Form I-824 | Filing Tips, Fees & Processing Time

Did you lose or misplace an approval notice from USCIS? While your first reaction might be to panic, you can still satisfy your immigration case requirements by filing Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition. The fundamental purpose of Form I-824 is to request “further action on a previously approved application or petition” from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This form is not for those whose previous approval has been revoked or expired. You also should not use this form to verify the status of a pending petition or application. We will explore additional instances in which filing Form I-824 is the best move later on in this post. Schedule a consultation to get started with the immigration forms necessary for your case!

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What is Form I-824?

Form I-824 Filing Fee

The cost to file Form I-824 is $590, and that can be paid with a money order, personal, or cashier’s check.

There is no fee to file Form I-824 for:

• Afghan special immigrants with lawful permanent resident status who check the box in Part 2, Item 1.c.;
• individuals filing as a person seeking or granted immigrant classification as a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioner (including derivatives);
• individuals filing as a person seeking or granted Special Immigrant Juvenile classification;
• individuals filing as a person seeking or granted T nonimmigrant status;
• individuals seeking or granted adjustment of status as an abused spouse or child under the Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA);
• individuals seeking or granted adjustment of status as an abused spouse or child under the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA);
• individuals filing as a person seeking or granted U nonimmigrant status;
• abused spouses or children applying for benefits under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA);
• battered spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen applying for cancellation of removal or adjustment of status under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 240A(b)(2).

You can elect to receive an electronic notification when a USCIS Lockbox facility accepts your I-824 by completing Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance.

Form I-824 Processing Time

According to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, you should allow at minimum 90 days from when you submit your form for I-824 Processing time. In some cases, I-824 processing can take upwards of six months or longer. To check on the status of your application with CBP you can email [email protected]. We recommend you also complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and attach it to the first page of your application so that you can receive an email or text message that they have accepted your Form I-824.

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How to File USCIS I-824

For those who have a previously approved application or petition from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that was misplaced, stolen or destroyed, you should use Form I-824 to request that Customs and Border Protection issue a copy of your I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Non-Immigrant or Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. After Deportation or Removal.

Where Should You File?

It’s important to check the dedicated USCIS filing address web page for the most up to date location:

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: NFB
P.O. Box 21281
Phoenix, AZ 85036-1281

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: NFB (Box 21281)
2108 E. Elliot Rd.
​​​​​​​Tempe, AZ 85284-1806

With CPB

If you are filing Form I-824 with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), file it at a designated land border port of entry, CBP preclearance office, or mail it:

Admissibility Review Office
22685 Holiday Park Drive, Suite 10
Sterling, VA 20166-1234.

Filing with another USCIS form

If you’re submitting Form I-824 together with another USCIS form, you should mail both forms to the address listed in the filing instructions for the other form—not the address listed in the I-824 instructions.

Example:

Suppose you’re filing Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) and you also need to file Form I-824 to request a duplicate approval notice.

In this case, you would send both the I-485 and the I-824 to the address listed in the I-485 filing instructions, not the address in the I-824 instructions.

Do Not File I-824 If Your Case Is Pending or Denied

USCIS will only process Form I-824 if your original petition or application has already been approved. They will not process Form I-824 if the underlying case is still pending or has been denied.

Also, Form I-824 is not meant to check the status of a pending application, so don’t use it for that purpose.

 

Reasons to Request Form I-824

The following are requests that can be made via Form I-824:

• A duplicate approval notice
• USCIS to notify a new U.S. Consulate (different from the one originally requested) through the U.S. Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) or Kentucky Consular Center. USCIS will notify the U.S. Consulate about the approval of a nonimmigrant visa petition or about a new Port-of-Entry (Port-of-Entry is different than what you originally requested) about the approval of a waiver application.
• USCIS to notify a U.S. Consulate through the National Visa Center about your adjustment of status to permanent resident in the U.S. so that your spouse and/or children can accompany you or follow to join
• USCIS to send your approved immigrant visa petition to the National Visa Center or notify the Department of State that you are now a U.S. citizen via the process of naturalization

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When Should You Not File Form I-824?

As previously mentioned, Form I-824 serves a very specific purpose. If you are requesting additional action from USCIS for a petition or application that was denied, revoked or withdrawn, it is not the appropriate form to do so. Other instances not suitable for filing this form include:

• Requesting a correction of a mistake on a previously approved petition or application
• Requesting follow-to-join benefits for your children and/or spouse and your case is one of the following:
  • Were given refugee status after being admitted to the United States or were given status in the U.S. as an asylee
  • Issued an immigrant visa at either a United States Embassy or U.S. Consulate via consular processing and were admitted to the U.S. on an immigrant visa as a lawful permanent resident
  • Were granted lawful permanent resident status via a T or U visa
• Requesting a copy of an approved I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status or N-400, Application for Naturalization, to have them in your own records
• Requesting a duplicate approval notice for an approved visa petition naming the children or spouse accompanying or joining you
• Asking USCIS to send the U.S. Department of State information pertaining to the approval of your expired nonimmigrant petition/application or pertaining to an employment-based application/petition if your employment with the original petitioning employer is over
• Requesting USCIS to notify the Department of State of an approval of Form I-600A, Application for Advanced Processing of Orphan Petition or Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative or Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country
• Requesting additional action on an approved application which was filed with Customs and Border Patrol or a replacement of any of the following:
  • Employment Authorization Document (EAD) (to request a replacement, file Form I-765, Application of Employment Authorization)
  • Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record (to request a replacement, file Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document)
  • Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (to request a replacement, file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card)
  • Form I-512/I-512L Travel Document (to request a replacement, file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document)

You can view all the forms on the USCIS website.

If you are requesting from Customs and Border Patrol a duplicate approval notice that was revoked or is expired, a correct of a mistake of an approval notice or action on an approved application or petition filed with USCIS, do not file Form I-824 with your request. Customs and Border Patrol provides information on how to request a correction to your approval notice with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filing Form I-824

Form I-824 consists of seven total pages. Below are the various sections of the form to be completed. It is highly advised to have an immigration attorney work alongside you to complete the form to avoid unnecessary errors or mistakes that can result in additional delays and fees.

Section 1: Personal Information for I-824 Applicant

The top section of the form labeled ‘For USCIS Use Only’ should be left blank by you.

If an attorney or BIA-accredited representative is assisting in filing this form, they should complete the section under the USCIS Only box.

In black ink or type, complete the first section by indicated if you are the applicant or petitioner, and filling in:

• Full name
• Company or organization
• Immigration status
• Certificate of naturalization or citizenship number (if applicable)
• Date of birth
• Country of birth
• IRS tax number (if applicable)
• U.S. Social Security Number (if applicable)
• USCIS online account number (if applicable)
• Mailing address
• Physical address if different than your mailing address.

Section 2: Indicate Your Reason for Filing I-824

In this section, you must select the appropriate reason for filing I-824, which includes requests for:

• A duplicate approval notice
• Notifying a different U.S. Consulate than the one you originally requested about the approval of a nonimmigrant visa petition or new Port-of-Entry
• USCIS to notify a U.S. Consulate through the National Visa Center about your adjustment of status to permanent resident in the U.S., so that your spouse and/or children can accompany you or follow to join
• Sending your approved immigrant visa petition to the National Visa Center
• Notifying the Department of State that you are now a U.S. citizen via the process of naturalization

Section 3: Other Relevant Information

If the person filing this form is not the principal beneficiary of the previously submitted application or petition, then include their information in this section including:

• The form number of the previously approved application/petition
• Receipt number on Form I-797
• Filing date and approval date of that application
• Full name
• Date of birth
• Country of birth
• Alien registration number
• Phone number
• Mailing address and physical address if different than the mailing address.

USCIS to notify a U.S. Consulate via NVC

If you selected your reason for request in Section 2 as asking USCIS to notify a U.S. Consulate through the National Visa Center (NVC), this section applies to you.

This option is used when you have adjusted your status to permanent resident within the U.S. You are requesting that your spouse and/or children be allowed to accompany you or follow to join you.

In that case, you must list those dependents in this section for whom you are requesting follow-to-join benefits.

You will need to provide their

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Country of birth
• Country of citizenship/nationality
• Relationship to principal applicant
• Email address
• Phone number.

There is space to list four dependents, and if you need additional space, you can write it in Part 7, Additional Information.

Section 4: Applicant’s Statement, Contact Information, Declaration, Certification, and Signature

Before filling out this section, it is important to read the Penalties section of Form I-824. After doing so, you need to acknowledge that you can read and understand English, including all the questions on the form, or if you had an interpreter help you, check 1.b. and name them in Part 5.

If you had the assistance of a preparer, check box 2 and name them in Part 6. Lines 3-5 ask for your contact information (phone number and email address), followed by the applicant’s certification signature line.

Section 5: Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature

If an interpreter was supported the preparation of this document, provide their

• Name
• Mailing address
• Contact information.

The interpreter will also need to certify, under penalty of perjury, that they are fluent in English and the applicant’s native language. In line 7.a. the interpreter needs to sign the form and date it in 7.b.

Section 6: Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Application, if other than the Applicant

Was a preparer used to fill out the form? If so, provide their full mailing address and contact information. The preparer will also need to certify, under penalty of perjury, that they prepared the form at the request of the applicant and sign in line 8.a. plus date in 8.b.

Section 7: Supplementary Information for I-824 Form

If you need additional space to answer any of the questions, this section is where you include it.

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Completing the I-824 Process

Form I-824 can be very important for your immigration case, whether you need it to notify a U.S. consulate, obtain a duplicate approval notice, or correct errors. Fully understanding the filing process, fees, and processing time can help avoid unnecessary delays and ensure your request is properly handled.

If you’re unsure about your eligibility or how to complete the form, consider speaking with an immigration attorney to ensure your submission is accurate and timely. Taking the right steps now can save time and reduce complications later in your immigration process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Form I-814, Application for Action on an Approved Petition. 

What happens after I-824 is approved?

If you are seeking follow-to-join benefits for your spouse and/or children then once your I-824 is approved, USCIS will then inform the U.S. Consulate overseas that you are a lawful permanent resident which means that your children/spouse can apply for immigrant visas. Depending on what you are specifically requesting from USCIS or Customs and Border Control, will dictate the next steps after an I-824 approval. The following are things you can request on Form I-824:

• A duplicate approval notice
• USCIS to notify a new U.S. Consulate (different from the one originally requested) through the U.S. Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) or Kentucky Consular Center. USCIS will notify the U.S. Consulate about the approval of a nonimmigrant visa petition or about a new Port-of-Entry (Port-of-Entry is different than what you originally requested) about the approval of a waiver application.
• USCIS to notify a U.S. consulate through the National Visa Center about your adjustment of status to permanent resident in the U.S. so that your spouse and/or children can accompany you or follow to join
• USCIS to send your approved immigrant visa petition to the National Visa Center or to notify the Department of State that you are now a U.S. citizen via the process of naturalization

How long does it take to get I-824 approved?

It can take anywhere from 90 days to upwards of six months. You can check on the status of your application with CBP by emailing [email protected].

How much does Form I-824 cost?

The new fee is $590. See the section above to determine whether you qualify for the fee exemption.

What is the follow-to-join process?

Follow-to-join is a path for relatives of eligible green card holders to immigrate to the United States to join their family member.

Who is eligible for follow-to-join?

Children and spouses of U.S. permanent residents are eligible to receive green cards. The follow-to-join process bypasses the traditional process of filing an immigrant petition, and instead, applicants use Form I-824 as the follow-to-join application.

To qualify for this, the marriage must have occurred before the principal applicant was admitted to the United States as a permanent resident, and the children must also have been born before this.

Children 21 or older or married children are not eligible for join-to-follow benefits. The other requirement is that you must have received an immigrant visa or adjusted status in one of the following preference categories:

• Employment-based
• Family-preference
• Religious Worker
• VAWA petitioner
• Diversity Visa petitioner

When submitting the I-824 for the purpose of follow-to-join benefits, include a copy of the marriage certificate in the application as well as any children/dependents’ birth certificates.

How much is the fee for permanent resident renewal?

The filing fee for I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), is $415 (online filing) or $465 (paper filing fee).

How long does follow-to-join take?

Processing times for I-824 petitions can be anywhere from six and a half months to upwards of a year. After USCIS approves the I-824, they will send you an approval notice, I-797.

Next, USCIS will send the application to the NVC, and when the National Visa Center receives the application, they will send you a letter with the next instructions in the process.

Sometimes it can take upwards of six weeks to get the NVC letter. From there, your spouse and or children can submit Forms DS-260 along with the required supporting documents. Finally, they need to schedule their visa interviews with the U.S. Consulate.

Should an attorney assist me with filing?

It is always recommended to have an experienced immigration attorney assist you with filing any sort of USCIS form. Should your situation be mentioned in the “Situations Where You Should Not File Form I-824” section then it is especially important to consult a professional since filing the wrong form can lead to unnecessary fees and delays with your case.