POST OATH and CITIZENSHIP

[NycBra 4]

After 8 years of dealing with USCIS, I am a owner of boxes with copies of all my applications, receipts, letters, background/proof documents for my tourist visa, student visa, green card application, removal of conditionals and citizenship application.

Now comes the question. For how long should I keep (and if I should keep) all these documents? Something tells me to treat it like my tax returns, and keep it for at least 3 years. Which means that my old tourist and student visa documents should be long gone by now.

I always felt scared about having so many of these documents/paper with my whole life and important information on them. I would feel more secure if I had it all burned or shredded.

How long are you keeping (or planning to keep) all your immigration paper trail history?

[Alex B 9]

After 8 years of dealing with USCIS, I am a owner of boxes with copies of all my applications, receipts, letters, background/proof documents for my tourist visa, student visa, green card application, removal of conditionals and citizenship application.

Now comes the question. For how long should I keep (and if I should keep) all these documents? Something tells me to treat it like my tax returns, and keep it for at least 3 years. Which means that my old tourist and student visa documents should be long gone by now.

I always felt scared about having so many of these documents/paper with my whole life and important information on them. I would feel more secure if I had it all burned or shredded.

How long are you keeping (or planning to keep) all your immigration paper trail history?

Just keep it!

I started my "stack" back in 1995 with an E-2 visa. I finally became a USC in 2008. I wasn't in any hurry but finally decided it was a good idea. Then, of course, I meet an Canadian girl and I start all over again. It was extremely helpful to find my old G325 so I didn't have to go remembering stuff. I just had to update it for a few years.

I also remember when I went for my naturalization interview that the USCIS person had the complete stack of every piece of paper I'd ever sent to them on her desk. I'd hate for a future petition I file to not match up exactly with what she already has. This wouldn't be through anything insidious like fraud, but just by my getting older and not being able to remember things.

Just my $0.02 worth.

I don't keep the tax returns as regularly because I know I can call and order a transcript if I need it.

[NickD 202]

Boxes and boxes? Wifes' and stepdaughter complete immigration papers are a stack only about six inches thick. Could go through those and get rid of all the duplicates for a stack more like 2" thick if I am bored. But have no intention of dumping them.

Did hear something about being checked within two years after your oath ceremony, but not entirely sure about that. Could just keep all the letters from the USCIS, that would be a very thin stack. Already burnt a couple of CD's with all of our immigration data on them. But then, CD's may become obsolete.

I was so angry after my divorce, pitched the entire file when I got home, but after I cooled down, stored that, needed that some eight years later to marry this wonderful woman I got. Could have pitched my service records, was told I could not get GI benefits because of a fire in St. Louis, even though I had all of the original records. Another time I was very angry. But they corrected that and sure needed those records to get VA benefits.

Just saying, you never know. But I don't believe you have boxes and boxes of that stuff. Should all fit in a large brown envelop, just in case.

[LastSurvivor 0]

Haven't given much thought about what to do with the documents but I did take that darn civics disc out of my car cd player. LOL

LS

[NycBra 4]

Just saying, you never know. But I don't believe you have boxes and boxes of that stuff. Should all fit in a large brown envelop, just in case.

Thanks for the inputs. I actually HAVE 2 of those crates for hanging folders with documents, which includes all letters from USCIS and supporting documents copies as well (I would keep a copy to match exactly what I submitted, just in case they would lose my package and I would need to send it again). And during my green card application, I didn't really know about "transcripts", so I printed our full tax return which was pretty thick. And all copies of my husbands'paychecks. For my student visa, I had copies of loan documents, registration, official translations of my Brazilian documents, etc.

Yes, I do need to go through and sort things out, but do I really need to keep every single NOA and receipt even from 8 years ago?

When you live in a place where space is limited, I would appreciate downsizing my USCIS document package.

As for tax, I keep all my business related receipts and documents. As I work as a Consultant, I can itemize so just a transcript wouldn't help me if (knock on wood) I would undergo an audit. So I was advised to keep the tax related documents for up to 5 years.

[Vi-Jay 218]

Just keep it!

But have no intention of dumping them.

Did hear something about being checked within two years after your oath ceremony, but not entirely sure about that. Could just keep all the letters from the USCIS, that would be a very thin stack. Already burnt a couple of CD's with all of our immigration data on them. But then, CD's may become obsolete.

Could have pitched my service records, was told I could not get GI benefits because of a fire in St. Louis, even though I had all of the original records. Another time I was very angry. But they corrected that and sure needed those records to get VA benefits.

Just saying, you never know. But I don't believe you have boxes and boxes of that stuff. Should all fit in a large brown envelop, just in case.

As for tax, I keep all my business related receipts and documents.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I'm so organized, you'd call me ####### retentive and you'd be right.

I have a vintage Steelcase steel cabinet in my house. It has 4 drawers, and the top drawyer contains the most important documents.

One folder says "SSA," one "DMV," another one "Passports," and then there's one labeled "USCIS."

I've been feeding it since 1986, so it contains even my tourist visa extention, my Green Card Lottery win envelope, my AOS, ROC, and Naturalization. In all its neatness, it only consumes one of these harmonica-style hanging files, and it's all in chronological order. It's possible that I at some point slim it down more, perhaps even get rid of most of the documents, but not anytime soon.

The least you should hang on to your stuff -- not boxes, but the important documents, for at least 2 years. Why? Because during this time period USCIS can undo your naturalization with the strike of a pen, without any involvement of a judge. Since you never know when the fates are going to kick you in the stomach, you need to know what paperwork they have from you and on you. After 2 years, you can decide to burn all of these documents if you like.

[Caroline and Phil 14]

We have everything since we first met. We even have an old empty pack of gum we got in Canada first time we met lol.

I would not destroy them. For 2 reasons: they are documents that one day were very important in your life. And second is because it's history. Your history.

You could make a little room for them and sometimes go through them and bring yourself some memories. It's like a trip to the past on documents and proof.

We have a lot of pages of our conversation via MSN while waiting for K-1. I was reading them these days. Felt so good for having them.

[NickD 202]

Thanks for the inputs. I actually HAVE 2 of those crates for hanging folders with documents, which includes all letters from USCIS and supporting documents copies as well (I would keep a copy to match exactly what I submitted, just in case they would lose my package and I would need to send it again). And during my green card application, I didn't really know about "transcripts", so I printed our full tax return which was pretty thick. And all copies of my husbands'paychecks. For my student visa, I had copies of loan documents, registration, official translations of my Brazilian documents, etc.

Yes, I do need to go through and sort things out, but do I really need to keep every single NOA and receipt even from 8 years ago?

When you live in a place where space is limited, I would appreciate downsizing my USCIS document package.

As for tax, I keep all my business related receipts and documents. As I work as a Consultant, I can itemize so just a transcript wouldn't help me if (knock on wood) I would undergo an audit. So I was advised to keep the tax related documents for up to 5 years.

Letters from the USCIS? One for AOS biometrics, one for AOS appointment, one for conditional green cards, one for NOA and one year extention, one for biometrics, one for ten year card, one for NOA for citizenship, one for biometrics, one for appointment, and one for the oath ceremony, but they took that one back, but still have it scanned. That totals nine thin letters, but since I also got a stepdaughter out of this deal, makes 18. Laid flat that's a stack 1.25 mm thick, can find space for that.

Tax returns went back in my tax records, have file for my wife for all of her personal papers, that includes her divorce papers, same with me. Home deed went back into that file along with the joint vehicle titles, we just have insurance cards that went back into our wallets, banking papers went into that file, so that doesn't leave very much for immigration, just basically copies of all the forms we filled out. Since we sent cover letters that state the enclosed evidence, easy enough to dig that out, didn't do one for my stepdaughter, just a copy of her green card went with that.

Suppose I could pitch her court ordered letter of permission, that became obsolete when she turned. But that cost me $3,000.00 USD to get that. Put 30 one hundred dollar bills in my sock and went down to Venezuela and sold those on the black market for five times the exchange value. Using the fair exchange rate, would have cost me $15,000 for those crooked attorneys and judges in Venezuela. Maybe I can sell that letter of permission on ebay.

After even a year that my wife got her US citizenship, was still compiling evidence, but mental therapy helped me get over that. Think they call that post traumatic stress.

[Sand 5]

Hi, If i am in ur shoes i will just keep them, who knows.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

We have a small Fire safe file in our closet. I keep immigration stuff (x 2 because of my daughter) filed for each process (K1, AOS, ROC and now N400). I got rid of envelopes and extra junk. Just by personal habit, I keep our passports, birth certs, SSN cards, tax returns etc neatly filed and labeled. It just makes me feel better that I can retrieve them when I need them.

The amount is not particularly large though. I decontructed the additional set of copies of evidence once I received whatever it was. For example...I didn't keep letters from the bank amd my husband's employer back in 2005 for the K1, just kind of irrelevant now. I got rid of most of the ROC evidence (bills etc) once it was done.

I love my shredder!

[NickD 202]

We have a small Fire safe file in our closet. I keep immigration stuff (x 2 because of my daughter) filed for each process (K1, AOS, ROC and now N400). I got rid of envelopes and extra junk. Just by personal habit, I keep our passports, birth certs, SSN cards, tax returns etc neatly filed and labeled. It just makes me feel better that I can retrieve them when I need them.

The amount is not particularly large though. I decontructed the additional set of copies of evidence once I received whatever it was. For example...I didn't keep letters from the bank amd my husband's employer back in 2005 for the K1, just kind of irrelevant now. I got rid of most of the ROC evidence (bills etc) once it was done.

I love my shredder!

They never asked us to return those two year cards, so also in the file, but did take both ten year cards, was glad to see those go. Did dump those AR-11 forms, tore those in little pieces, but for some strange reason, kept the I-864. Waiting to go camping, so I can legally burn that. Or maybe I will just tear it up into tiny little pieces and flush it down the toilet.

[jval 0]

I'm so organized, you'd call me ####### retentive and you'd be right.

I have a vintage Steelcase steel cabinet in my house. It has 4 drawers, and the top drawyer contains the most important documents.

One folder says "SSA," one "DMV," another one "Passports," and then there's one labeled "USCIS."

I've been feeding it since 1986, so it contains even my tourist visa extention, my Green Card Lottery win envelope, my AOS, ROC, and Naturalization. In all its neatness, it only consumes one of these harmonica-style hanging files, and it's all in chronological order. It's possible that I at some point slim it down more, perhaps even get rid of most of the documents, but not anytime soon.

The least you should hang on to your stuff -- not boxes, but the important documents, for at least 2 years. Why? Because during this time period USCIS can undo your naturalization with the strike of a pen, without any involvement of a judge. Since you never know when the fates are going to kick you in the stomach, you need to know what paperwork they have from you and on you. After 2 years, you can decide to burn all of these documents if you like.

just Bob,what do you mean that USCIS can undo your naturalization and then without the involvement of a judge??? Never heard of such, except of course, for criminal acts,right? please explain. thx.

[NickD 202]

just Bob,what do you mean that USCIS can undo your naturalization and then without the involvement of a judge??? Never heard of such, except of course, for criminal acts,right? please explain. thx.

Some odd 5,000 cases I found on the web for people that received their certificate are being questioned. Seems like this can go on for about two years after you receive your certificate. Feel some of these problems can be name mix ups. With my stepdaughters battery charge with a very common Spanish name, think there are only five different Spanish surnames, I typed in her first and last name in quotes on google and came up with 83,000 hits. Many of these people with the same first and last name were criminals perhaps the reason for the mix up. But when I typed in her first middle and last name and birthday, only came up with one, and it was her.

Have to remember we are dealing with government employees that seem to be more interested in the many paid vacation days they get and early retirement. With our applications, typical for us to go through these at least five times to make damned sure everything is accurate. At least my wifes' maiden last name was a rare German name, and my last name is a rare Italian name. But still can expect problems with my stepdaughter, suggest she take this opportunity to change her last name, but was her decision. She could have used her mom's maiden name without problems. See what happens.

[venusfire503 54]

We actually have a huge plastic container full of papers, starting from the K-1 stage. That alone was alot - pages and pages of pictures printed out (9 to a page), pages and pages of IM, phone bills,... you name it. I've just been piling each new stage of paperwork up on top. Not only am I sentimental, but I honestly don't have the time to sit there and sort through it and decide what to keep. Even if I wanted to get rid of all of it, it would take forever to shred it all. I did look through it a little recently for some things for him to take to his interview. I don't plan to do anything with any of it for a long time, even after he finally gets his citizenship. We have room for it, and it's sitting there, happily, in its little spot in the basement.

venusfire