How long to keep immigration documents?

[Sarhan Abdelbaser 0]

How long should we keep immigration documents after N400 approval? I have documents from 16 years ago, F1 visas, I-20s, H1B1 visas and their petitions and Green Card applications through employment. How long should I keep all these documents? What does the law say abot this?

[bradcanuck 1]

My gut says that we could throw them away the moment our next stage of immigration is complete. But I plan on hanging on to every single piece of paper USCIS sent me for the rest of my life. It doesn't take up much room and you just never know.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Agreed.

Arhan, do as you please, there is no right or wrong, it's your personal decision.

[Sarhan Abdelbaser 0]

Thanks guys! I will probably end up saving everything. It is an addiction

[Sand 5]

Well, this up to u. but me. i keep all my immigration papers. who knows.

Good Luck.

[NickD 202]

Read someplace that checks on the accuracy of your N-400 can continue for another two years after your interview, but do you really trust your government? I don't, could thin our file quite a bit because also made duplicate applications because the USCIS is known to lose them. Then sent the same evidence three times in a roll, just adding some for each stage. Could save some space, because I also scanned every letter and document received. All that can be stored on a CD. But the way technology is changing, CD's may become obsolete. So just left that file the way it is.

IRS claims to keep your tax records for three years, but they can't be damned nasty if they don't find anything wrong with your last three years of returns and go back five years. And the burden of proof lies on your shoulders, exactly opposite of what our US Constitution teaches.

I was so angry after my divorce settlement, toss that 3" file in the trashcan when I got home, but after a cool down period, recovered it, I needed that for the USCIS when I met my sweetheart. If I didn't save all of my military records, would have never received VA benefits, they claimed they had a fire in St. Louis.

Can find a lot of other stuff to pitch, but get extremely paranoid when dealing with our government. So leave those files intact, claim they are there to protect us, screwing us is far more like it.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I became a citizen in 2008--and just last week I shredded every piece of Immigration paperwork I could find,lol Midn you Ihave soem of it scanned on my computer and back updrive!

[Haarp425 26]

I scanned all documents, passports, notices, everything and saved in PNG format. Forwarded it to email for backup.

However, if you want to get all documents you sent out the USCICS from start to finish, you request it through FOIA. It is a huge file. They will mail it to you. It is like a book www.uscis.gov/FOIA

[nigel 7]

How long should we keep immigration documents after N400 approval? I have documents from 16 years ago, F1 visas, I-20s, H1B1 visas and their petitions and Green Card applications through employment. How long should I keep all these documents? What does the law say abot this?

The Law Don't say anything about this ,but to protect yourself, keep "all" hard copies of incoming & outgoing mail you have got, for at least a few yrs..

You can also scan everything and save to a thumb drive or send to your e mail address which you can then dig up whenever you want...if need be.

IMHO... a thumb usb drive is the best option as there cheap from any good geek store and can hold all your scanned immigration info on a small gadget.

there is no harm in also sending your scanned documents to your e mail ......that will cover you x2 then....

If you don't know how to scan documents, then pop in Office max or something like that one morning, they will show you.....cost approx 10cents a copy i think..

After a few yrs have a big 4th of july and burn the hard copies for good & that would make room in your garage, so you can finally park your vehical . .... and be done with the uscis