LeoGC

Has anyone here ever applied and got a copy of his/her A file?

Someone mentioned that you are allowed to request a copy of your own personal records (Alien File aka A-File) from USCIS under some law FOIA if I remember correctly.

I just got naturalized (yeey) and I was wondering if it would be worth getting a copy of documents that the government has collected on me. Anyone has done it?

Guindalf

Nope, and don't see the point, to be quite honest!

I'd be way more concerned about the information someone has about me that I DON'T know about!

Noorah101

It's just all your immigration paperwork from Day 1. You probably have a photocopy of it all yourself already.

Rene

LeoGC

True. But I suppose that USCIS collects extra more information from various sources?



Funny, but I don't have photocopy of everything I sent. In fact my history goes back some 20 years. I was a tourist, then student, then another student, green card, etc. I'm a little antsy about what all is there about me.


Has any of you actually requested the copy of your file? How long did it take?

Noorah101

I have not.

Rene

mrken30

Looks like you can take a trip to Kansas City to view them

Alien Files (A-Files) at the National Archives at Kansas City

sir_eccles

fify

The USCIS geneological department often provides copies of A files for family history researchers but there is a limit on what time frame is available.

celticgrid

Isn't that effectively paranoia?

LeoGC

Ohh, that looks like a very interesting source. In fact I live only few hour outside of that location. Though it looks I cannot use it, because the archive has only records of persons who came here before 1910. I am interested to see my personal record and I came almost 100 years later :-)

LeoGC

Anyone else who thinks it may/may not be useful obtaining Alien file after naturalization (before the relationship with the immigration goes dormant)?

MidAtlantic

You have never explained why you want it. I am naturalized and not in the slightest interested in what they hold about me. Most of it (may be all) I supplied to them anyway.

Rete

No but why would you want and/or need it? It is primarily a collection of every piece of paperwork that you and/or possibly an employer (if you were originally on a work visa) has submitted with a few notes written in margins by any interviewing officer. Something in your past that you have hidden from the US Government and are fearful that if discovered will strip you of your US Citizenship?

If you were smart you already have copies of everything you submitted.

mrken30

There is always the possibility there are errors in your file. You may want to just check everything is complete for future generations to find when looking for your history.

sir_eccles

Other than deportation, I don't think there is a mechanism to correct such errors.

mrken30

I don't think you would necessarily get deported if there was a slight misspelling of your mothers middle name, or similar type of mistake.