Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, is filed with USCIS after a prior application or petition has already been approved — typically for one of two reasons: to request a duplicate approval notice (a replacement Form I-797), or to ask USCIS to send notification to a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad so derivative family members can apply to "follow-to-join" the principal beneficiary.
When to file I-824
- Lost or destroyed approval notice — request a duplicate I-797 for the approved petition or application (I-130, I-140, I-360, I-589, N-400, etc.).
- Follow-to-join derivative beneficiaries — the principal beneficiary's petition has been approved (e.g. I-130, I-140 with derivatives, or I-589 asylum grant), the principal is in the U.S., and the spouse and/or unmarried children abroad now need to apply for immigrant visas or follow-to-join at a U.S. consulate.
- Asylum follow-to-join — Note: asylees should typically file Form I-730 (Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition) for follow-to-join family members, not I-824. We help confirm which form fits your case.
- Other USCIS post-approval actions permitted by the approval notice itself.
What we prepare
- Form I-824 with the correct basis and supporting biographic data.
- Copy of the underlying approval notice (I-797 receipt) or evidence of approval if the original was lost.
- Identity and relationship evidence for follow-to-join beneficiaries — passport biographic pages, marriage certificate, birth certificates of children.
- Consular destination details — name and address of the US embassy/consulate USCIS should notify.
- Fee waiver (Form I-912) where the applicant qualifies based on income or means-tested benefits.
What I-824 does NOT do
I-824 cannot revive an expired or abandoned petition. It cannot substitute for a fresh filing where the underlying petition has been revoked or withdrawn. For asylee/refugee follow-to-join, USCIS typically expects Form I-730 — we confirm the correct vehicle before preparation begins. For widow(er) status preservation under INA §201(b)(2)(A)(i) and Form I-360 conversion, that is a different track.
What we do not do
Imverica is a California Legal Document Assistant and Immigration Consultant. We prepare the I-824 accurately at your direction. We do not give legal advice and cannot tell you whether I-824 vs. I-730 is the right vehicle for a follow-to-join case, whether visa-bulletin timing makes the request productive, or how to litigate a revoked petition. Those decisions are legal — we refer those cases to a licensed California immigration attorney.
Authority: 8 C.F.R. §103.7 (fees); USCIS Policy Manual and Form I-824 instructions. Document preparation only — not legal advice.