Form I-824 begins with an existing approval
USCIS describes Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, as a request for further action on a previously approved matter. It is not a status inquiry and is not a way to revive a petition that is pending, denied, withdrawn, revoked, terminated, or expired.
Common uses can include asking USCIS to send an approved immigrant petition to the Department of State for consular processing, requesting certain follow-to-join action, or requesting a duplicate approval notice in a situation allowed by the instructions. The correct filer and requested action depend on the underlying approval.
- Locate the original Form I-797 approval notice and receipt number.
- Confirm that the approval remains valid and has not been revoked or withdrawn.
- Identify whether USCIS or CBP issued the underlying approval.
- Read the numbered choices in Part 2 before deciding that Form I-824 matches the needed action.
Know what the form cannot replace
The current instructions list important exclusions. Form I-824 is not used to correct an error on the approved application or petition, obtain a personal copy of an approved Form I-485 or Form N-400, or replace a Green Card, employment authorization document, Form I-94, or travel document. Those documents have their own forms and procedures.
USCIS also will not process an I-824 merely to check the status of a pending case. Filing the wrong request can cost time and a generally nonrefundable fee while the real task remains unresolved.
- EAD replacement generally uses Form I-765.
- Form I-94 replacement or initial-document requests generally use Form I-102.
- Green Card replacement generally uses Form I-90.
- Travel-document replacement generally uses Form I-131.
Use the current edition, fee, and filing address
As of September 6, 2026, the USCIS Form I-824 page lists the 04/01/24 edition. USCIS warns that pages from different editions or missing page numbers can lead to rejection. The current USCIS fee schedule lists a $590 general filing fee, while specified exemptions or fee-waiver eligibility may apply in limited categories. Always recheck the official fee schedule immediately before mailing.
The filing location depends on the agency and context. USCIS provides a dedicated direct-address page, with special routing for VAWA-, T-, or U-related filings. If Form I-824 is filed with another eligible USCIS form, USCIS directs filers to follow the location instructions for the other form. CBP-issued approvals follow separate CBP instructions.
- Download the form and instructions directly from USCIS on the preparation date.
- Complete Part 3’s receipt-number field; USCIS identifies it as a rejection-sensitive field.
- Sign the form and use the current accepted payment method.
- Use the exact address—including the Attn line—for the delivery carrier selected.
Build a traceable request package
Place a short cover sheet at the front identifying the requested I-824 action, the underlying approved form, the receipt number, and the included evidence. Follow the form instructions for approval notices, relationship evidence, status evidence, and any other required documents. Add Form G-1145 at the front if the filing qualifies and the filer wants lockbox e-notification.
Keep a complete copy of the signed package, payment authorization, mailing label, and delivery confirmation. If the requested action involves consular processing, follow-to-join eligibility, a child who may age out, an expired approval, or uncertainty about the correct filer, obtain licensed legal advice before paying and filing.