A practical checklist for the week before you file

Compiling what I actually checked in the final week, since most advice I found was about building the case, not about the last-mile review before submission. - Every exhibit referenced in the petition body actually exists in the file, numbered to match, and vice versa (no orphaned exhibits, no dangling references) - Every document requiring translation has its certified translation attached, not just the original - Names are consistent across documents, or any variation is explicitly explained somewhere in the petition - Every reference letter is signed, dated, and on letterhead where applicable — an unsigned or undated letter is an easy, avoidable gap - Scans are legible at print resolution, not just readable on screen (print a sample page and check it at arm's length) - The final merits argument is actually made explicitly somewhere — not just implied by having met three criteria, but stated: here's why the totality of this evidence shows sustained acclaim - A second person who hasn't been staring at this file for months reads it start to finish and flags anything confusing That last one caught more for me than any solo re-read did — by the end, I knew my own file too well to notice where an outside reader would get lost.