Filing Guidance

Each form has a webpage with important information about how to complete the form and where to file it. If you not file your form with the correct office or with the correct fee, you will experience processing delays.

Please do NOT mail your application or petition to the “HQPDI” address on any form—that address is for submitting comments on the form itself.

Direct Filing Addresses by Form Type

Some forms have a separate webpage that tell you where to file your form, including:

• Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Departure Document
• Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
• Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)
• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
• Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
• Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal
• Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion
• Form I-360, Immigrant Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er) or Special Immigrant
• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
• Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility
• Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
• Form I-817, Application for Family Unity Benefits
• Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
• Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition
• Form G-845, Verification Request, and G-845 Supplement

We strongly encourage you to read the instructions for the form you are submitting before you complete and submit the form.

In some circumstances, the form webpage will say that requirements for that form have changed, but the form’s instructions have not yet been revised. This warning will be shown in the Special Instructions section of the form landing page. Please make sure you follow those special instructions. 

Many of our form pages have a checklist that will help ensure you submit all of the required documentation with your form. However, these checklists do not replace the official form instructions.

Photographic Requirements

You may have to submit photographs with your form. You can find the specifications for photographs in the form instructions.

Filing Tips:

You can read our Form Filing Tips webpage for general information on how to submit your form.

• Annual Reporting Information / Filing Tips: Form I-924A, Annual Certification of Regional Center
• Tips for Filing Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member
• Filing Tips for Form I-360
• Tip Sheet: Applying for Form N-600K, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
• Tips for Filing Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
• Tips for Filing Form I-864EZ, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA

We provide free forms through this website in PDF format. To view, print, or complete our forms, you should use the latest version of Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded for free.

The file size for some of our forms is large. To more easily use them, we suggest you download them directly to your computer, instead of completing them through your web browser. You can do this by “right-clicking” on the link to save the form to your computers.

Warning: Many non-USCIS websites offer immigration forms. Some will sell you a downloadable form. These sites are not affiliated with USCIS and may not have the latest versions of forms. In some circumstances, using older forms may result in us denying or delaying your application or petition. The latest version of these forms is always available at uscis.gov/forms.

A filing fee is required for many immigration forms. You must include this fee must with your completed form. If your form requires a biometric services fees, be sure to include that with your filing fee when you submit your form. Make checks payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security. To learn more, visit the Filing Fees page.

For help calculating your fees, use our Fee Calculator, which will always have the most up-to-date fee information and can determine the exact filing and biometric services fees for any form processed at a USCIS Lockbox facility.