Request for the Return of Original Documents

OMB No. 1615-0100; Expires 12/31/2012

Instruction for Form G-884, Request for the
Return of Original Documents

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

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

What Is the Purpose of This Form?
Use Form G-884 to request the return of original documents
submitted to establish eligibility for an immigration or
citizenship benefit.
You need to give us:
1. A completed and signed Form G-884; and

Step 1. Fill Out Form G-884
Use black ink. Type or print clearly using capital letters. If
an item does not apply to you, write "N/A." If the answer is
none, write "NONE."
This form is divided into Parts 1 through 3. The following
information should help you fill out the form.

2. Supporting documentation.
To file this request, see Step 2 for specific instructions.

When Should I Use This Form?
You should use Form G-884 if you submitted original
documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS) with a petition, application, or request, and you are
now seeking to have those documents returned to you.
Furnishing the information requested on the form and
submitting the required supporting documents will assist
USCIS to locate and return the documents requested.

General Instructions
How Do I File Form G-884?
You only need to submit one Form G-884 if you are
requesting multiple documents contained in a single USCIS
file. However, if the requested documentation is in more than
one USCIS file, you must submit a separate request for each
file. (Example: If you wish to obtain your mother's birth
certificate and your parent's marriage certificate, both of which
are in the USCIS file that pertains to her, submit one Form
G-884 with your mother's information.)
Follow the steps below to complete your request:
Step 1 - Fill out Form G-884.
Step 2 - Submit your Form G-884.

Part 1. Information About You
(Person requesting original documents)
1. Family Name (Last name) - Give your legal name. If you
have two last names, include both and use a hypen (-)
between the names, if appropriate.
2. Mailing Address - Give your mailing address, if different
from your home address.
3. Telephone Number - Give a telephone number with the
area code where you can be reached during the day.
4. A-Number - This is your Alien Registration Number. If
you do not have an A-Number or do not know it, leave this
blank.
5. Information, Documents, or Records Requested Name or describe the original documents you wish
returned. Be as specific as possible. (Example: marriage
certificate of John Q. and Mary A. Public.)

Notice
USCIS wants to make sure that you are eligible to receive the
requested documents. To do this, we may ask for more
evidence, interview you, and/or conduct an inquiry. If you
misrepresent facts or otherwise engage in fraud, USCIS will
take appropriate action. This means we will not only deny
your request, you may lose current and future immigration
benefits. You may also face penalties, including criminal and/
or civil prosecutions leading to fines and/or imprisonment.

Form G-884 Instructions (12/11/11)Y

Part 2. Data for Identification of Personal Record
Failure to provide the following information may make it very
difficult for USCIS to locate the relating record.

4. Before consideration can be given to your request, two
forms of identification must be submitted. Examples of
acceptable forms of identification are:
A. Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card;

1. Family Name (Last name) - Give the subject's legal name.
If there are two last names, include both and use a hyphen
(-) between the names, if appropriate.
2. A-Number - This is the subject's Alien Registration
Number. If the subject does not have an A-Number or you
do not know it, leave this blank.
3. Other Names Used - Include the subject's maiden name,
nickname, or alias.
4. Date of Birth - Use eight numbers to show the date of
birth. (Example: May 1, 1979, should be written
05/01/1979.)
5. Country of Birth - Give the name of the country where the
subject was born. Include the city, State or province, and
country.
6. Entry Into the United States - Give the requested
information about the subject's naturalization, if applicable.
7. U.S. Citizenship Information - Use eight numbers to
show the date of birth. (Example: May 1, 1979, should be
written 05/01/1979.)

Part 3. Signature
You, the requester, must sign and date the form. If you do not
sign the form, the request will be returned as incomplete.

Step 2. Submit Your Form G-884
You must include the following items:
1. Your signed and completed Form G-884. (Form G-884
must be notarized if submitted by mail.)

B. Driver's license;
C. State-issued identification document;
D. Employment authorization document;
E. Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship;
F. U. S. or foreign passport.
5. If you are requesting an original document(s) from a
USCIS file other than relating to you, submit proof of the
relationship between you and the subject. In cases where
the subject is either deceased or incapacitated, you must
provide evidence of a power of attorney or that you are the
executor of the subject's estate.
6. Translation. If you send us a document in a foreign
language, it must have a full English translation that the
translator has certified as complete and correct. The
translator must also certify that he or she is competent to
translate the foreign language into English.
7. Submit Your Form G-884. If your case is pending,
submit your Form G-884 to the USCIS office or Service
Center currently processing your case. If a final decision
has been issued, submit Form G-884 to the USCIS office or
Service Center that took the last action on your case.

Processing Information
Our goal at USCIS is to process all requests fairly. The
processing time will vary, depending on the specific
circumstances of each case. We may reject an incomplete
request. We may deny your request if you do not give us the
required information or do not go to a scheduled interview.

2. Filing fee. There is no filing fee for Form G-884.
3. Evidence. Attach copies, showing the front and back of
the documents you need to support your request. The
copies must be exact photocopies of unaltered original
documents. Original documents may be requested by
USCIS at a later date.

Form G-884 Instructions (12/11/11)Y Page 2

Address Changes

Privacy Act Notice

If you have changed your address, you must inform USCIS of
your new address. For information on filing a change of
address go to the USCIS Web site at www.uscis.gov/
addresschange or contact the USCIS National Customer
Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

USCIS will use the information on Form G-884 to determine
eligibility to receive the requested original documents. We
may provide information on your request to other government
agencies.

USCIS Forms and Information

Paperwork Reduction Act

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 Web site at
www.uscis.gov.

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 30 minutes per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions and
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
Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, 20
Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20529-2020.
OMB No. 1615-0100. Do not mail your application to this
address.

As an alternative 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 Web site. 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.

Check List
Did you completely fill out and sign the form?
Did you have the form notarized? (Form must be
notarized if submitted by mail.)
Did you attach a copy of your identity documents?
(Two types of identification are required.)
If applicable, did you attach a copy of a power of
attorney or proof that you are the subject's executor?
For your records, you should keep copies of your request and
supporting documents.

Form G-884 Instructions (12/11/11)Y Page 3