Should I mark out my SSN when I send forms to fiancee?

[Traveler 77 0]

Hi,

I'm preparing to send my fiancee copies of my I-129F application, I-134, and tax transcripts, etc. in preparation for her embassy interview. These applications contain my social security number in numerous places. I'm concerned that if my papers were to get lost, or into the wrong hands, someone could use my personal information to steal my identity.

Is it okay to black out my SSN from all forms containing it (I-129F, G-325A, tax transcripts, employer verification), just to be on the safe side?

Thanks.

[pushbrk 12,249]

Hi,

I'm preparing to send my fiancee copies of my I-129F application, I-134, and tax transcripts, etc. in preparation for her embassy interview. These applications contain my social security number in numerous places. I'm concerned that if my papers were to get lost, or into the wrong hands, someone could use my personal information to steal my identity.

Is it okay to black out my SSN from all forms containing it (I-129F, G-325A, tax transcripts, employer verification), just to be on the safe side?

Thanks.

For the I-129F, it doesn't matter but the I-134 will be carried to the Consulate, so needs to be complete. Use a trusted courier and trust your fiancee. It comes with the territory.

[sheenaspapi 18]

I just read an article from yahoo.com concerning identity theft via your SS#. A major college determined that a computer program can guess at your SS# correctly approx. 20% of the time just using the basic info from your Facebook page.

The feds are designing a new SS# system that will provide a completely random numbering system in the near future regardless of where or when you were born.

The change doesn't affect anyone already assigned a SS# due to a law on the books. Only one number will ever be assigned to each person.

[Al422 221]

If you use DHL and send them right to her, the probability of the docs ending up in the wrong hands is very small, at best.

As for your fiance, I certainly hope you trust her with your SS#.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

I'm scared!

Here's my SSN: 508-56-9595.

Do with it what you want.

[texas-gal 3]

I'm scanning copies of the documents and emailing them to my finace. I trust him with my information but don't trust the mail system, especially internationally. Someone on here had the idea of blacking out all but the last 4 numbers of the SSN. I did that on several forms that didn't get emailed.

[pushbrk 12,249]

I'm scanning copies of the documents and emailing them to my finace. I trust him with my information but don't trust the mail system, especially internationally. Someone on here had the idea of blacking out all but the last 4 numbers of the SSN. I did that on several forms that didn't get emailed.

Not sure how that information is relevant to the question at hand regarding the I-134. A complete one bearing the original signature must be in the hands of the beneficiary to carry to the interview. The paranoid could mail blank matching paper so the PDF file could be printed on all the pages except those bearing the signature. That way the SSN wouldn't go through the mail. Remember to mail the signed page along with the blank matching paper.

I'm scared!

Here's my SSN: 508-56-9595.

Do with it what you want.

Cute, but the OP is concerned about a document bearing his full name, birthplace, address, date of birth AND SSN. You willing to post that?

[Traveler 77 0]

Thanks for the answers.

The I-134 itself doesn't ask for a social security number, but the supporting documents (tax transcripts, proof of employment) will include the SSN #. I don't want to email the pdf to her, because she doesn't have her own printer. She'd have to use a public printer, which has it's own risks, if the printing is delayed, or stuck in the printer's queue.

I may use DHL, which is very expensive ($100 to mail a document).

[baron555 934]

Hi,

I'm preparing to send my fiancee copies of my I-129F application, I-134, and tax transcripts, etc. in preparation for her embassy interview. These applications contain my social security number in numerous places. I'm concerned that if my papers were to get lost, or into the wrong hands, someone could use my personal information to steal my identity.

Is it okay to black out my SSN from all forms containing it (I-129F, G-325A, tax transcripts, employer verification), just to be on the safe side?

Thanks.

I never did that. I used FedEx to send all forms to my fiance. I wanted my number displayed so that the Embassy can use it to verify my identity. I am not afraid of the big bad wolf.

[Al422 221]

DHL is more reliable than FedEx (and faster) for international document shipping. It costs a little more, but not really that much.

And honestly, with the $10,000.00 minimum you are spending to get this whole thing done, $100.00 for a safe courier for your personal documents is a tiny drop in the bucket.

[gvt 0]

Hi,

I'm preparing to send my fiancee copies of my I-129F application, I-134, and tax transcripts, etc. in preparation for her embassy interview. These applications contain my social security number in numerous places. I'm concerned that if my papers were to get lost, or into the wrong hands, someone could use my personal information to steal my identity.

Is it okay to black out my SSN from all forms containing it (I-129F, G-325A, tax transcripts, employer verification), just to be on the safe side?

Thanks.

If you worried about someone stealing your identity/SSN, you can put a freeze on your credit line with all three major credit bureaus. In that way even if someone steals your SSN they cannot open lines of credit with your SSN number. But it doesn't stop someone from using your SSN for other identity purposes, etc.

More info on how to do this is here:

http://www.consumers...03484indiv.html

A Freeze also means you also then cannot open up new lines of credit like a credit card or loans but you can release the freeze when you want usually in writing.

I had a friend who had her identity stolen 10 years ago. It took her 5 years to clear things up and caused lots of headaches.

Edited January 9, 2011 by gvt