I recently entered the US and USCIS lost my Immigrant Visa packet at the Port of Entry. They emailed me to visit a local field office to recreate it, stating I need to bring a copy of the underlying petition (I-140) and supporting documentation. Do I actually need to print and bring the entire 300-page I-140 petition package, or is the I-797 approval notice sufficient?
When an immigrant visa packet is lost at the port of entry, you must attend an appointment at a local field office to reconstruct it. Your specific appointment notice decides exactly which documents you must bring.
You already have temporary proof of your permanent resident status. The port of entry officer stamped your passport with a one-year admission stamp, which serves as a bridge until your physical {"term": "green-card", "text": "Green Card"} arrives.
When a packet is lost, immigrants are generally asked to bring copies of everything previously submitted in support of their case. This includes the approved immigrant petition, its supporting documentation, and the National Visa Center paperwork.
However, your specific appointment notice sets your exact requirements. Check the notice {"term": "uscis", "text": "USCIS"} sent you to see if it allows you to bring only the approval notice, or if it explicitly requires the full petition package. There is no official process to skip printing the documents, but if the notice is unclear, it is often worth calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 to ask if the approval notice alone will satisfy the local office before you print 300 pages.
