documentation and privacy

[dburnt 59]

Just curious...when sending in copies of various statements, is it appropriate to black out any information (such as part or all of the account numbers or credit card numbers)? I am not sure that I like the idea of sending such confidential information through the mail systems.

[Cheezees 1,514]

I would not. USCIS is the agency that gives you your US identity, your SSN, etc. They already have your info so "hiding" anything from them is futile/counterproductive.

However, whatever happens between the time you send it in the email and when USCIS presumably intercepts it in their mailroom, no one knows.

[Prystine 184]

Do not alter any documents in this fashion as it can end up getting you an RFE.

[Ash.1101 1,756]

Like others said, if USCIS wanted to steal your identity, they could do it with ease.


As for what happens in between~ That's why I always send my stuff overnight from FedEx or UPS in brown envelopes inside of their priority envelopes. At the end of the day the only ones seeing the papers should be me and USCIS, if anything is opened between then I'd know it was FedEx most likely. Having it sent over night though usually cuts down on any time someone might want to open any documents. I also overnighted documents to my fiance when I needed to send him things for his interview.

With that said though, its best to not block anything out.


Just as a side note: While this is a worry most people have, one way to look at it, is that over in Ontario they were (not sure if they still are) mailing passports and final immigration packages through Canada Post. It used to be done through a courier. If they aren't worried someone might get a hold of your info, I wouldn't be that worried either.

Edited October 14, 2016 by Ash.1101

[mindthegap 2,590]

Not a snowballs chance in hell that I was sending my cards - and by that I mean photos of the cards side by side showing separate cards belonging to the same account - and the statements also showing those card numbers, without some form of censoring for my own protection.

I blacked out the four digits on the front (amex cards) three digits on the back (visa) and some of main card numbers as well, but leaving enough to show that they are on the same account, which the statements also showed.

Why did I do this? One of my cards has no limit, and the rest combined have a credit line available that extends well into six figures. These cards are part of the financial co-mingling that USCIS wants to see, which necessitated them being included as evidence.

Personally I would rather do a little censoring than potentially have to clear up a mess of fraudulent transactions, with the onus then being on me having to prove they were fraudulent.

Dishonest and/or corrupt people exist in every organisation - including USCIS, fedex, UPS, and USPS.

Edited October 14, 2016 by mindthegap

[dburnt 59]

Like others said, if USCIS wanted to steal your identity, they could do it with ease.

As for what happens in between~ That's why I always send my stuff overnight from FedEx or UPS in brown envelopes inside of their priority envelopes. At the end of the day the only ones seeing the papers should be me and USCIS, if anything is opened between then I'd know it was FedEx most likely. Having it sent over night though usually cuts down on any time someone might want to open any documents. I also overnighted documents to my fiance when I needed to send him things for his interview.

With that said though, its best to not block anything out.

Just as a side note: While this is a worry most people have, one way to look at it, is that over in Ontario they were (not sure if they still are) mailing passports and final immigration packages through Canada Post. It used to be done through a courier. If they aren't worried someone might get a hold of your info, I wouldn't be that worried either.

Not regular mail though...it was going Priority, which is basically Canada Post's courier service. They still do this (all over Canada, not just Ontario)

[dburnt 59]

I don't intend to block out "everything" (like an entire credit card number), but rather just the beginning portion (like the way it is done when you get confirmations for a purchase - everything XX'd except the last 4 digits). My spouse is also not comfortable including everything. We have enough other items that show a co-mingling that I wouldn't think an RFE over a credit card statement would occur, but I guess I'll think about it.

[Possiblymaybe 371]

I blocked out all numbers except for the last 4 digits, and our case was approved without RFE.

USCIS already has so much personal information about us. I wasn't willing to give them full account numbers. It's just not necessary.

[NikLR 13,227]

Why not send statements vs cards? We didn't black out anything.

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

When i sent bank statements for CR 1 i did block out the account number

not the names or the bank name just the account number

[mallafri76 1,012]

I blacked out some information on our bank statements for proof of assets too. The government are the ones telling people to be careful with their private information so they of all people should understand. We didn't have any issue with the papers we blacked out.

[CJC 18]

Hello,

I blanked out partial numbers and received no RFE. ?

[Ketsuban 1,034]

I censored the first 12 digits of our joint debit cards and left the last four so they could match them to the bank statements. At least, I think I left the last four alone. Would have been rather pointless to copy them otherwise

Everything else, I left alone including bank account numbers, driver's license numbers, health insurance policy numbers etc.