Blog · October 22, 2026

Which immigration records to keep from F-1 to a green card (and for how long)

Keep every I-20 (all pages), I-94, visa, I-797 notice, EAD and I-983, with pay stubs, W-2s and tax returns. The I-485 instructions ask many applicants for evidence of every entry and of lawful status since arrival. Few official periods exist: the IRS generally says 3 years for tax records; ICE says keep the SEVIS fee receipt until your final degree.

Summarized from official sources, checked October 22, 2026. Official pages change; follow the linked source if it differs from this summary.

If you came to the U.S. as an F-1 student, the papers from your first semester can matter years later, when you or your employer file for H-1B, a green card or citizenship. This is a checklist by stage, with what the later forms ask for and what official sources actually say about how long to keep things.

Related pages go deeper on two parts of this, so they aren't repeated here:

Not legal advice. This article summarizes official U.S. government sources. It is not legal, immigration or tax advice. Which documents your case needs depends on your category and history, so ask your immigration attorney, DSO or tax professional. EADly is not a law firm and is not affiliated with USCIS, DHS, ICE, CBP or the IRS. Last checked October 22, 2026. Each source's own date is in the Sources list.

How long to keep them: what official sources actually say

We found only these official keep-for periods for the records on this page:

RecordWhat the official source says
I-901 SEVIS fee receipt"Keep your I-901 SEVIS fee receipt until you complete your exchange visitor program (J-1) or receive your final degree (F-1, F-3, M-1 or M-3)." ICE also says to keep receipts "along with other records pertaining to your nonimmigrant status," including for "Filing a petition or application with CIS" (ICE, I-901 SEVIS Fee FAQ)
Tax recordsGenerally 3 years after you file. Longer in some cases, for example: 6 years if you leave out income that's more than 25% of the gross income on your return, 7 years for a worthless-securities loss or bad debt deduction, and indefinitely if you don't file a return or file a fraudulent one (IRS, How long should I keep records?)
Filed tax returns"Keep copies of your filed tax returns." The IRS gives no end date for this (same page)

For everything else here (I-20s, I-94s, I-797 notices, EADs, passports, pay stubs), we found no USCIS, ICE or CBP page that sets a retention period for applicants. What the forms do instead is ask for history. For many green card applicants, the I-485 instructions say: "Include evidence for every time you entered the United States and for the time periods spent in the United States" (I-485 instructions, page 10). And the IRS adds that when records are no longer needed for tax purposes, "do not discard them until you check to see if you have to keep them longer for other purposes."

So this checklist doesn't invent a rule. It says: keep them for as long as you might need to show your history.

What later forms ask for

Form I-485 (green card), edition 09/18/26

  • Your most recent entry. Applicants outside the exempt groups the instructions list must show inspection and admission or parole, and the evidence "must be related to the most recent arrival." Examples: a passport page with the admission or parole stamp, the passport page with your nonimmigrant visa, and Form I-94 (pages 8–9).
  • Lawful status since arrival. Family- and employment-based preference applicants (and religious workers, international broadcasters and diversity visa selectees) must show they have "continuously maintained lawful immigration status." Acceptable evidence includes Form I-797 "for all extensions of stay and changes of nonimmigrant status," Form I-94 "including printouts of paperless I-94 admissions," Form I-20 "including all pages containing notations by authorized school officials," and passport admission stamps (page 10). Some applicants may qualify for an exemption under INA 245(k), and the instructions say to check the category-specific Additional Instructions.
  • The immigrant petition. A beneficiary generally submits "a photocopy of Form I-797, Notice of Action, for your underlying visa petition" (page 9).
  • Your history on the form itself. The Form I-485 asks for prior addresses for the last 5 years and "ALL of your employment and educational history for the last 5 years," including "periods of self-employment, unemployment, or retirement."

Form I-129 (H-1B or O-1 petition, filed by the employer), edition 09/09/26

  • Change of status or extension. "For all classifications, if a beneficiary is seeking a change of status, extension of stay, or amendment of stay, evidence of maintenance of status must be included." If you work in the U.S., the employer "may submit copies of the beneficiary's last 2 pay stubs, Form W-2, and other relevant evidence," plus a copy of your I-94, passport, travel document or I-797 (page 6). That includes an F-1 to H-1B change of status.
  • H-1B degree evidence. The petition includes a copy of your U.S. bachelor's or higher degree, or a copy of a foreign degree with evidence that it's equivalent (page 8). The instructions also say to use "the beneficiary's degree transcripts to determine the primary field of study" (page 11).
  • Extensions. An extension petition must be filed with "A copy of the beneficiary's last 2 pay stubs and most recent W-2, if applicable" (page 29).

Source: I-129 instructions.

Form I-765 (OPT and STEM OPT), edition 08/21/25

  • "A copy of your last EAD (front and back)" (page 21).
  • For post-completion OPT: "all previously used SEVIS numbers and evidence of any previously authorized CPT or OPT and the academic level at which it was authorized" (page 4).
  • For STEM OPT based on an earlier degree: "a copy of your prior STEM degree" (page 5).

Source: I-765 instructions.

Form N-400 (citizenship, later), edition 01/20/25

  • Five years of history if you file under the general provision (other eligibility options use other periods): every address, where you worked or went to school, and every trip outside the United States. The form says: "Do not include day trips (where the entire trip was completed within 24 hours)" (N-400, page 6; N-400 instructions, pages 10 and 15–16).
  • Long trips. For a trip of more than 6 months but less than 1 year, the evidence listed includes IRS tax transcripts, rent or mortgage statements, pay statements, bank statements and "Your passport showing entry and exit stamps" (instructions, page 17).
  • Tax transcripts. "You should bring your IRS tax transcripts to your interview, especially if you have traveled outside the United States for a period that lasted more than 6 months" (instructions, page 19).

The checklist, stage by stage

F-1 student

KeepWhy
Every Form I-20, every page, including each new oneThe I-485 lists I-20s with "all pages containing notations by authorized school officials." Your DSO issues a new I-20 when it approves CPT and when it recommends OPT or STEM OPT (ICE, Practical Training). Each I-20 shows a SEVIS ID (ICE, I-901 SEVIS Fee FAQ), and the I-765 for OPT asks for every SEVIS number you've used
I-901 SEVIS fee receiptICE: keep it until you receive your final degree (see the table above)
Your F-1 visa page and passport admission stampsEvidence of admission on the I-485
Every I-94 printoutThe I-485 asks for I-94s, "including printouts of paperless I-94 admissions." How to get yours: I-94 guide
Transcripts and diplomasH-1B petitions use your degree and transcripts. For an EB-2 advanced-degree petition, the regulation asks for "an official academic record" (8 CFR 204.5(k)(3)(i))
A list of your addresses, with datesThe I-485 asks for prior addresses for the last 5 years, and the N-400 asks for 5 years under the general provision

CPT, OPT and STEM OPT

KeepWhy
Each I-20 showing CPT authorizationThe I-765 asks for evidence of any earlier CPT or OPT
A copy of each I-765 you filed, the I-797C receipt and the approval noticeUSCIS says "a copy of a USCIS notice, if available, is acceptable evidence of a prior, related filing" in most cases (USCIS, Tips for filing forms by mail)
Every EAD card, front and backThe I-765 asks for a copy of your last EAD
Form I-983 and every evaluationYour DSO keeps these in your student record (Study in the States, Form I-983 Overview). Your own copies are a practical record. Due dates: Form I-983 guide
STEM validation reports and every SEVP Portal update (screenshots or emails)A STEM validation report is due "every six months" (8 CFR 214.2(f)(12)(ii)(B)). SEVP says to keep "a record of all reports made to the DSO and the method by which the reports are made" (§7.3.2, SEVP Policy Guidance 1004-03). Save portal pages before access ends: SEVP Portal guide
A letter for each jobSEVP recommends evidence of "the position held, proof of the duration of that position, the job title, contact information for the student's supervisor or manager, and a description of the work" (§7.2.4, same guidance)
Pay stubs and timesheetsThey show your hours and that you worked as reported. An F-1 to H-1B change of status can use your last 2 pay stubs and W-2 (Form I-129 above)

H-1B and O-1

KeepWhy
Every I-797: receipts (I-797C) and approvals (I-797A or I-797B)USCIS issues the I-797A "as a replacement Form I-94" and the I-797B "for approval of an alien worker petition" (USCIS, Form I-797 types). The I-485 lists I-797s for every extension and change of status
The certified LCA (H-1B)The employer must give you a copy "no later than the date the H-1B nonimmigrant reports to work" (20 CFR 655.734(a)(3))
Pay stubs and W-2sExtension petitions are filed with your last 2 pay stubs and most recent W-2, "if applicable"
Offer and employment letters, and a separation letter if a job endsSee our F-1 to H-1B post
The I-797 for your immigrant petition (I-140), and every notice in your green card caseThe I-485 asks for the underlying petition's I-797

Travel

KeepWhy
Every passport, including expired onesVisa pages and admission stamps are I-485 evidence. The I-485 accepts a passport "even if expired" as photo ID. The N-400 lists your passport's entry and exit stamps as evidence for long trips
An I-94 printout after each entryThe I-485 asks many applicants for evidence of every entry, including I-94 printouts
Boarding passes, e-tickets and itinerariesYour own record of each trip, for the N-400 trip list and for gaps in CBP's records
A saved copy of CBP's online travel historyCBP shows your arrivals and departures "for the past 10 years (certain types of travel history may not be provided)" and says it is "not an official record for legal purposes" (CBP I-94 website). Only nonimmigrants can use it. Green-card holders and citizens must request travel records through FOIA (CBP I-94 FAQ). Save a copy from time to time while you can

Turning these into a dated trip list, and requesting older records from CBP, is covered in the I-94 travel history post.

Taxes

KeepWhy
Each year's federal and state returnsIRS: "Keep copies of your filed tax returns"
Form 8843 for each year you filed oneThe IRS says an exempt individual files it "to explain the basis of your claim that you can exclude days of presence in the United States" for the substantial presence test (Form 8843). Who files and how: F-1 student taxes
W-2s, 1042-S and 1099 formsThe records behind each return. The 1040-NR instructions say to "Attach any Form 1042-S you received for treaty-exempt income" (2025 Form 1040-NR instructions)

Don't rely on IRS transcripts as your only copy. The IRS says a tax return transcript is available "for the current and three prior tax years," a wage and income transcript (W-2 data) "for the current and nine prior tax years," and "A transcript isn't a photocopy of your return" (IRS, Transcript types). The N-400 can ask for 5 years of transcripts.

If a record is missing

  • Your own USCIS records. You can request "your own immigration records" under FOIA or the Privacy Act, online at first.uscis.gov after creating a USCIS account. USCIS says it can "process requests for precise records much faster than requests for an entire file" (USCIS FOIA).
  • Records USCIS doesn't hold. The same page sends you to CBP for entry and exit records and "Form I-94 records," to ICE for SEVIS records of F-1 students, and to the State Department for visa requests. CBP's process is in the I-94 travel history post.
  • I-20s. Ask the DSO at the school that issued them.
  • I-797s from an employer's petition. Ask the employer or the attorney who filed it.
  • Tax returns. Order a transcript, or a copy of the return with Form 4506 (the IRS charges a fee for copies) (IRS, Transcript types).

How to store them

  • Keep originals; send copies. USCIS says: "Do not send original documents unless they are specifically requested in the form instructions or applicable regulations." Originals sent when not required may be destroyed and aren't returned automatically (USCIS, Tips for filing forms by mail).
  • Keep a clear scan of each one. USCIS asks for legible copies: not blurry or faded, and with nothing cut off (same page).
  • Keep a running list of addresses, jobs and trips with dates. It's much easier than rebuilding 5 years later.

Keeping records in EADly

EADly is a private, local-first app for iPhone and Android. For records, it has:

  • Document Vault. PDF, JPG or PNG files, checked and encrypted on the device, up to 2 MB each and 20 MB in total. EADly Free holds 1 Vault file; EADly Plus removes the file-count cap. Files can be linked to jobs, trips, I-94s, I-20s, petitions and milestones (linked files count toward the Vault limit).
  • Address history. Every U.S. address with its dates. Proof you add is kept in the Vault.
  • Immigration history PDF (EADly Plus). Your saved programs, petitions, employment, travel and I-94 records in one PDF, to keep or share with your attorney.
  • Manual encrypted backup (Free). A password-protected .eadlybackup file you can store somewhere safe.

What EADly doesn't do: it doesn't retrieve records from USCIS, CBP, ICE or the IRS, it doesn't decide which documents your case needs, and it isn't a substitute for keeping your originals.

Get EADly free on the App Store or Google Play.

Common questions

How long should I keep my I-20s?

We found no official retention period. The I-485 instructions list I-20s, including all pages with school official notations, as evidence of maintaining status since arrival. Keep them for as long as you might need to show your history.

How long should I keep tax returns and W-2s?

The IRS generally says to keep tax records for 3 years after filing, longer in some cases, and to keep copies of filed returns. It also says to check whether you need records longer for other purposes. The N-400 can ask for 5 years of IRS transcripts.

How long should I keep my SEVIS fee receipt?

ICE says to keep the I-901 SEVIS fee receipt until you receive your final degree (for F-1 students).

Do I need my old I-94s for a green card?

For many applicants, yes. The I-485 instructions ask family- and employment-based preference applicants (and some others) for evidence of every entry, including I-94s and printouts of paperless I-94 admissions.

Should I keep pay stubs from OPT?

No official rule says how long. But SEVP recommends keeping evidence of each job, and the I-129 instructions say an employer seeking a change of status or extension may submit your last 2 pay stubs and W-2 as evidence of maintaining status.

What if I lost an old I-797 or I-20?

Ask the employer or attorney who filed the petition, or the DSO who issued the I-20. You can also request your own USCIS records online at first.uscis.gov. USCIS sends SEVIS record requests to ICE.

Sources

All checked October 22, 2026. The date in brackets is the date each page or document showed.

This article summarizes official U.S. government sources and is not legal, immigration or tax advice. EADly is not a law firm and is not affiliated with USCIS, DHS, ICE, CBP or the IRS.

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