigration laws, regulations and procedures
by telephoning our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 or visiting our Internet website at www.uscis.
gov.

As an altenative to waiting in line for assistance at your local
USCIS office, you can now schedule an appointment through
our internet-based system, InfoPass. To access the system,
visit our website. Use the InfoPass appointment scheduler and
follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment.
InfoPass generates an electronic appointment notice that
appears on the screen.

Penalties
If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material
fact or submit a false document with this Form I-824, we will
deny the Form I-824 and may deny any other immigration
benefit.
In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Privacy Act Notice
We ask for the information on this form, and associated
evidence, to determine if you have established eligibility for
the immigration benefit for which you are filing. Our legal
right to ask for this information can be found in the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. We may
provide this information to other government agencies. Failure
to provide this information, and any requested evidence, may
delay a final decision or result in denial of your Form I-824.

Paperwork Reduction Act
An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information
collection and a person is not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated at 25 minutes per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
completing and submitting the form. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts
Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529.
OMB No. 1615-0044. Do not mail your application to this
address.

Form I-824 Instructions (Rev. 05/22/08) Y Page 4