<PAGE>
U. S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 24F-2
Annual Notice of Securities Sold
Pursuant to Rule 24f-2
Read instructions at end of Form before preparing Form
Please print or type
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Name and address of issuer:
JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE SERIES TRUST I
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Name of each series or class of funds for which this notice is filed:
Large Cap Growth, Sovereign Bond, International Equities, Small Cap Growth,
International Balanced, Mid Cap Growth, Large Cap Value, Money Market, Mid
Cap Value, Special Opportunities, Real Estate Equity, Growth & Income,
Managed, Short-Term U.S. Government, Small Cap Value, International
Opportunities, Equity Index and Strategic Bond Sub-Accounts.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Investment Company Act File Number: 811-4490
Securities Act File Number: 33-2081
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Last day of fiscal year for which this notice is filed:
DECEMBER 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Check box if this notice is being filed more than 180 days after the close
of the issuer's fiscal year for purpose of reporting securities sold after
the close of the fiscal year but before termination of the issuer's 24f-2
declaration:
[_]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Data of termination of issuer's declaration under rule 24f-2 (a)(1), if
applicable (see Instruction A.6):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Number and amount of securities of the same class or series which had been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 other than pursuant to rule
24f-2 in a prior fiscal year, but which remained unsold at the beginning of
the fiscal year:
NONE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Number and amount of securities registered during the fiscal year other
than pursuant to rule 24f-2:
NONE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Number and aggregate sale price of securities sold during the fiscal year:
NONE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Number and aggregate sale price of securities sold during the fiscal year
in reliance upon registration pursuant to rule 24f-2:
$ 0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Number and aggregate sale price of securities issued during the fiscal year
in connection with dividend reinvestment plans, if applicable (see
instruction 6.7):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Calculation of registration fee:
(i) Aggregate sale price of securities sold
during the fiscal year in reliance on rule
24f-2 (from Item 10): $ -
--------------
(ii) Aggregate price of shares issued in connection
with dividend reinvestment plans (from Item 11.
If applicable): 0
--------------
(iii) Aggregate price of shares redeemed or
repurchased during the fiscal year (if
applicable): $ -
--------------
(iv) Aggregate price of shares redeemed or
repurchased and previously applied as a
reduction to filing fees pursuant to rule
24c-2 (if applicable): 0
--------------
(v) Net Aggregate price of securities sold and
issued during the fiscal year in reliance on
rule 24f-2[line (i), plus line (ii), less
line (iii), plus line (iv)] (If applicable): $ -
--------------
(vi) Multiplier prescribed by Section 6(b) of the
Securities Act of 1933 or other applicable law
or regulation (see instruction C.6): --------------
(vii) Fee due [line (i) or line (v) multiplied by
line (vi)]: $ 0
--------------
Instruction: Issuers should complete lines (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) only if
the form is being filed within 60 days after the close of the
issuer's fiscal year. See Instruction C.3.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. Check box if fees are being remitted to the Commission's lockbox depository
as described in section 3a of the Commission's Rules of Informal and Other
Procedures (17 CFR 202.3a).
[_]
Date of mailing or wire transfer of filing fees to the Commission's lockbox
depository:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIGNATURES
This report has been signed below by the following person on behalf of the
issuer and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
/S/ RAYMOND F. SKIBA
--------------------
By (Signature and Title): Raymond F. Skiba
-------------------------------------------
Director
Date February 24, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
[JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LETTERHEAD]
February 24, 1998
John Hancock Variable Series Trust I
John Hancock Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02117
Dear Sirs:
I refer to the 24f-2 Notice dated February 24, 1998 with respect to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A relating to shares of John Hancock Variable
Series Trust I (the "Fund"). The Registration Statement registered an
indefinite number of shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Rule 24f-2 Notice makes
definite the amount of securities of the Fund which were so registered under the
Registration Statement.
I have examined and relied upon copies of the Registration Statement and
the Rule 24f-2 Notice and have examined and relied upon originals, or copies
certified to my satisfaction, of such corporate records, documents, certificates
and other instruments as in my judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable
me to render the opinion set forth below.
Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the shares of the Fund,
the registration of which the Rule 24f-2 Notice makes definite in amount, were
duly authorized and legally issued, and are fully-paid and non-assessable.
I hereby consent to the use of this opinion in connection with the filing
of the Rule 24f-2 Notice on Form 24F-2.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Ronald J. Bocage
--------------------
Ronald J. Bocage
Vice President and Counsel
