USCIS Will Now Use Pre-Paid Mailers to Send H-2A Receipt Notices

Coinciding with the launch of USCIS/DOS e-Approval, USCIS will begin using pre-paid mailers provided by petitioners to send out receipt notices for H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) petitions starting on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. This is a change from standard processing at USCIS service centers, which normally use pre-paid mailers only for final decision notices.

Under this change, H-2A petitioners may now submit two pre-paid mailers if they want to expedite delivery of both the receipt notice and the final decision notice. Any submitted pre-paid mailers for H-2A petitions must still meet the same requirements for their use with other forms and classifications.

Until further notice, USCIS will:

• Use any pre-paid mailer provided by an H-2A petitioner primarily to send the receipt notice. 
• Send the final decision notice (such as a Notice of Approval or Notice of Denial) in a pre-paid mailer ONLY if the H-2A petitioner provided a second pre-paid mailer. 
• Continue to send all other notices regarding an H-2A petition, including any Requests for Evidence, by regular U.S. mail. 

USCIS revised how it processes pre-paid mailers for H-2A petitions in recognition of stakeholder interest in expediting the delivery of receipt notices for this very time-sensitive classification. This change is limited only to H-2A petitions.