Master prompt
USCIS petition cover letter — I-130 / I-140 / I-485 / I-765 / I-829
Universal USCIS-package cover letter framework with indexed exhibits and priority-document identification for any major petition form.
USUSCISCover letterI-130I-140I-485I-765I-829Index
Draft a USCIS petition cover letter for [PETITIONER_NAME]'s [FORM_NUMBER] filing under category [CASE_CATEGORY], to be received at [RECEIVING_OFFICE] on or about [FILING_DATE]. Beneficiary: [BENEFICIARY_NAME].
Reply with ONLY this line and nothing else: "Question 1 of 5: confirm the exact form edition date (printed lower-left corner of the form PDF) of the [FORM_NUMBER] you are filing. Wrong edition = automatic rejection."
DO ask each question on its own line. DO NOT draft until all 5 answers received. DO NOT add commentary.
INTAKE QUESTIONS:
Q1: Form edition date confirmed.
Q2: Current filing fees (verify uscis.gov fee schedule — fees changed 1-Apr-2024).
Q3: Filing method — paper lockbox, online via myUSCIS account, or in-person field office?
Q4: All required initial evidence in hand and indexed? (No "we'll add later" — RFEs are expensive.)
Q5: Any deadlines tied to this filing (visa-bulletin movement, prior-status expiry, age-out for child)?
CASE OVERVIEW
- Petitioner: [PETITIONER_NAME]
- Beneficiary: [BENEFICIARY_NAME]
- Form: [FORM_NUMBER]
- Category: [CASE_CATEGORY]
- Filing office: [RECEIVING_OFFICE]
- Priority date: [PRIORITY_DATE]
- Prior USCIS history: None
- Special circumstances: None
- Representative: [REPRESENTATIVE]
§1 — COVER LETTER STRUCTURE (target length: 1-2 pages; never more than 3)
Header block (left-justified):
Line 1: Date of filing
Line 2: To: USCIS [specific office name]
[exact filing address from the form instructions — verify current address]
Line 3: Re: Petition for [petitioner full name + USCIS A-number if any]
On behalf of [beneficiary full name + DOB + A-number if any]
Form [FORM_NUMBER] — [CASE_CATEGORY]
Priority date: [PRIORITY_DATE] (if applicable)
Prior receipt numbers: None (if applicable)
Opening paragraph (4-6 sentences):
Sentence 1: One-line identity of the petitioner.
Sentence 2: One-line identity of the beneficiary (relationship to petitioner, if any).
Sentence 3: The benefit sought, citing the statutory basis. Example: "Petitioner respectfully submits Form I-130 under INA section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) to classify the beneficiary as the immediate relative spouse of a US citizen, with concurrent Form I-485 under INA section 245(a) for adjustment of status."
Sentence 4: One-line summary of why this petition is approvable (the elevator argument).
Sentence 5 (if relevant): Special-handling request — premium processing, expedite, concurrent filing.
Sentence 6: Reference to the indexed enclosures below.
Eligibility / merits paragraphs (2-5 paragraphs depending on case complexity):
For [FORM_NUMBER] = I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative):
- Petitioner's US citizen or LPR status — evidence
- Bona fide qualifying relationship — evidence (marriage cert + bonafide marriage docs / birth cert / adoption decree)
- No prior I-130 denial / withdrawal flagged
- Affidavit of Support I-864 (or concurrent if AOS-bundled)
For [FORM_NUMBER] = I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker):
- Approved PERM Labor Certification (ETA-9089) with priority date [PRIORITY_DATE] — Tab A
- Beneficiary qualifications meet PERM minimum requirements — Tab B
- Petitioner's ability to pay the proffered wage — Tab C (audited financials, W-2s for the year of priority date forward, tax returns)
- Job description matches PERM and SOC code
- Cross-chargeability requested (if applicable)
For [FORM_NUMBER] = I-485 (Adjustment of Status):
- Visa number availability under INA section 245(a) — confirm current visa bulletin
- Inspection and admission or parole — passport entry stamp / I-94
- Continuous maintenance of lawful status (unless 245(i) or immediate relative exception)
- Not subject to inadmissibility bars under INA section 212(a) — Form I-693 medical exam + biometric appointment
- Affidavit of Support Form I-864 from petitioner (and joint sponsor if needed)
For [FORM_NUMBER] = I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization):
- Eligibility category code (C09, A05, A12, C08, C11, etc.) — verify on Form I-765 page 3
- Pending I-485 receipt number (for C09)
- Identity evidence
- Two passport-style photos (current 2"x2" specifications)
- Prior EAD copy (if renewal)
For [FORM_NUMBER] = I-829 (Removal of Conditions for Investor):
- 90-day filing window before 2-year conditional PR expires — confirm dates
- Investment of required amount sustained throughout conditional period
- 10 full-time direct or indirect jobs created (or actively in process for Regional Center investments)
- Source-of-funds documentation matches prior I-526 / I-526E filing
- Personal residence in the US during conditional period (substantially)
Risk-flag pre-emption paragraph (only if None or other facts warrant):
- Address any prior denial, withdrawal, RFE, or NOID head-on
- Address any inadmissibility concern with curative evidence cited
Closing paragraph (3-4 sentences):
- Express formal request: "Petitioner respectfully requests approval of the enclosed Form [FORM_NUMBER]."
- Reference total filing fee with breakdown
- Provide a single contact line for RFE response
- Counsel's G-28 reference and signature block
§2 — INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Every USCIS package over 5 supporting documents needs a tabbed, lettered index. The cover letter's last page is the index. Adjudicators routinely cite specific exhibits in approval notices — un-indexed packages get RFEs for "evidence not provided" even when buried in the pile.
Indexed format:
ENCLOSURES:
Tab A — [Form name and edition date], signed by [signatory]
Tab B — Filing fee check or G-1450 credit card authorization, USD [amount]
Tab C — Form G-28 (Notice of Entry of Appearance) for [REPRESENTATIVE]
Tab D — [Identity evidence — passport biographic page, both petitioner and beneficiary]
Tab E — [Primary qualifying evidence — marriage cert / approved I-140 / PERM]
Tab F — [Secondary qualifying evidence — bona fide marriage proofs / paystubs / contracts]
Tab G — [Status / inspection evidence — I-94, I-797 prior approvals]
Tab H — [I-864 Affidavit of Support + sponsor's tax transcript + W-2s + paystubs]
Tab I — [Medical exam I-693 in sealed envelope] (for I-485 only)
Tab J — [Photos — 2x2 passport style]
Tab K — [Any RFE response from prior filings]
Tab L — [Letters from third parties — employer letters, joint sponsor]
§3 — PRIORITY-DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION
Identify the 3-5 documents the officer MUST see to approve. Place these at the front of their respective tabs. Examples:
I-130 spouse: marriage certificate, both passports, joint financial commingling evidence (3-5 strongest items), petitioner's USC/LPR proof.
I-140 EB-2: approved PERM ETA-9089 with priority date, beneficiary's degree + experience evaluation, employer's ability-to-pay financials.
I-485 AOS: visa number availability (current visa bulletin chart), I-94, I-693 medical, I-864.
I-765: eligibility category proof (e.g., I-485 receipt), identity proof, prior EAD if renewal.
I-829: investment evidence (bank wires, equity certificates), job-creation evidence (W-2s for direct, economic-impact report for Regional Center), source-of-funds continuity.
§4 — SPECIAL-CIRCUMSTANCE LANGUAGE
If None includes:
Premium Processing (I-907):
"Petitioner concurrently files Form I-907 requesting premium processing under 8 CFR section 103.7(e), with fee of USD 2,805 [verify current fee]. Premium processing service request acknowledged."
Expedite request (humanitarian / financial / USCIS error):
"Petitioner respectfully requests expedited adjudication under the USCIS Expedite Criteria (USCIS Policy Manual Vol 1, Part A, Chapter 5). Grounds: [specific criterion + supporting docs at Tab X]."
Concurrent filing (I-130 + I-485):
"Petitioner files Form I-130 concurrently with the beneficiary's Form I-485 pursuant to INA section 245(a) and 8 CFR section 245.2(a)(2)(i)(B). Visa number is immediately available [or will be available under the current visa bulletin chart relevant to filing]."
Cross-chargeability (CSPA / spouse from different country):
"Petitioner requests cross-chargeability under INA section 202(b) to the country of [beneficiary's spouse's birth], which is current under the [Family / Employment-Based] visa bulletin."
Priority date recapture:
"Petitioner requests recapture of the priority date [PRIORITY_DATE] from the previously approved Form I-140 receipt number [number] under 8 CFR section 204.5(e)."
§5 — FILING METHOD CHECKLIST
Paper filing to USCIS Lockbox or Service Center:
- Use UPS / FedEx / DHL with tracking — NEVER USPS first-class without tracking
- Single envelope, hole-punched at top, ACCO-fastened
- Filing fee check made out to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" (NOT USCIS, NOT DHS — exact name)
- One check per form (USCIS rejects bundled checks)
- Photocopy entire package + delivery confirmation, store with client file 7 years
Online filing via myUSCIS:
- Available for I-130 (most), I-485 (since 2021), I-90, I-765, N-400, I-539, I-589
- Petitioner / beneficiary must have separate myUSCIS accounts
- G-28 filed online via attorney's account
- Receipt notice issued within 24 hours
- Online files cannot be supplemented mid-adjudication except via RFE response — assemble fully before submit
In-person Field Office:
- For AOS interview package: bring originals of all evidence + duplicate set of copies
- Officer keeps photocopies; originals returned at interview close
- Mark "INTERVIEW PACKAGE" prominently on cover letter
§6 — INDIA-COHORT SPECIFIC NOTES
(1) NAME consistency across petitions
- Indian passport vs Indian birth certificate vs Indian marriage certificate often show slightly different name forms (one initial vs full, spelling variants)
- Cover letter should list all name variants in a footnote: "Beneficiary's name appears as 'Aanya Sharma' on Indian passport [number] and as 'Aanya S' on Indian birth certificate [number]. Both refer to the same person; see Tab D for identity package."
(2) BIRTH CERTIFICATE non-availability
- Common for applicants born before mid-1990s in many Indian states
- Solution: Tehsildar or Municipal Corporation "Non-Availability of Birth Certificate Certificate" (NABC) + secondary evidence (matriculation certificate, baptism / janma kundali if from religious source, parents' affidavits)
- State in cover letter: "Beneficiary's birth in [INDIAN_CITY] in [year] is established by the Municipal Corporation Non-Availability Certificate at Tab D-1, the matriculation certificate at Tab D-2, and the parents' affidavits at Tab D-3."
(3) PRIOR INDIAN MARRIAGE annulment / divorce
- Indian decrees must be FINAL — interim orders insufficient
- Hindu Marriage Act decrees with appeal-period expiration date noted
- Special Marriage Act, Christian Marriage Act, Muslim Personal Law — flag religious-personal-law basis if any
(4) DEGREE evaluation
- WES, ECE, IERF, or similar — name the evaluator and date
- Three-year Indian B.A./B.Com/B.Sc often evaluated as equivalent to 3-year US degree; for H-1B / I-140 EB-3, the additional year of progressive experience or post-grad evaluation is needed under 8 CFR section 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(D)
§7 — OUTPUT DELIVERABLES
Produce:
(1) The full cover letter (1-2 pages, 3 pages max).
(2) The tabbed exhibits index (separate page, lettered A-Z as needed).
(3) The internal-prep checklist (10 items) for the consultant to verify before mailing or submitting online.
(4) A boilerplate text block for any None language identified.
OUTPUT FORMAT
Letterhead-ready format. Times New Roman 11pt or Arial 11pt. 1-inch margins. Single-spaced with paragraph breaks. NO bullet points in the cover letter body proper (USCIS officers prefer narrative for legal arguments); bullets only in the exhibits index. The signature block is right-aligned per US convention.
End with: "DRAFT USCIS cover letter — for licensed US immigration attorney review. Verify the form edition date against the current uscis.gov PDF, confirm current filing fees (fees updated 1-Apr-2024 — verify nothing has changed since), and confirm the correct filing address from the form instructions (lockbox addresses change annually). Indexed-and-tabbed packages are adjudicated; loose-pile packages get RFEs."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt