Check your Form I-140 for errors before you file

The employer's (or self-petitioner's) petition to classify a worker for an employment-based green card. A single blank field or wrong-edition page gets the whole package returned, and since 07/10/2026 an invalid signature can be denied outright — and the $715 paper filing fee is generally non-refundable. Here is exactly what to verify on your completed I-140 before it goes to USCIS.

How do I check my I-140 for errors?

1. Confirm you have the current edition

USCIS accepts only the current edition of I-140 — filing a superseded version is an automatic rejection. The current edition is dated 06/07/24; the date is printed at the bottom of every page. All pages must come from the same edition. Download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file.

2. Verify every signature block

Unsigned or wrongly-signed forms are rejected — or, under the signature rule effective July 10, 2026, denied outright with the filing fee kept and no chance to fix it. A typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or a digital e-signature (such as DocuSign) is not a valid signature on a paper filing; only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — is accepted. An electronic signature counts only when it is captured through a USCIS online account during online filing. I-140 has 4 signature blocks to check:

3. Make sure no required section is incomplete

Leaving required fields blank (instead of writing “N/A” or “None”) is one of USCIS's most common rejection reasons. On I-140, pay special attention to:

• Part 1, Items all: Petitioner (employer or self-petitioner) information
• Part 2, Items 1.a-1.h: Classification — select EXACTLY ONE: 1.a extraordinary ability, 1.b outstanding professor/researcher, 1.c multinational executive/manager, 1.d advanced-degree professional (labor cert), 1.e professional, 1.f skilled worker, 1.g other/unskilled worker, 1.h NIW. The selection drives the required evidence.
• Part 3, Items incl. 6-7: Beneficiary information — full name, country of birth (Item 6) and citizenship (Item 7); "stateless" requires a Part 11 explanation
• Evidence by classification, Items —: Labor-certification categories (1.d/1.e/1.f/1.g) must include the DOL labor certification; NIW (1.h) includes the job-offer-waiver documentation
• Ability to pay, Items —: Employer petitions: evidence of ability to pay the offered wage (annual reports, tax returns, or audited financials)

4. Check every date — format and consistency

Dates must be written mm/dd/yyyy and must agree with your supporting documents and any other forms in the package. The date fields that most often cause problems on I-140:

• Labor certification validity window — The DOL certification must be filed with USCIS within its 180-day validity period.
• Beneficiary employment/qualification dates — Must match the labor certification and support letters.

5. Re-check the known I-140 filing problems

From USCIS's own instructions and guidance, these are the specific problems to rule out on I-140. Some get a filing rejected at intake; others surface later as a Request for Evidence or a denial:

• Petition not signed by the petitioner/authorized signatory, or invalid signature (a typed, script-font, stamped, or digital/e-signature is invalid where an ink signature is required; as of 07/10/2026 this is a denial with the fee kept, not merely a rejection)
• Missing or expired DOL labor certification for classifications that require one (1.d/1.e/1.f/1.g)
• Wrong classification box in Part 2 for the evidence submitted
• Wrong base fee, or missing the separate Asylum Program Fee ($600 / $300 small employer / $0 nonprofit)
• Missing ability-to-pay evidence with an employer petition

Related

Form I-140 error check — frequently asked questions

How do I check my Form I-140 for errors before filing?

Work through the checklist on this page: confirm you have the current 06/07/24 edition, verify every signature block is signed and dated by the right person, make sure no required field is blank (write "N/A" or "None" instead), check every date is in mm/dd/yyyy format and consistent across your documents, and re-read the known problems below. Or upload your completed I-140 to FormGuard and get an automated line-by-line error report in about a minute for $39.

What problems most often hold up a Form I-140 filing?

Petition not signed by the petitioner/authorized signatory, or invalid signature (a typed, script-font, stamped, or digital/e-signature is invalid where an ink signature is required; as of 07/10/2026 this is a denial with the fee kept, not merely a rejection); Missing or expired DOL labor certification for classifications that require one (1.d/1.e/1.f/1.g); Wrong classification box in Part 2 for the evidence submitted; Wrong base fee, or missing the separate Asylum Program Fee ($600 / $300 small employer / $0 nonprofit); Missing ability-to-pay evidence with an employer petition.

Which edition of Form I-140 is current?

The current edition of Form I-140 is dated 06/07/24. USCIS rejects forms filed on a superseded edition, so download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file and confirm the edition date printed at the bottom of every page matches.

What happens if my I-140 is rejected?

USCIS returns the entire package unprocessed and the $715 paper filing fee for I-140 is generally non-refundable — you correct the error, pay again, and lose weeks or months. That is why a careful pre-filing check is the cheapest step in the whole process.