THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!
I just spoke today to the USCIS in regards to the many problems with form G-325A.
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First off, let me summarize quickly what the problems were/are:
1) Early June, USCIS released a new version expiring 06/30/2011. Many have complained and were confused why the 'auto-copy' feature was not there anymore in order to get 4 copies (for the immigrant) as previously instructed.
2) Recently, USCIS has either released a newer version or is still working on it. If you look it up now: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-325a.pdf you will notice that page 2 is blank (!!!) and that page 1 is not even fillable anymore!!!
__________________
Here's what USCIS told me about all this:
1) In order to go 'green', they decided to not ask for 4 copies anymore, so that's why there's no 4 auto-copied pages anymore. You need to return only 1 COPY for the petitioner, and 1 COPY for the immigrant and that's it. By the way, they have updated the i-130 instructions and that's exactly what it says there (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-130instr.pdf on Page 2 section D).
2) About the 'not fillable' form problem, they were not aware of it and will report it. It is NOT due to any version of Acrobat Reader, as I've tried on several systems (i'm a computer engineer). USCIS adviced me to print the form out and fill it manually. While their website says previous versions are accepted, the operator told me it will be at my own risk to use a previous version found on external server (meaning other websites) as they have no control on the accuracy of these forms.
3) About the BLANK page 2 and lack of instructions (they used to be on page 2), well she was confused and said the form is pretty self-explanatory anyway. If she says so...
______________
Just so you know, the previous versions I've found are indeed available here:
• http://www.visapro.com/Download/INS-G-325A-Form.pdf This version is fillable and says it expires 06/30/2011 like the USCIS one, so maybe they saved a version before the 'non-fillable' glitch. But this version sucks big time as the fields are not correctly aligned, poorly formated and most of the time don't even allow enough space to fill, for instance, your address or place of marriage.
• http://www.fianceevisaservices.com/forms/g-325a-rev071406.pdf (expired 05/31/09) This one is pointless as it prints out 4 copies, but at least it is fillable and the fields are correctly designed and formated.
Frankly, I would not advise you to use any of these 2 forms mentioned above as you have no garantee they will be accepted by USCIS. In other words, print out the original form available on USCIS' website, fill it manually (I know, it sucks!), otherwise you'll take the risk to be rejected.
_____________________
I hope this will help some of you who are confused about this form and what to do with it. Maybe this post should be a sticky one for the next couple of days. Just my 2 cents...
I just spoke today to the USCIS in regards to the many problems with form G-325A.
___________________
First off, let me summarize quickly what the problems were/are:
1) Early June, USCIS released a new version expiring 06/30/2011. Many have complained and were confused why the 'auto-copy' feature was not there anymore in order to get 4 copies (for the immigrant) as previously instructed.
2) Recently, USCIS has either released a newer version or is still working on it. If you look it up now: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-325a.pdf you will notice that page 2 is blank (!!!) and that page 1 is not even fillable anymore!!!
__________________
Here's what USCIS told me about all this:
1) In order to go 'green', they decided to not ask for 4 copies anymore, so that's why there's no 4 auto-copied pages anymore. You need to return only 1 COPY for the petitioner, and 1 COPY for the immigrant and that's it. By the way, they have updated the i-130 instructions and that's exactly what it says there (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-130instr.pdf on Page 2 section D).
2) About the 'not fillable' form problem, they were not aware of it and will report it. It is NOT due to any version of Acrobat Reader, as I've tried on several systems (i'm a computer engineer). USCIS adviced me to print the form out and fill it manually. While their website says previous versions are accepted, the operator told me it will be at my own risk to use a previous version found on external server (meaning other websites) as they have no control on the accuracy of these forms.
3) About the BLANK page 2 and lack of instructions (they used to be on page 2), well she was confused and said the form is pretty self-explanatory anyway. If she says so...
______________
Just so you know, the previous versions I've found are indeed available here:
• http://www.visapro.com/Download/INS-G-325A-Form.pdf This version is fillable and says it expires 06/30/2011 like the USCIS one, so maybe they saved a version before the 'non-fillable' glitch. But this version sucks big time as the fields are not correctly aligned, poorly formated and most of the time don't even allow enough space to fill, for instance, your address or place of marriage.
• http://www.fianceevisaservices.com/forms/g-325a-rev071406.pdf (expired 05/31/09) This one is pointless as it prints out 4 copies, but at least it is fillable and the fields are correctly designed and formated.
Frankly, I would not advise you to use any of these 2 forms mentioned above as you have no garantee they will be accepted by USCIS. In other words, print out the original form available on USCIS' website, fill it manually (I know, it sucks!), otherwise you'll take the risk to be rejected.
_____________________
I hope this will help some of you who are confused about this form and what to do with it. Maybe this post should be a sticky one for the next couple of days. Just my 2 cents...
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