DOS Cable on New I-797 Form Series/Notice of Action

1. The Department wishes to inform posts that INS will replace the blue I-797 "Notice of Action" with three new INS forms: I-797A, I797B and I-797C. The old, blue I-797 "Notice of Action" notified beneficiaries and petitioners of INS receipt, approval or denial of IV and NIV petitions applications to change NIV status, applications for waivers and applications to extend stay. The old form had no security features. The new forms will have expanded uses and several security features. The I-797A is the INS approval notice for nonimmigrant aliens entering the U.S., an I-94, arrival/departure record is attached to the bottom half of the I-797A. The I-797B is the INS approval notice for nonimmigrant employment cases for aliens outside the U.S., Consulates may use the I-797B for Visa Issuance. The I-797C is INS's file copy and serves as an INS record of rejection receipt or transfer of a case.

2. The forms will be introduced in two stages. Initially, all three forms will be issued on ordinary paper and have several security features printed on the form. In April, after INS has obtained adequate stocks of security paper, forms I-797A and I-797B will be printed on a special security paper, (the same paper used for naturalization certificates) with the same security features printed as in the first issuance. The I-797C will only be printed on ordinary paper.

3. In their first stage, to be introduced in February 1994, the I-797A, I-797B and I-797C will be printed on ordinary paper and will have the following printed security features.

-- Multicolor offset lithography printing with fine line images made from hand engraved originals;

-- "Rainbow" tint colors achieved by split ink fountain to print two blended colors simultaneously;

-- Microlettering in alternating wavy line of gray, registered between the "Rainbow" color wavy line patterns. Color copiers will not be able to resolve microlettering "the United States of America." Copies will show only dot patterns in reproduction.

4. In the second stage, to be introduced possibly in April, 1994, Forms I-797A and I-797B will be printed on security paper as stated above and will include the following additional security features:

-- Security watermark incorporated into paper showing Department of Justice seal and "USA";

-- Paper will react to chemical erasure alteration;

-- Paper will not fluoresce under longwave ultraviolet "black" light;

-- Random fibers of the paper will be invisible in normal light. Fibers will become apparent under UV black light.

-- Invisible tint pattern in data and authorization areas will fluoresce under UV "black" light. This will protect information from erasure.

5. Additional security features will follow by Septel.

6. Similarities and differences between the I-797A and I-797B: The top portion of both the I-797A and I-797B will be the same and contain the same information as the old blue I-797, "Notice of Action."

7. The lower portion of the I-797A will be divided into two parts, the left portion will show the alien's status including INS receipt number, I-94 number, name, visa classification, validity period and petitioner's name. The right portion will be used as the alien's I-94 departure record card.

8. The lower portion of the I-797B will also show the alien's status including INS receipt number, alien number, beneficiary, visa classification, occupation code, notice date, validity period and petitioner's name. Consular Officers may accept this portion as primary proof of the alien's entitlement to status and may issue any category of petitionable visa based on the information inscribed in the bottom portion of the I-797B.

9. The two issuances of forms I-797A and I-797B will be distinguished by a perforated edge separating the upper and lower portions. In the first issuance, the forms will be printed on smooth paper with no edges. In the second issuance (when the forms are printed on security paper) the lower portion will have a perforated edge which can be torn off.

10. The I-797C will contain only the security features listed in paragraph three. It will never be printed on security paper and thus will never have the additional security features listed in paragraph three.

11. Department will try to advise posts as to exact start-up date of each launching, but cannot guarantee posts that we will have this information much in advance of the date. The second launching will not take place until the INS has obtained adequate paper stocks, possibly in late April. Eventually, of course, forms will be included in 9 FAM Appendix D, Part IV.

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