Qué significa su carta de notificación de acción del Formulario I-797

Any message you receive from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be labeled Form I-797 . Form I-797 serves a variety of purposes, which means there are different versions of it. Whenever USCIS sends you a message, be sure to keep Form I-797 in a safe place, as this is how USCIS communicates with you.

What is Form I-797?

The USCIS Form I-797 is a form sent to you to communicate a message. The form is also known as 

Form I-797, Notice of Action. Because a Form I-797 is sent each time USCIS contacts you, there are different versions of the form for different types of communication:

• Form I-797, Notice of Action for Receipt or Approval
• Form I-797A, Notice of Action to Replace I-94
• Form I-797B, Notice of Action for Petition of Non-Citizen Worker
• Form I-797C, Notice of Action for Multiple Receipts and Calls to Action
• Form I-797D, accompanying the benefits card
• Form I-797E, Notice of Action to Request Evidence
• Form I-797F, Letter for Transportation of Travel Abroad

It is extremely important to review every document that USCIS gives you. The forms often contain instructions about the next steps in your immigration process. If you need to provide additional information, USCIS will also indicate this on Form I-797.

What is a notice of action letter and should I complete it?

Please note that although the name says «form,» you don’t actually fill anything out. A Form I-797 Notice of Action is simply that: a notification of action that USCIS takes to inform you about the decisions made in your immigration case(s).

I-797 Notice of Action Change of Address

If you ever move, be sure to inform USCIS of your new mailing address as soon as possible. Due to the instructions on Form I-797, it is imperative to obtain the forms as soon as USCIS sends them. Always keep your mailing address updated so you can stay informed about every step of your immigration process.

To notify USCIS of your change of address, you must submit Form AR-11 directly to USCIS. Or, if you have a USCIS online account, you can update your address manually there.

Form I-797 Notice of Action Priority Date

Your priority date is the date USCIS received your application. This is one of the most important dates to remember, so prioritize this document and the date.

You will use your priority date to see where you stand in the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin . When your final action date matches your priority date, you are up to date and can take the next steps, such as adjusting your status or starting consular processing .

When will I receive my I-797 action notice?

It generally takes two to three weeks to receive your Form I-797 after submitting your application.

Types of Form I-797

Form I-797 is the simplest of the various I-797 forms. When your Form I-797 does not have an attached letter, this is your most basic action notice letter, also known as your “I-797 Approval Notice Green Card” or simply your I-797 Approval Notice for your individual visa .

Your Form I-797 is what you receive when USCIS approves an application or petition.

What happens after the I-797 approval notification?

Keep your Form I-797 Notice of Action as proof that USCIS approved your application or petition. As a receipt for your application or petition, Form I-797 is an important document that can be used later as proof for immigration benefits or as evidence in the event of a legal case.

Form I-797A, Notice of Action to Replace I-94

Form I-94 is your arrival/departure record, used each time you enter or leave the United States. The form also shows your visa expiration date. USCIS will send you Form I-797A as a replacement for Form I-94. This is usually because you have changed your address. This form serves as proof that your presence in the United States is legal and current, and it is located at the bottom of Form I-797A.

Form I-797B, Notice of Action for Petition of Non-Citizen Worker

If you are not a citizen and wish to work in the United States and have filed your petition, you will be issued a Form I-797B. Form I-797B declares your worker petition approved .

Please note that your Form I-797B does not include Form I-94. You may need to return home if you want an extension of your work visa . Having Form I-94 not included with your Form I-797B is particularly important if you have been approved to work in the U.S. and are already working there.

You should also ensure your extension of stay is approved. Speak with your immigration attorney and review all the information on your Form I-797B to make sure you understand your work authorization.

Form I-797C, Notice of Action for Multiple Receipts and Calls to Action

USCIS sends you Form I-797C Notice of Action to inform you about a request/petition, including notification of:

• An appointment for an interview
• A biometric appointment
• A rescheduled appointment
• A receipt
• A transfer
• A reopened case
• A rejection

Your I-797C Notice of Action letter will have a receipt number that you can use to check the status of your case. Regardless of the reason for your Form I-797C Notice of Action, the letter itself proves that you submitted your application or petition.

Remember, this is not approval; it is simply a receipt and a call to action. USCIS may send you this to show they have accepted your application, not to say they have approved it.

Appointment notifications will be sent when any type of appointment is required to proceed to the next steps in your application process. This Form I-797C Notice of Action letter tells you when to attend your appointments.

Receipt notices confirm that USCIS received your application or petition and your filing fees. They include your receipt number. Be sure to keep this safe to track your case.

You may receive a transfer notice in the form of Form I-797C if your case was transferred to another office due to processing times.

Reopened cases occur when USCIS reopens a previously denied case. You will be notified that your case will be reopened and processed.

If you receive an I-797C action notice letter for a rejection notice , then USCIS did not accept your application or petition because of:

• Incomplete information
• Incorrect information
• Incorrect payment

That’s why it’s beneficial to have an immigration attorney assist you and review your application or petition. If any information is missing or incorrect, USCIS will reject your application.

Unfortunately, many people are rejected for not signing at the end of their application. Having an experienced attorney review your application, such as a second reviewer, can help you in your immigration application process.

What is the next step after receiving the I-797C?

Carefully read your Form I-797C Notice of Action. Depending on the specific Notice of Action sent to you by USCIS, you must follow the instructions in your Notice of Action letter. It would be beneficial to speak with your immigration attorney about the meaning of these instructions if you are confused about your specific I-797C Notice of Action.

Form I-797D accompanies the benefits card

This version of Form I-797 is not a Notice of Action. Rather, it’s a letter that comes with benefits. When you receive your Permanent Resident Card or Employment Authorization Document, you will also receive a Form I-797D. This form will describe the benefits that come with the card you are receiving.

Form I-797E, Notice of Action to Request Evidence

Form I-797E is also known as a Request for Evidence (RFE). USCIS may require you to submit additional documents or evidence to support your request or petition.

USCIS will inform you what they need from you in the Form I-797E Notice of Action letter. You must submit the requested and required evidence as soon as possible. Failure to do so risks delay, or even denial.

You can avoid receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE) by having your immigration attorney review your application or petition. It is important to submit all required documents to USCIS, and it is best to do so the first time.

However, if you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE), it’s also wise to work with your attorney to ensure that the required documents are completed correctly and in full. It can be easy to submit incorrect or incomplete documents, or even lose evidence. Avoid this by working with an experienced immigration attorney.

Form I-797F, Letter for Transportation of Travel Abroad

If you are applying from a country outside the United States, you will be issued Form I-797F. Similar to Form I-797D, Form I-797F is not a Notice of Action. The form is a letter that authorizes you to travel abroad to the United States.

Generally, green card holders (legal permanent residents) are issued Form I-797F if they have had their green card:

• Loss
• Stolen
• Mutilated

Can I travel with the I-797 action notice?

Yes, your I-797F allows you to travel to the U.S. if you are abroad. USCIS will send the form to your address abroad so you can travel (back) to the United States.

Beneficiaries of Form I-797F are generally legal permanent residents who have traveled outside the U.S. and whose physical green card has been compromised (lost, stolen, mutilated) while abroad. They can file Form I-131A to request a travel document.

Contact an immigration attorney today

The experienced attorneys at Scott D. Pollock & Associates PC can assist you at any stage of your immigration process. If you have questions, such as what a Notice of Action letter is, what Form I-797C is and what it means, or what my Notice of Action letter means , please contact us!

We understand the importance of communicating with USCIS and want your immigration process to proceed as smoothly as possible. Contact us at 312.444.1940 or complete an online contact form today. We look forward to working with you!