travel records needed for citizenship application

[hellodolly]

On the citizenship application, one needs to provide records of travel exit/re-entry dates over the years while holding a green card.

I've not kept credit card statements/personal calendars beyond the past 7 years. I've only kept my most current passport.

So how can I fill in accurate info for vacations I have taken before year 2000?

Fyi, I've never left the country for more than 2 weeks at a time and certainly never more than 4 weeks as an accumulated total in any given year.

Suggestions would be gratefully welcomed. Thanks.

Sincerely, HD

[knowledgeable]

Be as accurate as possible

Try to be as accurate as possible. You don't have to be 100% but should try your best to get your previous records.

If you cannot find them, that's fine, USCIS will not have a problem as long as you show them your current travel properly.

Also, they ask for information but not the documents to show any proof of travel.

For example, if you drive to Canada from USA and drive back while spending only cash in Canada, there is no way you will have any proof of travel.

So don't worry, just be honest and truthful. If you wish you can also attach a separate letter stating the facts.

Good luck.

[hellodolly]

travel records advice

Thanks for your encouraging words and down-to-earth advice. Per your suggestion, I will append an explanatory record to my application - my accountant told me to keep only 7 years worth of credit card statements so this is the best I can do blah, blah.

I was getting very worried about this matter because I read elsewhere that the INS has exact records of GC holders' travels and if one's citizenship application list of exit/re-entry dates does not correspond precisely to the INS's records, they are none too pleased. But if the INS keeps these precise records, what's the point of their asking the applicants for this information and being annoyed if the applicants' records are not as perfect? That did not make sense.

Your remarks seem more re-assuring to me.

Try to be as accurate as possible. You don't have to be 100% but should try your best to get your previous records.

If you cannot find them, that's fine, USCIS will not have a problem as long as you show them your current travel properly.

Also, they ask for information but not the documents to show any proof of travel.

For example, if you drive to Canada from USA and drive back while spending only cash in Canada, there is no way you will have any proof of travel.

So don't worry, just be honest and truthful. If you wish you can also attach a separate letter stating the facts.

Good luck.

[knowledgeable]

Great

Great. You're very welcome. USCIS wants to check how much truthful the applicants really are.

Also, if you notice that they've really reduced a lot of paper work in the past few years.

These days, filing for citizenship is very easy, they ask for only a few documents and standard information.

Yes, they're supposed to have all the details with them, but then it may so happen that they may not have some data too.

Just a formality and to keep checks and balances.

Good luck to you. Being an election year, your process should be much quicker. They need your vote!

Best regards.