PHYSICAL PRESENCE OR RESIDENCY IN THE UNITED STATES
Undocumented immigrants should start gathering documentation to prove when and how
they physically arrived in the United States and that they have lived in the United States
as their primary home since arrival. They should also start gathering documentation to
prove that they have worked in the United States.
Some documentation to prove their arrival in the United States might be the bus or plane
tickets used to travel to the United States or the receipts for such tickets.
Undocumented immigrants should write out in chronological order, starting from the
date they first entered the United States:
• each address/place of residence in the United States and the dates of residence at
each address;
• the name and address of each employer and the beginning and ending dates of
employment at each job.
For example:
1234 Main Street, Any City, State, 12345 January 1998-March 2002
2345 Michigan Ave., Washington DC 20020 April 2002-present
-or-
ABC Employer, 110 First Street, Washington DC 20000 January 1998-March 2002
The Good Company, 230 Second Street, Arlington, VA 22222 April 2002-August 2005
Use the list that you create to begin to gather documentation to prove residence and
employment for those time periods.
Below is a list of documents that help prove residency in the United States. Make sure
that they have your name on them. You should gather as many of these documents as
possible, make clear photocopies of them, and store them in a safe place.
Paycheck stubs and payroll records
Lease/Rental agreements/ /or proof of security deposit payment
Birth certificates of children born in the United States
Marriage certificates if married in the United States
Divorce decrees if divorced in the United States
Dental, hospital, medical vaccination records and bills, and proof of payment
School records, awards, certifications, diplomas, pictures, yearbooks, etc. (from schools
attended in the United States)
Religious records such as baptism, confirmation and registration certificates
Immigration and Naturalization Service/Department of Homeland Security
Form I-94, arrival/departure record (if applicable)
Valid (expired or un-expired) passport with stamped date of admission into the United
States (if applicable)
Proof of ownership of real estate (e.g., a home)
Proof of application for home loan and proof of paying-off home loan
Proof of purchase of an automobile and payments for automobile and car insurance
Automobile registration, car title, license receipts and Department of Motor Vehicle
records
Insurance invoices, claims, policies and payment of insurance
Utility bills such as electricity, gas, heat, sewer, water, etc. and telephone bills
Credit card history in the United States (e.g., Sears card, etc.)
Social Security records
Record of payment of federal, state, and/or local taxes with W-2 forms
Union records
Bank records such as statements, cancelled checks and money order receipts
Selective Service registration card
Postmarked envelopes addressed to the foreign national here in the United States
Photographs of celebrations in the United States, preferably with dates marked on them.
Undocumented immigrants should start gathering documentation to prove when and how
they physically arrived in the United States and that they have lived in the United States
as their primary home since arrival. They should also start gathering documentation to
prove that they have worked in the United States.
Some documentation to prove their arrival in the United States might be the bus or plane
tickets used to travel to the United States or the receipts for such tickets.
Undocumented immigrants should write out in chronological order, starting from the
date they first entered the United States:
• each address/place of residence in the United States and the dates of residence at
each address;
• the name and address of each employer and the beginning and ending dates of
employment at each job.
For example:
1234 Main Street, Any City, State, 12345 January 1998-March 2002
2345 Michigan Ave., Washington DC 20020 April 2002-present
-or-
ABC Employer, 110 First Street, Washington DC 20000 January 1998-March 2002
The Good Company, 230 Second Street, Arlington, VA 22222 April 2002-August 2005
Use the list that you create to begin to gather documentation to prove residence and
employment for those time periods.
Below is a list of documents that help prove residency in the United States. Make sure
that they have your name on them. You should gather as many of these documents as
possible, make clear photocopies of them, and store them in a safe place.
Paycheck stubs and payroll records
Lease/Rental agreements/ /or proof of security deposit payment
Birth certificates of children born in the United States
Marriage certificates if married in the United States
Divorce decrees if divorced in the United States
Dental, hospital, medical vaccination records and bills, and proof of payment
School records, awards, certifications, diplomas, pictures, yearbooks, etc. (from schools
attended in the United States)
Religious records such as baptism, confirmation and registration certificates
Immigration and Naturalization Service/Department of Homeland Security
Form I-94, arrival/departure record (if applicable)
Valid (expired or un-expired) passport with stamped date of admission into the United
States (if applicable)
Proof of ownership of real estate (e.g., a home)
Proof of application for home loan and proof of paying-off home loan
Proof of purchase of an automobile and payments for automobile and car insurance
Automobile registration, car title, license receipts and Department of Motor Vehicle
records
Insurance invoices, claims, policies and payment of insurance
Utility bills such as electricity, gas, heat, sewer, water, etc. and telephone bills
Credit card history in the United States (e.g., Sears card, etc.)
Social Security records
Record of payment of federal, state, and/or local taxes with W-2 forms
Union records
Bank records such as statements, cancelled checks and money order receipts
Selective Service registration card
Postmarked envelopes addressed to the foreign national here in the United States
Photographs of celebrations in the United States, preferably with dates marked on them.
DISCLAIMER: This is not legal advice. It is for
educational and informational purposes only. If
you need legal advice, consult a licensed
immigration attorney or an accredited
representative from a Board of Immigration
Appeals (BIA) recognized agency. An
undocumented person should not seek legal
advice from a notario or an “immigration
consultant” who is not accredited by the BIA.
educational and informational purposes only. If
you need legal advice, consult a licensed
immigration attorney or an accredited
representative from a Board of Immigration
Appeals (BIA) recognized agency. An
undocumented person should not seek legal
advice from a notario or an “immigration
consultant” who is not accredited by the BIA.
415 Michigan Ave., NE
Suite 150
Washington, DC 20017
202.635.2556
202.635.2649 fax
media inquiries:
e-mail
(202) 635-5810
Suite 150
Washington, DC 20017
202.635.2556
202.635.2649 fax
media inquiries:
(202) 635-5810
NOTE: This webpage
was launched June, 2006
and is still in early
development stages.
Please check back
frequently for updates.
Legalization Questions?
CONTACT Mirna Torres
was launched June, 2006
and is still in early
development stages.
Please check back
frequently for updates.
Legalization Questions?
CONTACT Mirna Torres
LEGALIZATION PROJECT
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