How to Assemble an I-140 Petition Package

  1. In a plastic sleeve provide:
    • A copy of your passport (every stamped page; omit blank pages);
    • A copy of the approval notice for your current non-immigrant visa status (H1-B, F-1, J-1, etc.);
    • A copy of the front and back of your most recent I-94 card. CBP now keeps electronic I-94 records; visit the following website to retrieve your I-94 number and print the documentation- https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html.
    • Two copies of the ETA 9089 with your original signature and one copy.
  2. On top of petition letter:
    • Your I-140 e-filing confirmation receipt notice (if you e-filed the I-140) or Form I-140, if you file your I-140 on paper.
    • Foreign name and address page: If your native alphabet does not use Roman characters, put a page at the front of your package showing your name and foreign address in that alphabet. If you were born in India, you need not provide your name or foreign address in your native alphabet, because English is an official language in India.
  3. Include a complete, legible copy of your petition letter.
  4. Recommendation letters:
    • Place each recommender's CV behind his or her signed letter. If you cannot obtain the CV, a printout of one page of the recommender's online biography suffices.
    • Each recommender's CV need not exceed 5 pages.
  5. A copy of the diploma for your highest degree, with academic records/transcripts. A diploma from a foreign university must also be accompanied by a degree equivalency evaluation. Exception: if your highest degree is an M.B.B.S. from an institution in India, no degree evaluation is needed, because USCIS recognizes the M.B.B.S. as equivalent to an M.D.
  6. A copy of the first 3-5 pages of your publications, with your name highlighted in the author list.
  7. Copies of your conference presentations with your name highlighted. If you include conference schedules, provide only the first page and any later pages bearing your name, and highlight your name on those pages.
  8. Information on the journals that published your work.
  9. Your citation record: Only official citation records may be submitted. To prove international citations, include both evidence of the citing institution (usually the article's first page) and evidence that the article cited your work (printable from Google Scholar). Highlight your name and your total number of citations, and highlight the relevant field in the citation averages table, if submitted.
  10. Peer review: Provide evidence that you actually completed the review work, such as thank-you letters.