What is this service?
Form I‑824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, is used to ask USCIS for certain actions related to an application or petition that has already been approved.
Its uses include getting a duplicate approval notice, asking USCIS to send an approved immigrant petition to the National Visa Center (NVC), or requesting certain notifications to consular officials.
It is not a request to approve a petition again, to correct any error, or to automatically speed up a case.
Who is this service for?
- People who need a duplicate of their I‑797 approval notice.
- Petitioners who need to request that an approved immigrant petition be sent to the NVC.
- Eligible permanent residents who need a consular notification for certain derivative family members.
- People who need a specific consular notification related to an approved nonimmigrant petition.
- Naturalized citizens who need to request a notification to the Department of State, when applicable.
The action requested must be one covered by the official Form I‑824 instructions.
What can I request with Form I‑824?
Lets you request a copy of the approval notice for an application or petition that was already approved.
It does not replace a Green Card, work permit, or travel document.
In certain situations, lets you ask USCIS to send an approved immigrant petition to the National Visa Center to continue consular processing.
Lets you request certain notifications to a new consulate for an approved nonimmigrant petition, when applicable.
Certain permanent residents can ask USCIS to notify a consulate, through the NVC, of their adjustment of status so their eligible spouse or children can apply for an immigrant visa as following-to-join derivatives.
This process has specific requirements and does not automatically apply to every resident.
In situations covered by the form, lets you ask USCIS to notify the Department of State that a person became a U.S. citizen through naturalization.
Do I need Form I‑824 to send my case to the NVC?
Not always.
If USCIS already sent the approved petition to the NVC, you generally do not need to file another form to request the same transfer.
Before preparing Form I‑824, the approval notice should be reviewed and the location of the case confirmed.
Important: Form I‑824 does not guarantee that the NVC will open the case right away or that a visa will be issued.
USCIS approved my I‑130, but my relative is outside the United States. What now?
The answer depends on what your approval notice says:
- If the notice says the petition was sent to the National Visa Center (NVC), the case continues there. You generally do not need Form I‑824; the NVC will contact you to start consular processing.
- If the petition was approved for your relative to adjust status inside the United States, but they now need to continue at a consulate, you may need to use Form I‑824 to ask USCIS to send the petition to the NVC.
We review your approval notice and confirm where the case is before preparing any form.
Did I lose my I‑797 approval notice?
Form I‑824 can be used to request a duplicate of certain approval notices.
However, if USCIS issued a notice that you never received, there may be an inquiry process for undelivered mail.
Not every problem with USCIS mail requires filing Form I‑824.
What does our service include?
- Preparation of Form I‑824.
- Review of the information from the previously approved petition or application.
- Organizing supporting documents.
- Preparation of your application package and filing instructions.
- Document assistance with requests for additional evidence, as set out in your contract.
Main documents
- Copy of the I‑797 approval notice, when available.
- Receipt number of the approved application or petition.
- Copy of the applicant's identification.
- Information about the original petition or application.
- Information about the principal beneficiary, when applicable.
- Consulate or NVC information, if a notification is requested.
- Additional evidence depending on the type of action requested.
The exact documents depend on the option selected on Form I‑824. After you hire us, we will email you the questionnaire and the complete list. Please do not send documents through the form on this page.
Costs
Our fees
Government filing fees
| Form | Fee |
|---|---|
| I-824 | $590 (paper filing only) |
Certain humanitarian and special categories may be exempt from the government fee, according to the instructions and the official G‑1055 fee schedule.
USCIS fees per the official fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition 10/26/26). Fees may change: we confirm them before filing. uscis.gov/g-1055 (opens in a new tab)
Government fees are paid separately and are not included in our fees.
How to get started
- Fill out the request form.
- Receive the service information, the contract, and the questionnaire by email.
- Review and sign the contract before making any payment. Then send the required documents so we can begin preparing your forms.
Ge Chanfon Services LLC provides document preparation and administrative assistance services. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. Approval of any application is decided by the appropriate government agency.