RFE problem: I-20 lost, will official transcript work?

P

ptgc

Registered Users (C)
Recently both my wife and myself received RFE notices. My wife couldn't find her I-20 because she graduated from the school many years ago and didn't put it in a right place. I am asking if her official transcript will work too. Thank you.

Best,
ptgc
 
I-20

I believe that you will still need your I-20. I suggest that you contact the school you attended and request for a copy of your I-20. International admissions offices always keep copies.

Ellada
 
Excellent suggestion

ptgc,

Ellada is right. Contact the International Students office of the school your wife went to. They should have copies of her I-20s. If not then they may still be able to suggest alternatives.

This serves as a reminder to everyone who has done any schooling in the US, please keep all your I-20s and other paperwork safe and secure because you never know when USCIS may want to see them.

regards,

saras
 
Actually, we found a "blank" copy of I-20. The copy was made before my wife entered the U.S., so it is blank without immigration stamps. Even if we obtain a new copy from the university, the copy will be "blank" anyway. So can I use this blank copy? Thanks.

Ellada Hadjisav said:
I believe that you will still need your I-20. I suggest that you contact the school you attended and request for a copy of your I-20. International admissions offices always keep copies.

Ellada
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It is typical !!!

Hi,

Are they asking for original I-20? Is it typical? Then I have to find it and put it in safe place. ;)

- Thanks


ptgc said:
Recently both my wife and myself received RFE notices. My wife couldn't find her I-20 because she graduated from the school many years ago and didn't put it in a right place. I am asking if her official transcript will work too. Thank you.

Best,
ptgc
Click to expand...
 
Only copies

perm08,

They only need copies. They ask for this dcoument when someone has been on an F1 and they want to verify whether the person was in status during the time he/she held the F1 visa. My stupid lawyers included my I-20s with my application but forgot to inlcude my wifes. There was an RFE issued on her case and we had to send them copies of her I-20s (she had two I-20s for some reason).

Rule of thumb, always keep all USICS related documents in a safe place where you can find them. These guys can ask you to provide copies of anything so its better to be safe and keep everything. Apart from taking up some space, storing every USCIS doucment will not hurt.

regards,

saras
 
Its not necessary

perm08 said:
Hi,

Do I need to provide copy of I-20 for with I-485??

-Thanks
Click to expand...

Although its not a set requirement. It is good pratice to do so. This will help prevent RFEs and save some processing time. If my lawyers had sent my wifes I-20s we may have been approved by now.

regards,

saras
 
saras76 said:
perm08,

They only need copies. They ask for this dcoument when someone has been on an F1 and they want to verify whether the person was in status during the time he/she held the F1 visa. My stupid lawyers included my I-20s with my application but forgot to inlcude my wifes. There was an RFE issued on her case and we had to send them copies of her I-20s (she had two I-20s for some reason).

Rule of thumb, always keep all USICS related documents in a safe place where you can find them. These guys can ask you to provide copies of anything so its better to be safe and keep everything. Apart from taking up some space, storing every USCIS doucment will not hurt.

regards,

saras
Click to expand...

My wife contact her attorney who handled her first H1B petition. We know the first H1B petition requires the copy of I-20. The attorney was nice and agreed to look for my wife's record to find her I-20 copy. Hopefully, we can get a copy from this attorney. We will feel more comfortable if we can provide INS an I-20 copy with immigration stamp on it. I will keep you updated.
 
saras76 said:
Although its not a set requirement. It is good pratice to do so. This will help prevent RFEs and save some processing time. If my lawyers had sent my wifes I-20s we may have been approved by now.

regards,

saras
Click to expand...

An experienced attorney should include all available materials with the I-485 petition, it prevents RFE for sure. Unfortunately, my current attorney is not experienced enough though a nice lady.
 
immiqs said:
Should a transcript also be included when the I-20 is provided???
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The RFE list didn't include the transcript, so I think it is not required.

BTW, my wife's original I-20 was finally found, which removes my worry. :)

We will send out all documents to my attorney. We will see if we are lucky enough to receive a quick approval after the RFE is acknowledged.

Good luck with everybody here.
 
Hey, have both of you provided all I-94 copies since your entry into the US or only the most recent I-94/I-797A? Was your wife an F-1 when entering the US or changed to the F-1 later?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
immiqs said:
Hey, have both of you provided all I-94 copies since your entry into the US or only the most recent I-94/I-797A? Was your wife an F-1 when entering the US or changed to the F-1 later?
Click to expand...

We provided latest I-94, because the old I-94 was submitted to the airport when my wife left the U.S. for family visit.
My wife was an F-1 when she first entered the U.S..
 
I heard only all I-94s required from your most recent entry into the US. What was your wife’s status and what visa she had when she entered last time after her family visit, still F-1 or what else?
 
immiqs said:
I heard only all I-94s required from your most recent entry into the US. What was your wife’s status and what visa she had when she entered last time after her family visit, still F-1 or what else?
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She was H1B when she entered the U.S. last time.
 
I thought only I-94 since one's most recent entry is required. It seems the CIS requires one proves his legal status since his initial entry into the US rather than the most recent entry. I assume your wife initially entered the US with an F-1 visa and was issued an I-94. Then she changed to an H-1B. Later she left and reentered the US with an H-1B visa and was issued a new I-94. You have now provided your wife's I-20 and all I-94s since her initial entry except the first I-94, correct? Thank you for the info.
 
immiqs said:
I thought only I-94 since one's most recent entry is required. It seems the CIS requires one proves his legal status since his initial entry into the US rather than the most recent entry. I assume your wife initially entered the US with an F-1 visa and was issued an I-94. Then she changed to an H-1B. Later she left and reentered the US with an H-1B visa and was issued a new I-94. You have now provided your wife's I-20 and all I-94s since her initial entry except the first I-94, correct? Thank you for the info.
Click to expand...

correct. We have provided the following:
1) I-20 (with immigration stamp and school annotations on it);
2) F1 visa with admission stamp on first entry;
3) EAD on optional practical training;
4) H1B visa with admission stamp on second entry;
5) I-94 obtained when second entry;
6) H1B approval notice;
7) marriage certificate.
Of course all are photocopies.
 
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