Course Catalog / BMU 070 / Lesson 1 of 5

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BMU 070

Warm up

1. Think of a form you filled out. What part was hard?

See the answer

Many people say the small boxes, the words, or not knowing what goes where. This lesson helps with all three.

Why this matters

Forms are everywhere. You fill them out for a job, a school, a doctor, or a place to live. A missing box can slow you down for weeks.

Forms look hard, but most of them ask the same things. In this lesson you learn five steps to fill out any form. Then you fill out a practice job form.

Start with what you already do

You already know most answers on a form. You know your name, your address, and your phone number.

Common belief: If you skip a box, the office will just fill it in for you.

What is actually true: Offices often send back a form with missing parts. USCIS, the U.S. office for immigration forms, says it may reject a form that is not complete or not signed.

Key words

form

A paper or web page with boxes for your information.

instructions

The page that tells you how to fill out the form.

required

A box you must fill in.

signature

Your name written by you to show the form is true.

What this course is and is not

Short explanation

Every form has the same plan. Read first. Gather what you need. Fill in each box. Sign it. Check it. Go slow. Speed is not the goal. A complete form is the goal.

Step 1: Read the instructions first

USCIS says to always read the instructions before you start. The instructions tell you what to bring, what to skip, and where to send it. Look for them at the top, on the back, or on a separate page.

Step 2: Gather what you need

Get your papers before you start. You may need your ID, your address history, or dates you worked. It is easier to fill in a box when the facts are in front of you.

Step 3: Find the boxes you must fill in

Many forms mark the boxes you must fill in with a star (*) or the word required. USCIS says to fill out the whole form unless it tells you to skip a part. If a box does not fit you, read the instructions to see what to write.

Step 4: Print clearly in black ink

USCIS says to use black ink if you write by hand. Print in clear letters. If you make a big mistake, USCIS says to start over on a new form. Do not use correction tape or white out on its forms.

Step 5: Sign, date, and check

USCIS says it will reject a form that is not signed the right way. Sign in the signature box. Write the date. Then go back to the top and look at every box one more time. Make a copy for yourself before you send it.

Text version of this figure

• Read: The instructions first.
• Gather: Your ID and facts.
• Fill in: Every required box.
• Print: Black ink, clear letters.
• Sign: Date, check, keep a copy.

Worked example: Fill out a made up job form

Rosa is a made up job seeker. She fills out a paper job form at a store.

Part	Model	Why it works
Read	The top says: Fill in all boxes with a star. Use black ink.	Now she knows the rules.
Gather	She has her ID and a list of her last two jobs with dates.	The facts are in front of her.
Fill in	Name, address, phone, email, and job history. All star boxes are done.	She prints in clear letters.
Skip	The box for a driver's license number has no star, and the job does not need driving.	The instructions say she may leave it blank.
Sign and check	She signs, writes the date, and checks every box.	The form is complete.

Practice: Find the problem

A made up form has a star box for Phone. Ben left it blank. He also did not sign the form. What should he fix?

Check your practice: feedback

Two things. He should fill in his phone number, because that box is required. He should sign and date the form.

A form with a missing required box or no signature may be sent back.

Common mistakes

• Starting before you read the instructions. Read them first. They tell you what to skip.
• Leaving a required box blank. Look for stars or the word required. Fill each one.
• Forgetting to sign. Find the signature box. Sign and date it.

Check your understanding

Take it as many times as you like. Pick an answer, then open the feedback.

1. What should you do before you fill in any box?

1. Sign the bottom first.
2. Read the instructions.
3. Mail it right away.

See the answer and feedback

B is correct. Right. The instructions tell you what to do.

A: Signing comes last. Review Step 1.

C: It is not filled in yet. Review Step 1.

2. A box has a star next to it. What does that often mean?

1. You must fill it in.
2. You may skip it.
3. It is for the office only.

See the answer and feedback

A is correct. Right. A star often marks a required box.

B: A star often means you must fill it in. Review Step 3.

C: Office boxes are usually labeled For office use. Review Step 3.

3. What color ink does USCIS ask for on hand written forms?

1. Red ink.
2. Pencil.
3. Black ink.

See the answer and feedback

C is correct. Right. Black ink is easy to scan and read.

A: USCIS asks for black ink. Review Step 4.

B: Pencil can smudge. USCIS asks for black ink. Review Step 4.

Next up

Next you will build your paperwork kit: the key papers to keep and where to keep them. Go to Lesson 2: Your paperwork kit. BMU 070 is free. There is no paywall and no fee.

Stuck or have a question? Ask BMU Learner Support.

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