I-824: Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition

What is Form I 824?

As long as applicants follow the instructions from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), their immigration process should go smoothly without a problem. However, in the process of attaining a green card, applicants may run into a situation to take action or receive another copy of an already approved application or petition. Applicants may use Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, to request an action on an application that is previously approved by the USCIS or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). If application or petition is past the expiration date or revoked, neither government agency will approve Form I 824.

As two varying government agencies accept I-824, applicants must be educated on when to file to each agency.

Filing Form I-824 to the USCIS

Applicants may file the form for one of the following reasons the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services:

  • Request a duplicate of the approval, I-797: Notice of Action, issued from a USCIS Service Center due to loss or misplacement of the original notice. A common example is the original notice action being delivered to the wrong address.
  • Notify a U.S. embassy or consulate that the application has been approved by the USCIS. While the embassy/consulate receives a notice for the approval from the original filing, the original filing must specify the USCIS to notify the embassy/consulate.
  • Notify a different U.S. embassy or consulate that the applicant has been approved by the USCIS. A common example is when an applicant must enter the country through a different port of entry than originally specified.
  • Notify a U.S. embassy or consulate the applicant has become a permanent resident, green card holder.
  • Notify the National Visa Center (NVC) the application has been approved.
  • Notify the NVC that an applicant has become a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Filing Form I-824 to the CBP

Applicants may file the form for one of the following reasons with the Customs and Border Protection:

  • Request a duplicate of approved Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Non-immigrant
  • Request a duplicate of approved Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States after Deportation or Removal

Commonly, applicant file for a duplicate when the original form is lost or misplaced.

What are Form I-824 Instructions?

Instructions for filing Form I-824 vary by the receiving agency.

Filing Form I-824 to the USCIS

Applicants must file the completed I 824 to a correct USCIS lockbox facility location. Filing address will depend on the USCIS location that approved the original application.

Original USCIS Customer Service CenterFiling Address for I-824
A local USCIS office; Your form I-797C Notice of Action
receipt number may begin with “MSC”, or your
Form I-797C Notice of Action does not contain a
3-letter code before the receipt number		Applicants must file to the USCIS Chicago Lockbox
Via USPS:
USCIS
PO Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120
Via Express Mail or Courier Service:
USCIS
Attn: FBAS
131 South Dearborn, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
The USCIS Vermont Service Center or the USCIS Texas
Service Center; Your Form I-797C, Notice of Action
receipt number will begin with either “EAC” or “SRC.”		Applicants must file to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox
Via USPS:
USCIS
PO Box 660867
Dallas, TX 75266
Via Express Mail or Courier Service:
USCIS
Attn: AOS
2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067
The USCIS Nebraska Service Center or the USCIS
California Service Center; Your Form I-797C,
Notice of Action receipt number will begin with
either “LIN” or “WAC.”		Applicants must file to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox
Via USPS:
USCIS
PO Box 21281
Phoenix, AZ 85036
Via Express Mail or Courier Service:
USCIS
Attn: AOS
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034

 

Applicants whose petition is still pending cannot use Form I-824 to confirm status of the application. Submission of I-824 on pending petition may not receive a response back from the USCIS. Eligible applicants can also sign up for status notification via email/text message by completing Form G-1145, E-notification of Application/Petition Acceptance.

Filing Form I-824 to the CBP

Applicants filing with the CBP must file I 824 at a designated CBP land border port of entry or a preclearance office. To find the list of CBP offices, visit the Customs and Border Patrol website.