Short answer: Save the post together with enough context to understand where it came from. Preserve the account name, date, URL when available, surrounding text, images or video, and the date you captured it.
This page provides general information and organization guidance only. It does not decide whether evidence is legally sufficient, tell you what to file, or replace advice from a licensed immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative.
Capture more than the single sentence or image
A cropped screenshot may remove the account name, date, web address, reply context, or other information that helps explain the post. When safe and possible, save a full-page screenshot or PDF and record the direct link. If the post includes media, preserve that media separately as well.
For disappearing stories or posts that may be removed, note when you captured them. Do not alter the original image to make text easier to read; make a labeled working copy if you need to highlight or enlarge something.
Organize by source and topic
A simple folder structure can separate posts by source or issue. For example, you might keep one folder for a specific organization or account and use an index with columns for date, source, link, topic, and a short factual description.
Avoid saving dozens of duplicate screenshots that all say the same thing. A smaller, well-labeled collection is easier to review than hundreds of unexplained files.
Protect privacy and safety
Do not publicly repost private immigration facts merely to create a record. If accessing an account could expose you or another person to danger, preserve what you already have and discuss safer options with a qualified representative.
Social-media material can raise authenticity, privacy, and relevance questions. US Asylum Help can help with organization, but it cannot determine whether a specific post should be submitted or what legal weight it has.
A practical way to organize this
Use a simple evidence index with columns for date, source, file name, short description, language/translation status, and where the original is stored. Keep uncertain information marked as uncertain. Do not change an original document to make it fit a timeline or another record.
If you are preparing for an attorney meeting, bring the index and the records you already have. You can also use the free Evidence Toolkit to organize a timeline, evidence inventory, missing-evidence list, witness list, and attorney questions.
Check current sources before filing
Agency rules can change, and the rules for USCIS, Immigration Court, and the Board of Immigration Appeals are not identical. Verify the current source that applies to the forum handling the case.
- USCIS: Form I-589 and current instructions
- EOIR Policy Manual: Documents
- Immigration Justice Campaign: Asylum application and supporting evidence
For case-specific questions about relevance, disclosure, authentication, safety, deadlines, or how a document should be presented, use the Legal Help Center or speak with a qualified immigration representative.