What You Need to Know About Form I-102

If you are a non-immigrant living in the U.S., it is essential that you know about Form I-102. So what is it? We’ll discuss this and more in further detail.

What Is Form I-102?

Form I-102 is an application for the replacement of certain documents. This is brought used if a non-immigrant loses their arrival and departure documents or Form I-94. This form is also useful if the non-immigrant has either damaged the same document or if it is incorrect by some means.

It becomes absolutely essential to file Form I-102 in case of a misplaced I-94 since this denotes the arrival and departure dates in and out of the country. Since these visas are only valid for a certain period of time, this form acts as proof that the non-immigrant did not exceed their stay in the United States.

Who Needs Form I-102?

Form I-102 is essentially applicable for non-immigrants who are staying in the U.S. with a visa that is valid for a few days only. These non-immigrants are eligible to file Form I-102 in case their Form I-94 is lost, misplaced, stolen or is in any need of replacement.

Form I-102 Requirements

In order to file an application of Form I-102 for the replacement of Form I-94, you would be required to provide proof of your visa and stay-related documents to the USCIS. Along with the actual application of Form I-102, these supporting documents also become essential.

What do these supporting documents actually relate to? Any document that describes your status in the United States is sufficient to be produced as evidence. Also, in the situation that you are applying to replace a damaged I-94, the damaged copy can also be produced as evidence of the same kind. In these cases, the front and back sides of the documents are provided for evidence. However, no original documents are to be sent along with the application. Here are a few cases to consider.

• If Form I-94 is stolen or misplaced, it would be best to submit a photocopy of the biographic page of your passport.
• If Form I-94 was mutilated or damaged, the original copy of the same needs to be provided.
•  In order to issue a new Form I-94 for yourself, you would be expected to provide proof substantiating your claim for the form.

How to Complete Form I-102?

The process of completing Form I-102 is rather simple. All you have to do is identify the reason for the application, fill out the form and submit the related documents. There are three parts to this form.

Part 1

This section contains information about yourself. This includes your name, address, the immigration file number (A-number), Social Security number, along with the date of your last admission into the U.S., current non-immigration status, the expiration date of your stay in the country, and the numbers on the Form I-94.

Part 2

The second part of the form actually lists out the reason for the application. All you have to do is put a tick mark on the reason most relevant to your situation.

Part 3

This includes some processing and operational information.

Part 4

This section contains your signature to process the application. It also includes your phone number.

Part 5

If the form has been filled out by a preparer, instead of the individual, then their signature is featured in this part of the form.

The completed form, along with the supporting documents and application fee, are then submitted to the USCIS.

Where to File Form I-102?

There are two places associated with filing Form I-102.

Base location

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia.

In this scenario, the documents are either sent by post to the USCIS PO Box 660867 Dallas, TX 75266 or they are sent by courier to the USCIS Attn: AOS 2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business Suite 400 Lewisville, TX 75067.

Base location

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Guam, or the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.

In this case, the documents are sent to the USCIS PO Box 21281 Phoenix, AZ 85036 by postal service or to the USCIS Attn: AOS 1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S Suite 100 Phoenix, AZ 85034 by courier service.

Form I-102 Filing Fee

The filing fee associated with Form I-102 is $320. This payment is facilitated in the form of a check or money order. In both cases, the money is drawn in a bank or any financial institution in the United States and should be payable in U.S. currency. Check payment, in fact, will be transferred to an electronic fund transfer mode.

However, there are certain situations where the fee is not required. If you are requesting an amendment of errors in your existing Form I-94 from USCIS’s end with no fault of yours, you would not have to pay the fees.

Where to File Form I-102 and Processing Time

Only completed applications are processed by the USCIS. This would mean a filled out form, along with the supporting documents and the application fee. The idea is to process every application in a fair and just manner.

However, the processing time depends on the particular application and varies from case to case. Appropriately completed applications with all documents would take less time. Based on the previous cases observed, the maximum processing time for Form I-102 is two and a half months.

Conclusion

Form I-102 is essentially just an application for processing the replacement request of Form I-94. The process is simple. The form is to be filled out with all the necessary information. Your claim for a new Form I-94 is substantiated by supporting documents denoting your non-immigrant status in the United States. A fee is also charged along with the form to process your application. This form ensures that your arrival and departure documents are held safely by you.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

See author's posts