What happens to all your documents/evidence after the petition or visa is approved?

[Kabigon 0]

I was wondering what happens with all the information (I-129F including photos, etc,) that you originally sent to the USCIS? I assume it gets all forwarded to the NVC, then everything gets forwarded to the Embassy/Consulate until your SO's interview. Then if the visa is in hand, do they hand you back ALL the information you sent? I would assume so...or maybe you get back some things like evidence and the other application forms they store away?

If not, I can just picture a stash of photographs, emails, bills, and tons of other evidence in a huge room or vault stored in some big government facility (yikes!).

[payxibka 10,045]

I was wondering what happens with all the information (I-129F including photos, etc,) that you originally sent to the USCIS? I assume it gets all forwarded to the NVC, then everything gets forwarded to the Embassy/Consulate until your SO's interview. Then if the visa is in hand, do they hand you back ALL the information you sent? I would assume so...or maybe you get back some things like evidence and the other application forms they store away?

If not, I can just picture a stash of photographs, emails, bills, and tons of other evidence in a huge room or vault stored in some big government facility (yikes!).

You get nothing back.... It all becomes a part of the permanent file.

[YuAndDan 153]

Remember the scene at the end of the movie "Raiders of The Lost Ark" the enormous store room where the Ark was stored? Just like that.

They don't give you anything back, infact a big part of the petition will be in the seald brown envelope that you will give to the officer at the POE on entry into the USA using the K-1 visa.

[Kabigon 0]

I was wondering what happens with all the information (I-129F including photos, etc,) that you originally sent to the USCIS? I assume it gets all forwarded to the NVC, then everything gets forwarded to the Embassy/Consulate until your SO's interview. Then if the visa is in hand, do they hand you back ALL the information you sent? I would assume so...or maybe you get back some things like evidence and the other application forms they store away?

If not, I can just picture a stash of photographs, emails, bills, and tons of other evidence in a huge room or vault stored in some big government facility (yikes!).

You get nothing back.... It all becomes a part of the permanent file.

Hmm... that makes sense. It's kind of like a drivers license or something where they will always have your picture stored somewhere just in case for future references or the so called everyone's own "file" that the government keeps track of. But that is a TON of stuff that is stored, then. Hmm...neato.

[robacjd 1]

I used an attorney to file my I-129F petition to USCIS and he sent it to the California Service Center. After my petition was approved, notice was sent to NVC. My NOA2 was sent to my attorney and he forwarded it on to me. Everything the Attorney forwarded to the CSC was also returned to me along with a letter from my attorney to the US consulate in Manila, stating "this is the information used to file for the petition for the I-129F K-1 visa for my fiancee". My fiancee will give this information, along with her forms and information asked by the Embassy, at her interview on February 13th,(day before valentine's day).

I suppose this is one advantage of using an attorney.

[payxibka 10,045]

I used an attorney to file my I-129F petition to USCIS and he sent it to the California Service Center. After my petition was approved, notice was sent to NVC. My NOA2 was sent to my attorney and he forwarded it on to me. Everything the Attorney forwarded to the CSC was also returned to me along with a letter from my attorney to the US consulate in Manila, stating "this is the information used to file for the petition for the I-129F K-1 visa for my fiancee". My fiancee will give this information, along with her forms and information asked by the Embassy, at her interview on February 13th,(day before valentine's day).

I suppose this is one advantage of using an attorney.

No offense intended but it sounds like the attorney was an expensive copy machine.

[SoL. 0]

I used an attorney to file my I-129F petition to USCIS and he sent it to the California Service Center. After my petition was approved, notice was sent to NVC. My NOA2 was sent to my attorney and he forwarded it on to me. Everything the Attorney forwarded to the CSC was also returned to me along with a letter from my attorney to the US consulate in Manila, stating "this is the information used to file for the petition for the I-129F K-1 visa for my fiancee". My fiancee will give this information, along with her forms and information asked by the Embassy, at her interview on February 13th,(day before valentine's day).

I suppose this is one advantage of using an attorney.

No offense intended but it sounds like the attorney was an expensive copy machine.

[Tiger320 0]

I was wondering what happens with all the information (I-129F including photos, etc,) that you originally sent to the USCIS? I assume it gets all forwarded to the NVC, then everything gets forwarded to the Embassy/Consulate until your SO's interview. Then if the visa is in hand, do they hand you back ALL the information you sent? I would assume so...or maybe you get back some things like evidence and the other application forms they store away?

If not, I can just picture a stash of photographs, emails, bills, and tons of other evidence in a huge room or vault stored in some big government facility (yikes!).

You get nothing back.... It all becomes a part of the permanent file.

Hmm.. in the K1 Visa FAQs, it says some stuff gets handed back with the brown envelope/bag later? Or am I missing something, too?

[robacjd 1]

I used an attorney to file my I-129F petition to USCIS and he sent it to the California Service Center. After my petition was approved, notice was sent to NVC. My NOA2 was sent to my attorney and he forwarded it on to me. Everything the Attorney forwarded to the CSC was also returned to me along with a letter from my attorney to the US consulate in Manila, stating "this is the information used to file for the petition for the I-129F K-1 visa for my fiancee". My fiancee will give this information, along with her forms and information asked by the Embassy, at her interview on February 13th,(day before valentine's day).

I suppose this is one advantage of using an attorney.

No offense intended but it sounds like the attorney was an expensive copy machine.

No offense, but lets see how much of your information you get back to use for your AOS.

[Ladylethal 12]

Your papers will be sealed in the brown envelope, which you'll give to the official at POE, who'll foward it back to immigration. My guess is after the end of the immigration process (AOS, etc) part of it gets destroyed and part of it gets stored away.

[payxibka 10,045]

I used an attorney to file my I-129F petition to USCIS and he sent it to the California Service Center. After my petition was approved, notice was sent to NVC. My NOA2 was sent to my attorney and he forwarded it on to me. Everything the Attorney forwarded to the CSC was also returned to me along with a letter from my attorney to the US consulate in Manila, stating "this is the information used to file for the petition for the I-129F K-1 visa for my fiancee". My fiancee will give this information, along with her forms and information asked by the Embassy, at her interview on February 13th,(day before valentine's day).

I suppose this is one advantage of using an attorney.

No offense intended but it sounds like the attorney was an expensive copy machine.

No offense, but lets see how much of your information you get back to use for your AOS.

I don't need any.... I have two complete sets of everything that was submitted.

[bora bora 1]

We also made at least 2 copies of everything.

Everything that I have submitted so far I have the original and a couple copies.

[1HappyGuy 45]

The government keeps everything, so that's why it's a good idea to make sure you have a copy of everything you send, including photos. No matter what department of the government you are dealing with, they keep everything. Always have your own copies of their correspondence and your response and documents.

Why they keep this on file is evidenced by the numerous people filing requests for waivers but after a number of years, what's the use. It's our government, go figure.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

After the K-1 interview, the Consulate has no reason to have your information any more so the application submitted for the 129f petition along with the medical, security and applications submitted for the K-1 are placed in a large brown envelope and given to you along with the Visa. If you have submitted any original documents and they have not been returned to you, they too are in this envelope. Your file travels with you. Upon entry to the US, you give that envelope to the border authorities who process your visa and they then forward it to the proper processing center where your file will be adjudicated. It waits until you submit the AOS application, then is matched up with the newly filed information and reviewed along with all of the other relevent information in making the decision to approve or deny the AOS. The information is kept - along with all of the new information you have submitted (assuming they haven't lost some of it along the way!), and then when the application to remove conditions is filed for a conditional AOS and later for a naturalization application, the information on file is again reviewed or used in making these later decisions. Eventually, the file will be archived but retained for future consulation if required. Committing a serious crime that would strip you of your PR status or US citizenship, being linked to terrorism activities or new evidence coming forwerd to show that you falsified information or documents would be reasons to pull the file and review it once again. It is, nevertheless, an excellent idea to keep your own file of immigration documentation safe and secure even after the process is completed just in case . . ..

Edited December 29, 2006 by Kathryn41

[Tiger320 0]

The government keeps everything, so that's why it's a good idea to make sure you have a copy of everything you send, including photos. No matter what department of the government you are dealing with, they keep everything. Always have your own copies of their correspondence and your response and documents.

Why they keep this on file is evidenced by the numerous people filing requests for waivers but after a number of years, what's the use. It's our government, go figure.

Scary... it looks like our government will soon take over everything. They're watching every one of us. Oh wait, they already have, hehe.