Can I throw out all collected evidence now ???

[DO_CSC 0]

I received my new 10 year greencard today after USCIS approved our I-751 application. I have been collecting documentation ever since we got married and it has piled up (Utility Bills, Bank Statements, copies of ####### and so forth, you get the picture....).

Is it okay to throw out all the accumulated documentation now? Will I ever need this information again as far as USCIS is concerned? I don't intend on filing for Citizenship next year. For once I'd like to be the judge of when I want to deal with USCIS again.

[Inky 1,111]

I would suggest shredding papers like that ( bills etc ) I would never throw anything out in USA without it being shredded when its a bill or personal documents!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You should feed your USCIS file until 2 years after becoming a US citizen, whenever that's going to be. Up to that point USCIS can revoke your US citizenship just by executive order without the involvement of an immigration judge, just because someone found a discrepancy somewhere.

You need to be able to check your submissions to USCIS every step of the way.

Just my 2 cents.

Edited January 14, 2011 by Just Bob

[YuAndDan 153]

I would hold items through Citizenship, if you plan on citizenship as a next step.

[DO_CSC 0]

Oops !! I already shredded a few things. I really want to move to online statements, but I heard that USCIS doesn't accept them. What a waste of trees.

I am planning to wait for dual citizenship to be implemented in my home country. The govt. is planning to bring the law in place by the end of next year. So not too far off.

Thank you everyone for the responses !!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Don't worry about bank statements. I never submitted any of those to begin with. Just keep the major stuff in the file, copies of your applications, basically main documents you submitted, as wit the N-400 application, you will have to answer all of this . . . again. Also keep a logbook of your travels outside the US, and keep all tickets including traffic tickets and proof that you paid them and when.

[Jupiter07 12]

Am I crazy or what? ALL documentation (what I've ever sent to USCIS and what they have sent me), I have it all from my very first I-20 I was issued in 2001, and everything in between. Whenever I move, I move with them. I must be the crazy one.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

It's so much easier to put everything you get in a dedicated file labeled I-751, then figuring out years later what you wrote in some form you submitted or, worse, trying to figure out how to replace something you threw away.

Better crazy than sorry!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

No no. People seem to be a little confused. The OP isn't talking about shredding USCIS forms, they're talking about shredding all that evidence of relationship stuff that they were collecting.. like letters addressed to both of them, bank statements to both of them etc etc. I'm sure the OP wouldn't be shredding USCIS forms and stuff they already sent in...

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I received my new 10 year greencard today after USCIS approved our I-751 application. I have been collecting documentation ever since we got married and it has piled up (Utility Bills, Bank Statements, copies of ####### and so forth, you get the picture....).

Is it okay to throw out all the accumulated documentation now? Will I ever need this information again as far as USCIS is concerned? I don't intend on filing for Citizenship next year. For once I'd like to be the judge of when I want to deal with USCIS again.

Shred away! Of course we're talking about supporting info, not stuff you've submitted.

When you get online statements they're pretty much identical to what you get posted so you can easily print those for USCIS should you need them (that's what I do/did). I would keep copies of some things though, anything that would be hard to get another copy of. You shouldn't need it, but just in case you need it like bob said, until after 2 years of being a USC.. then I'll be having a bonfire I will always keep submitted docs though. I know I shouldn't need to, but I will just in case.. USCIS seems to like to screw people (usually because of incompetence) and it would be my luck that I'm on the end of that..

[Okalian 41]

I actually scanned my humongous I-751 package right before sending it off to VSC...this way I know exactly what was submitted and in which order, just incase i lose any of the evidence. So i have electronic copies. But actually i still have the original evidence too! well atleast most of it. My intention wasn't really to keep the evidence but i have almost all the evidence still in a thick pastic bag since I sent off I-751.

But I like JustBob's idea to keep them for 2 years past N400 approval. You never know..