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Can I toss all my immigration records after getting citizenship?

By panetone in General Immigration-Related Discussion

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OldUser Mentor

OldUser   5,107

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11 minutes ago, Redro said:

OH! I didn't keep the documents from my immigrant visa journey (IR1 visa) ... did I mess up? Not a citizen yet and only planning to after I get the full 10 years out of this card...  

Always thought all the relevant details I would need are in my A file.... HELP? 

 

Ouch ! At N-400 you can be asked anything about your immigration history. Maybe file a FOIA to get at least some info in case if you need to answer questions about your past?

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TBoneTX
TBoneTX

Typically, it's been recommended here to wait 2 years. That can be very satisfying.  We ought to make USCIS pay us back for all of our trauma, so how about using the papers for a weenie-roast,

Loren Y
Loren Y

I applied for a Burn permit thru the city to have a 55 gallon drum fire, but they still haven't approved it. They asked what I was burning, and I said USCIS paperwork. They said you will need a permit

TBoneTX
TBoneTX

Mrs. T-B. found the one box dedicated solely to the [censored] Guayaquil consulate, and said, "I didn't realize that you had to go through all that."   The chief of the IV Unit there is now

Verrou Proficient

Verrou   1,901

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Posted (edited)
32 minutes ago, Redro said:

OH! I didn't keep the documents from my immigrant visa journey (IR1 visa) ... did I mess up? Not a citizen yet and only planning to after I get the full 10 years out of this card...  

Always thought all the relevant details I would need are in my A file.... HELP? 

 

easy fix....FOIA request ! i just received mine. only 780 pages hah !

what else do you need? A file covered everything. it even go back to my DS-160 from 2005. unfortunately all my records from 1992-2004 arent digitize so FOIA request didnt do anything on that particular years.

Edited by Verrou
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Redro Experienced

Redro   4,602

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: South Africa
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1 minute ago, Verrou said:

easy fix....FOIA request ! i just received mine. only 780 pages hah !

what else do you need? A-file is everything

Yep… that’s what I’m saying. Was just planning on requesting A file before N400 app.Is that lazy of me? 
Don’t mean to hijack the post. Always assumed A File was the way to go when applying for the next benefit… 

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Verrou Proficient

Verrou   1,901

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1 minute ago, Redro said:

Yep… that’s what I’m saying. Was just planning on requesting A file before N400 app.Is that lazy of me? 
Don’t mean to hijack the post. Always assumed A File was the way to go when applying for the next benefit… 

do it now...

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Verrou Proficient

Verrou   1,901

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5 minutes ago, Caligirl1 said:

How exactly do you request that file? Might want to do that, too

If you have no pending case right now, I suggest that you file it now. Just type FOIA request USCIS and it will land you to the correct site. 7 weeks ish for the result. Request complete A-file. And later like OP, once you are done done, u can do bonfire with the hard copy and keep the pdf file in the cloud 

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Cathi Veteran

Cathi   5,624

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7 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Actually, the best (and most accurate) "embassy review" of all time is in here:

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=46019

Best I've seen, yet!!  🤣


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Loren Y Proficient

Loren Y   2,745

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I applied for a Burn permit thru the city to have a 55 gallon drum fire, but they still haven't approved it. They asked what I was burning, and I said USCIS paperwork. They said you will need a permit for a larger burn than a 55 gallon drum, so I wait.......

Here on a K1? Need married and a Certificate in hand within a few hours? I'm here to help. Come to Vegas and I'll marry you Vegas style!!   Visa Journey members are always FREE for my services. I know the costs involved in this whole game of immigration, and if I can save you some money I will!

 

 

 

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Caligirl1 Enthusiast

Caligirl1   204

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1 hour ago, Verrou said:

If you have no pending case right now, I suggest that you file it now. Just type FOIA request USCIS and it will land you to the correct site. 7 weeks ish for the result. Request complete A-file. And later like OP, once you are done done, u can do bonfire with the hard copy and keep the pdf file in the cloud 

Thank you! I do have pending I-751 & N-400 , so I'll wait for that to be finished and file then.

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   43,433

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2 hours ago, Cathi said:

Best I've seen, yet!!  🤣

That poor dude got hosed even worse than the rest of us.  He was even hotter about it over the phone... AT&T had to replace all their vulcanized wiring.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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discoverusa Collaborator

discoverusa   233

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14 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Typically, it's been recommended here to wait 2 years.

That can be very satisfying.  We ought to make USCIS pay us back for all of our trauma, so how about using the papers for a weenie-roast, or fireplace kindling?  :P 

I did exactly that! Burned everything in the fireplace. It was indeed very satisfying 😂

4/12/13 - sent I-485 package

4/15/13 - USCIS Chicago Lockbox received package

4/22/13 - got email and txt

4/29/13 - received NOA in mail

5/08/13 - received biometrics appointment for 5/22

5/09/13 - successful early walk in at Port Chester, NY office

5/22/13 - I-485 updated to Testing & Interview

6/18/13 - EAD went to production

6/21/13 - Card/Document Production for EAD - second email

6/24/13 - EAD mailed

6/26/13 - EAD arrived

7/18/13 - got email about interview

7/20/13 - got hard copy interview letter

08/23/13 - interview - Approved dancin5hr.gif(card production & decision email)

08/28/13 - card production - second email

08/29/13 - card mailed

09/03/13 - card arrived

*********************************************************************************

05/27/2016 - N-400 mailed

06/02/2016 - NOA date

06/24/2016 - biometrics appointment

11/28/2016 - interview scheduled for January 9th, 2017

01/09/2017 - interview passed

01/20/2017 - Oath Ceremony

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AnotherLove Contributor

AnotherLove   34

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10 hours ago, Verrou said:

easy fix....FOIA request ! i just received mine. only 780 pages hah !

what else do you need? A file covered everything. it even go back to my DS-160 from 2005. unfortunately all my records from 1992-2004 arent digitize so FOIA request didnt do anything on that particular years.

 

@Verrou  this is such a good point, i literally forgot that that exists. thank you for your input.

When tomorrow starts without me..

please try to understand, That an Angel came and called

my name, and took me by the hand; The angel said my

place was ready, In Heaven far above, And that I'd have

to leave behind all those I dearly love. But when I walked 

through Heaven's Gates, I felt so much at home, for God

looked down, smiled at me, And told me "Welcome Home."

So when tomorrow starts without me, 

Don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me,

I'm right there in your heart.

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CMJuilland Collaborator

CMJuilland   484

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Switzerland
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Posted (edited)

Lol, we should all get together once a year and make a pyre out of all the new citizens’ USCIS paper records. Set it on fire and celebrate. 

Edited by CMJuilland

ROC: 

12/30/2019 package sent to Texas Lockbox via USPS 

12/31/2019 package arrived at Texas Lockbox 

01/02/2020 package signed for

01/04/2020 $680 charged on credit card

01/06/2020 text message and email with case number received

01/09/2020 extension letter received; notice date: 01/03/2020

02/22/2020 biometrics appointment letter received 

03/06/2020 biometrics appointment 

08/09/2021 I-751 approved

08/16/2021 Green Card received

 

Naturalization:

12/29/2020 application filed online and receipt number received 

01/04/2021 hard copy NOA1 received 

02/27/2021 electronic biometric reuse letter received

09/19/2021 interview scheduled - electronic notice received 

09/27/2021 hard copy interview notice received (issue date: 09/21/2021)

10/27/2021 interview (10.40am), approved

11/06/2021 oath ceremony (7.30am) 

 

I AM A U.S. CITIZEN!!!!! 

 

Passport:

11/08/2021 appointment at USPS (2.00pm)

11/16/2021 money order cashed, passport “in process” (locator 69)

12/02/2021 approved and shipped

12/04/2021 passport book delivered

12/13/2021 passport card and NC delivered 

 

 

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Joyoussinger Proficient

Joyoussinger   1,417

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Australia
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19 hours ago, milimelo said:

Only if you want your relatives who may be into your genealogy/heritage years later in the loop. You can also request a copy of your A-file from USCIS and they'll send you everything they have on you since you started a petition with USCIS. 

I'm our family genealogist and this is great advice! If only my ancestors had saved everything....

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