Papers that show how long you have lived in the United States

This page is general information, not legal advice. Talk to an immigration attorney or a DOJ accredited representative about your own case. Free help is on Free legal help in the Bay Area.

Why do two years matter?

Federal law lets immigration officers deport some people quickly, without a hearing before a judge. This is called expedited removal. It can be used on a person who was not admitted or paroled into the U.S. and who has not shown an officer that they have been here continuously for the last two years.

In January 2025, the government said it would use this process anywhere in the country, not only near the border. A federal court paused that from August 29, 2025. On June 23, 2026, the appeals court in Washington, D.C. lifted the order that had paused the expansion, so the expansion is in effect now. The same court issued a later order on July 17, 2026. The people who sued asked the full appeals court to rehear the case on July 27, 2026. When we checked on October 21, 2026, we found no ruling on that request. The law here is still moving. Check with a legal clinic for the latest.

The burden is on you. The government's notice says the person must show the two years "to the satisfaction of an immigration officer." That is why papers matter.

If you are afraid to go back to your country, say so out loud. The law sends people who say they fear persecution or want asylum to an asylum officer instead of straight to removal.

Does this apply to me?

It depends on how you came in and how long you have been here. Under the 2025 notice:

This is a general summary, not advice about your case. Ask a lawyer or DOJ accredited representative which row fits you.

Which papers show I have been here?

Pick papers that show your name, a date, and that you were in the U.S. Spread them out over time, so together they cover at least the last two years. A few from each year is stronger than many from one month.

Good choices, as legal groups suggest:

• School records for you or your children
• Medical or dental visit papers, clinic cards or vaccine records
• A lease, rent receipts or a letter from your landlord
• Utility, phone or internet bills
• Paystubs or tax returns, but only if they were filed with your own real ITIN or Social Security number
• Bank statements or money transfer receipts
• Letters and other mail sent to you at a U.S. address
• Church, community group or class records with your name and a date
• Photos with a date stamp taken in places that are clearly in the U.S.

Should I carry papers or keep them at home?

Carry copies, not originals. Officers can take what you have with you. Keep the originals at home, in one folder, where a trusted person can find them fast.

Make a second set of copies and give it to a trusted family member or friend. If you are detained, they can bring the papers to your lawyer.

Leave out papers that say where you were born. Legal groups advise against carrying papers that show your birth country, like a foreign passport or birth certificate, unless you need them to show you entered legally or have status. Keep those at home and show them to your lawyer.

Never carry anything false. No fake papers, and no papers with wrong information. Using them can make your case much worse.

What if I came in with a visa, parole or a pending case?

Different papers help you. Keep copies of the ones that apply:

• Your I-94 record, a parole paper, or a passport page with a visa or entry stamp
• A work permit
• A USCIS receipt notice for a case you filed, or an approval notice
• A Notice to Appear or a hearing notice with a future date

These show you are in a legal process. Talk with a lawyer about which ones to carry.

What does a good folder look like?

Example (fictional). Marta came to California in March 2023 and lives in Redwood City. In October 2026 she builds her folder:

• 2023: a clinic visit paper from May 2023 and a phone bill from August 2023
• 2024: her son's school enrollment letter, two rent receipts and a money transfer receipt
• 2025: a lease renewal, a pay stub from a job where she used her own real ITIN, and a church class sign in sheet with her name and date
• 2026: a utility bill and a dated letter mailed to her address

She makes two sets of copies. One goes in her bag. One goes to her sister. The originals stay in a folder at home. She leaves her birth certificate in the home folder, not in her bag.

Marta's papers cover every year since she arrived, with a few from each year. That is what makes proof strong. This example shows the idea. It does not promise how an officer will decide.

What should I do with the folder?

• Add to it every month. Keep one new paper with a date, like a bill or a paystub.
• Write a one page list of what is inside, by year.
• Tell one trusted adult where the folder is. Put it in your family preparedness plan.
• Carry your red card too. Papers help you prove time here. Your rights card helps you stay silent and ask for a lawyer.

Who can help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: 650-326-6440
• Rapid response lines if agents are near you: for Santa Clara County, (408) 290-1144; for San Mateo County, (203) 666-4472, open 24 hours
• Anywhere in California: the statewide rapid response hotline list (CCIJ), and the state's map of free immigration legal services, or call (916) 651-8017
• More groups on Free legal help in the Bay Area

Only an attorney or a DOJ accredited representative may give you legal advice. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.

Is there a checklist I can print?