How should I prepare a list of uncertain facts for attorney review?
Last reviewed: August 31, 2026
General information only. The purpose is to surface uncertainty honestly, not convert guesses into facts.
An uncertainty list helps an attorney find issues before they are buried inside hundreds of pages. It should record what you do not know clearly—not turn uncertainty into a guessed answer.
Create a table with columns for topic, current best recollection, why it is uncertain, possible source records, where the fact appears in existing filings, and questions for the attorney. Common entries include approximate dates, spellings, addresses, travel routes, sequence of events, names of officials, document translations, or differences between two records.
Separate three categories: unknown, approximately remembered, and conflicting sources. Those are different problems. If a passport gives one date and a declaration gives another, list both and identify each source. Do not overwrite either one.
Attach or link the records that caused the uncertainty. That lets the attorney evaluate whether the issue is a simple clerical point, a translation problem, a factual correction, or something requiring a procedural filing.
Update the list when better evidence appears, but preserve an old version when a material fact changes. The purpose is transparency and efficient legal review—not creating a polished story.
See How can I compare my I-589, declaration, and evidence for consistency? and How can I organize a large evidence file so a lawyer can review it faster?.
Official resources
- USCIS — Form I-589: https://www.uscis.gov/i-589
- DOJ EOIR — Find Legal Representation: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/find-legal-representation