Today while I was at the local immigration field office I witnessed a young couple asked the information officer what they needed to do next. The young lady had entered the United States on a K-1 fiancé visa and the couple had married within 60 days. They had come to USCIS to make sure they followed the law and did everything properly. I was sitting less than 15 feet away from where the couple and the officer were talking and could hear the whole conversation.
The information officer, who is a new employee, grabbed a form from his stack of forms and told the couple they needed to fill out this form, pay the required fee and the young wife would then get her green card. The officer was very thorough and explaining how to fill out this form and where to send it. Information by completing this form was exactly correct and had the couple followed the officer’s advice their application would’ve been rejected as incomplete.
I stopped the young couple on their way to leave the local office and suggested that they review immigration’s website for the additional forms and evidence they would need. The purpose of this article is not to bash the information officer for giving incorrect information. Neither is it to promote the services of an immigration attorney. This article stresses how important it is to verify the information you’re given and make sure that any petition or application submitted is complete with all the supporting documents.
USCIS has a comprehensive website with almost all of their forms available on the website. USCIS also has several pamphlets and instructional material to help someone figure out how to complete the forms and applications. One problem people have with USCIS’s website is that it has so much information. It is hard to find just the information you need. If you know what it is you need to do you can find the answers on USCIS’s website. If you don’t know what you need to do, one option to consider is to meet with two or three immigration lawyers. You can then based on the information the lawyers provide decide what needs to be done and whether or not you’re capable of doing it yourself.
When submitting a petition or application to USCIS make sure that you have all the required supporting information. Finding out what evidence is needed to support your petition or application is easier than determining what forms are needed. The required supporting evidence is listed in the form’s instructions. Is important with the required evidence you provide all the evidence needed and not just the minimum. Immigration differs from other tribunals because the burden of proof and persuasion is upon the petitioner or applicant to receive a benefit.
Immigration law is constantly changing, but what is not changing is the importance of good information. Even a couple legally married and have done everything they have been told, will receive a denial or rejection, if they do not submit all of the required forms and supporting evidence. When filing for immigration benefits please make sure that you have all of the right information.
We focus our practice on immigration law and understand the legal intricacies of the forms, evidence and law. We help people just like you and your loved ones. You can reach us at 513-791-1673 or Thomasjr@geygan.com. We look forward to your call or email.