Paralegal Training Kit
Complete operational handbook for preparing employment-based immigration petitions
Last Updated: January 2025 β’ Version 1.0
Quick Start Checklists
What to request from clients BEFORE starting work on each case type
EB-1A Initial Intake Checklist
Essential documents to collect before starting petition preparation
Identity & Immigration Status
- β’Passport bio page (clear, readable copy)
- β’Current visa status documents (I-94, visa stamp, approval notices)
- β’I-797 approval notices (all prior petitions)
Professional Background
- β’Complete CV/Resume (with dates and detailed descriptions)
- β’Employment verification letters (current and past positions)
- β’Educational credentials (degrees, transcripts, certificates)
Evidence Inventory
- β’List of all publications (with citation counts if available)
- β’Awards and honors received (certificates, letters)
- β’Media mentions and press coverage
- β’Professional memberships (with membership criteria)
- β’Judging/reviewing experience (journals, conferences, grants)
- β’Letters of intent (from U.S. employers, if applicable)
Support Letter Contacts
- β’5-7 potential recommenders with full contact information
- β’Recommender credentials (CVs, institution affiliations)
- β’Relationship context (how they know the beneficiary)
Downloadable Checklist
Document Collection Strategy
Structured approach to gathering evidence across petition lifecycle
Phase 1: Initial Contact
Week 0 - Foundation
Phase 2: Evidence Gathering
Weeks 1-4 - Building the Case
Phase 3: Civil Documents
For DS-260/I-485 - As Needed
Technical Troubleshooting Guide
Solutions to common technical issues when preparing and filing petitions
Document Preparation Services
Guidelines for translation, notarization, and scanning standards
Translation Services
Primary Tool: DeepL
Best for:
- β’ Initial drafts
- β’ Support letter drafts
- β’ Personal statements
- β’ Internal review documents
β οΈ Not certified - always have native speaker review AI translations
Certified Translation
Required for:
- β’ Birth certificates
- β’ Marriage certificates
- β’ Divorce decrees
- β’ All civil documents
Cost: Typically $20-40 per page
Certification Statement Required
Notarization Guide
What Requires Notarization
- β’ Affidavits of support (I-864)
- β’ Sworn statements
- β’ Translation certifications
- β’ Some employment letters
Where to Find Notary
- β’ UPS Stores ($5-15 per signature)
- β’ Banks (often free for customers)
- β’ Mobile notary services ($25-75)
- β’ Remote Online Notarization (RON)
International Documents
Foreign documents may require apostille or embassy certification depending on country.
Check if country is Hague Convention member for apostille eligibility.
Scanning Standards
Technical Requirements
- β’Resolution: 300 DPI minimum (higher for small text)
- β’Color: Color for photos, grayscale acceptable for text documents
- β’Format: PDF/A for archival quality
- β’OCR: Make PDFs text-searchable when possible
File Naming Convention
LastName_DocType_Date.pdf
Example: Smith_BirthCert_2025.pdf
Quality Check
Quality Control Checklists
Final verification before submission to USCIS/NVC
Before Submitting to USCIS/NVC
Complete this checklist for every petition
Support Letter Quality Check
Verify each letter meets USCIS standards
Timeline Management Tools
Critical deadlines and proactive communication schedule
Critical Deadlines to Track
Set calendar reminders for these time-sensitive items
RFE Response Deadline
Typically 84 days from notice date - count calendar days, not business days
Medical Exam Validity (I-693)
Valid for 2 years from civil surgeon signature date
Police Certificate Validity
Varies by country - typically valid 6 months to 1 year
Passport Validity
Must be valid 6 months beyond intended U.S. stay
Priority Date Movement
Check Visa Bulletin monthly - set reminder for 10th of each month
Proactive Communication Schedule
Standard timeline for client communications
Week 0
Welcome email + intake checklist
Week 2
First evidence review + gap analysis
4
Support letter outreach begins
Week 6
Draft personal statement review
Week 8
Complete package review with client
Week 10
Final quality check (use checklists above)
Week 11
Client review and approval
Week 12
Submission to USCIS/NVC
Red Flags: Immediate Legal Review Required
Escalate these situations to attorney immediately
Never Proceed Without Attorney Review
Embassy-Specific Guidance
Country-specific requirements and timelines
Seoul, South Korea
EB-1A Interview Timeline:
- β’ After DQ (Documentarily Qualified): 3-6 months typically
- β’ Maximum wait: Up to 9 months in rare cases
- β’ Action if no contact after 6 months: Contact NVC or embassy
Timeline Note (Korean):
EB-1A DS-260 μ μΆ ν NVCμμ DQ(Documentarily Qualified)λ‘ μ²λ¦¬λλ©΄, μ£Όν λ―Έκ΅λμ¬κ΄ μΈν°λ·°λ μΌλ°μ μΌλ‘ 3β6κ°μ λ΄ λ°°μ λλ©°, λλ¬Όκ² μ΅λ 9κ°μκΉμ§ μμλ μ μμ΅λλ€. 6κ°μ μ΄μ μλ΄κ° μμΌλ©΄ NVC λλ λμ¬κ΄μ λ¬Έμνμλ©΄ λ©λλ€.
Medical Exam:
Panel physicians in Seoul - must use embassy-approved doctors
Translation Requirements:
Korean documents must have certified English translations
Other Major Embassies
Essential Resource Links
Official government resources and helpful third-party tools
Official Government Resources
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