bank statements - blocking sensitive info

[KEN's ROSE 0]

Looking at how much fraud etc. If I wanted to submit joint bank statement copies along with i-751 should I block out the account number and amount or send the copy as is?

What has other filers did?

-KensRose

[Leafgal 3]

I didn't send bank statements, but I did send visa and other accounts and did not block out information. I will be interested to see what others did.

[alex and astrid 38]

We redacted anything we did not want to be made public - on bank statements, the engagement ring receipt (I'm not allowed to know, lol), and emails, and we were fine.

[v333k 59]

We redacted anything we did not want to be made public - on bank statements, the engagement ring receipt (I'm not allowed to know, lol), and emails, and we were fine.

We left all the numbers in. They already have our social security numbers, our addresses, all the information they need.... trust me, if they wanted to 'fraud' applicants, it would be much easier for them to apply for a new credit card than trying to charge something on a card or to a bank account

my 2 cents...

[KEN's ROSE 0]

We left all the numbers in. They already have our social security numbers, our addresses, all the information they need.... trust me, if they wanted to 'fraud' applicants, it would be much easier for them to apply for a new credit card than trying to charge something on a card or to a bank account

my 2 cents...

Well since its a scan I will simply change a number or two to make look unaltered. Rather than blackening out.

Really its the falling into wrong hands thats the worry. Though my credit is in the toilets, but I want to keep my spouse's pristene clean. KensRose

[Otto 83]

Well since its a scan I will simply change a number or two to make look unaltered. Rather than blackening out.

Really its the falling into wrong hands thats the worry. Though my credit is in the toilets, but I want to keep my spouse's pristene clean. KensRose

I seriously doubt that a government employee is waiting for our forms/evidence in order to steal our identity. Being careful/mindful of this type of information is fine and good, but it's highly doubtful that a thief has a mole inside USCIS preying on our non-redacted checking account information.

Black out a portion of the account number and perhaps the balances, but don't 'alter' things or go crazy trying to protect your identity. IMO

[Kathryn41 3,205]

We left all of the numbers visible as well - in fact we even highlighted them along with our names to make it easier for the reviewer to find the relevant information quickly. They already have so much of our private information that if they were going to cause identify theft problems for us, all they need is already on file and hiding numbers isn't going to stop it. I was more concerned that they had little problem finding the information that tied us together financially than if the immigration officer was going to harvest our information and steal from us. Not that it can't happen, but I think the likelihood is very small.

[Lona.C. 16]

I blocked every acount # but left the last 4 digits

I wasnt paranoid about the Gov seeing the numbers,

but we had our mail lost a few times even when we send it certified

[psiprez 3]

I'll probably leave it as is when we send it. Again, they have so much of our personal info already.

And if they try to clean out our accounts... the joke will be on them!!

[Otto 83]

the joke will be on them!!

Amen to that...

[Leafgal 3]

I'll probably leave it as is when we send it. Again, they have so much of our personal info already.

And if they try to clean out our accounts... the joke will be on them!!

Exactly lol

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

I think it's absolutely paranoid to be afraid of an Immigration Officer stealing money from your checking account. But if you are so afraid that this might happen to you, just don't send any account statements.

I'm not paranoid, but I didn't send any statements, just an official statement "to whom it may concern" from my bank manager listing our bank accounts. Keep in mind, it's not about showing how much (or little) money you have in your accounts; it's about showing that you both have access to your money, something that somebody with a fake marriage would never allow to happen.

[lopakalolo 1]

I am also questioning the supplying of complete sensitive information. I agree with the blocking of everything except for the last four letters or numbers.

Two years ago during the I-130 process, I revealed all the personal information – addresses, social security #s, credit cards, birth certificates, etc. but I felt a little weird doing it. Everything went OK, I guess – read on. (I’m not accusing but it does make you wonder).

In August of 2010, I became a victim of Identity Theft. They intercepted my renewal Visa card and stole it from the mail and created a fake Florida drivers license and went on a two day buying spree in the Philippines. My wife is from the Philippines (coincidence?) but we were in Florida at home on the dates the thefts occurred. Lucky for me, it was one less thing to have to explain that it wasn't me that did the charging.

This scum bag thief made $11,800.00 in two days at several stores and two cash withdrawals at a Manila casino. I am not liable (Thank God) but the experience has made me a very cautious believer in identity protection. I followed his trail and got a photocopy that was made at one store. This had his picture on the fake driver’s license along with my stolen credit card. I contacted all the police and immigration agencies, also the credit card company with his picture, but they all seemed to say – join the club or were not interested in pursuing it.

Now after completing the biometrics phase, we received a Notice of Action from USCIS Vermont Service Center stating that the evidence we submitted with the I-751 form is insufficient. They want things to be official with transcripts and notarized (although I don’t recall seeing that in their I-751 instructions). What I prepared in the I-751 packet was done similar as with the I-130 that had gone smoothly without any hiccups.

I'm now having to supply to Vermont, evidence documents regarding bank accounts, marriage, insurance, wills, etc., all containing a lot of sensitive information. The information they are requesting is like submitting the I-130 all over again. I was reluctant two years ago, imagine how I feel now.

It's not so much worrying about the personnel in the government being dishonest but what happens to the files once they are done with them. It's really a treasure trove of information for a thief committing Identity Theft that incidentally, is growing like crazy.

(Where else can you make $12,800 for two days of work? – If you call shopping work – my wife doesn’t)

Anyway, feedback on what others have done regarding this would be really helpful as I have a deadline of 27 December to have the packet back to them.

Another question. – Has anyone supplied original documents or was asked by USCIS for the originals. This is another one of these “do I or don’t I” things that is not spelled out by USCIS.

Thanks to all - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year and may the USCIS chill out next year.

[ManuFred 10]

Well since its a scan I will simply change a number or two to make look unaltered. Rather than blackening out.

Really its the falling into wrong hands thats the worry. Though my credit is in the toilets, but I want to keep my spouse's pristene clean. KensRose

Alterations can be made but should be very obvious so they can tell you altered it. If not clear, it might look like you're trying to defraud USCIS.

[SaysWho 3]

I also feel the risk of identity theft in this process is very, very small, but I would stronly advise against altering documents. Either don't send things you really have concerns about or black out some numbers. I don't know what repercussion there might be if it was discovered you sent altered documents with an application, but I am sure your credibility would be gone and your whole application (and previous ones) would become suspect.