Form G-1145: E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance

The road to immigration in the United States is long, bumpy, and can include plenty of frustrating detours. One way to reduce client frustration is to sign up for a digital application acceptance alert from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Use form G-1145, e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, to apply for this convenient digital alert.

What is form G-1145?

Form G-1145 is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (“USCIS”) application to receive email and text alerts when an immigration application is accepted. Immigration lawyers can file this on behalf of their clients who are seeking various immigration outcomes including applications for permanent residence, work authorization, asylum status, and citizenship for a child adopted outside of the U.S.

This is an optional form for immigration appeals mailed to a USCIS Lockbox. If your client is eligible to file an immigration application online, you don’t need this form because the government’s portal will provide instant digital confirmation.

To submit a G-1145 form, attach it to the top of the corresponding immigration application. If your client has a U.S. mobile number, they will receive a text and an email when the application is received. If they don’t have a U.S. phone, they will only receive an email.

What form G-1145 does (and doesn’t do)

It’s important to note that the G-1145 form only provides a digital confirmation that USCIS received the application. The confirmation will not relay any other information about your client’s case or immigration status.

Completing form G-1145 doesn’t affect your client’s immigration case. It won’t accelerate processing nor does it replace any other official notices from Immigration Services, like the I-797C Notice of Action.

Some immigration attorneys use this form to monitor processing times, especially during high-volume periods, as it can be an indicator of backlogs at USCIS’ regional lockboxes.

Who should use form G-1145?

Immigration lawyers use form G-1145 in several different ways. It’s particularly helpful when you’re submitting lengthy packets to USCIS or when you’re filing multiple immigration matters simultaneously. These more complex submissions often include:

• I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, which is used to allow a non-citizen to bring a family member to the U.S.
• I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, which is the application for a Green Card.
• I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, which is used to allow a non-citizen to legally work with their current immigration status.

Adding form G-1145 to these applications is helpful for attorneys because the e-notification offers an opportunity to set expectations with clients about timing. Once you know your client’s application was received, you can apply your knowledge of immigration proceedings to estimate the next milestone.

Note: Including a G-1145 form is completely optional and your client’s immigration filings are valid without it.

When you should not use a G-1145 form

There are circumstances where you might advise a client not to add form G-1145 to their immigration applications. Consider carefully if e-notifications are right for your clients who:

• May be in danger and want contact information protected. For example, a person fearing violence in their home or in their previous country.
• Change their phone numbers and email addresses frequently, increasing the risk of missed alerts.
• Share their phone number or email address with other people. Receiving an alert to a shared inbox or phone number might compromise your client’s privacy or cause confusion if multiple household members have pending immigration cases.
• May get unnecessarily stressed or confused by real-time alerts.

Also, immigration law firms that prefer centralized communications channels for government updates might elect not to submit form G-1145.

Documents and information lawyers need to complete a G-1145 form

You’ll need your client’s full name (last, first, and middle, if applicable) and their active email address to complete a G-1145 form. If your client has a U.S. mobile phone number, you can include it for text alerts. Don’t include numbers from non-U.S. carriers on this form.

Take care to confirm with your client a few important details:

• The client’s consent to electronic notifications.
• The client’s understanding that notifications will go to them directly, not to your office.

You won’t need to add your information as the attorney to this form.

Lastly, consider sending test text and email messages to confirm you have the right contacts for your client. USCIS doesn’t verify the information you submit and they won’t alert you if a number or email address isn’t active.

Take into account that if your client wants to use a work email address, their job’s security features might filter, block, or quarantine a message from the U.S. government. A personal email address reduces this risk.

Key things to know about filing the G-1145 form

• Download the most up-to-date G-1145 form from USCIS.
• Complete the first four fields (Last Name, First Name, Middle Name, Email Address). Only add a phone number if it’s wired through a U.S. carrier.
• Place the G-1145 as the top sheet of the corresponding application packet.
• Only submit by mail to a USCIS Lockbox with eligible forms.
• USCIS will email (and text, if applicable) to confirm receipt of the package. This indicates that they’ve begun initial processing.

Common mistakes lawyers can avoid when filling out a G-1145

Although the G-1145 form is straightforward, there are common mistakes that immigration lawyers make. Keep your client’s case progressing by avoiding these crucial don’ts:

• Don’t submit a G-1145 with an ineligible immigration form. Remember, USCIS only accepts this form with specified immigration applications.
• Don’t put a G-1145 inside of an immigration packet. Put it as the top sheet of the packet.
• Don’t provide non-working email addresses or phone numbers. Don’t provide non-U.S. phone numbers.
• Don’t expect a status update after filing a G-1145. This form only provides a digital confirmation of receipt via email and, if applicable, text message.

How USCIS sends e-notifications

After you submit a G-1145 with an eligible immigration form, your client will receive an automated email or text message from USCIS. Timing varies and delays of up to a week are common, particularly during busy immigration periods like the beginning of a calendar year, and the beginning and end of the federal government’s fiscal year. Immigration attorneys may counsel their clients to not expect immediate communication during these periods.

Another note: USCIS batches notifications, and your client may receive an alert outside of business hours. Letting clients know this information when they file might reduce surprise and confusion.

Conclusion

The G-1145 is a simple, yet valuable tool for immigration attorneys and law firms assisting immigrant clients. When used with eligible immigration forms, form G-1145 helps individuals and families seeking asylum, work authorization, permanent residence, and many other immigration statuses stay informed.

Your work to accurately and precisely file form G-1145 can help clients stay engaged and encouraged during the often long and arduous immigration process. Make immigration cases more straightforward and less error-prone with Clio Draft’s automation tools. Designed for both solo practitioners and legal teams, Clio Draft reduces document drafting time by 80% and can prevent errors. It’s especially helpful for immigration attorneys because you can automatically complete legal documents and create reusable templates.