Hi, I'm a petitioner filing an I-130 for my wife and we're concurrently filing I-485 for her as well. I live in California and she lives in Georgia (she's on F1 visa and has to keep her official residence in the state where her school is located). So although she's been travelling to CA frequently and stayed with me for a good amount of time, she must keep her residence in GA until the end of school. So in form I-485 and I-130, we put her mailing address same as my address (CA), but we have to put her physical address in GA. My question is: 1- What Lockbox should we mail the package? My understanding is that it should be sent to lockbox of beneficiary's physical address (GA in our case). I prefer to send it to my address (CA) lockbox. Does it cause an issue? 2- A more general question is, what USCIS office has adjudication over our case? At the end part of form 130 (Item 61), there's a question: "The beneficiary will apply for adjustment of status at USCIS office in:" Can I put California, or I have to put Georgia? Thank you so much in advance!

Question

Lily Makorre · Accepted Answer

Mail it to the lockbox that corresponds to the beneficiary’s physical address, which is Georgia.

Benjamin Okin · Answer

On Form I-130, you should list the USCIS office where the beneficiary will apply for adjustment, which is based on her physical residence. So you should put Georgia.

Mike MM · Answer

Thanks Lily and Benjamin for your responses! That was also my understanding from the USCIS instruction (that the beneficiary's physical address matters). We talked to an attorney, where she mentioned that we can put beneficiary's mailing address same as mine and send the package to my state's lockbox (CA), but I was not sure about it. I'd personally think that the USCIS in CA will handle our case more smoothly (as my wife also intends to live with me in CA), but I'm afraid that we might not have a choice and the application might get rejected in this case.

Mike MM

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