Copy Vs certified copy

[tklife 0]

The "Assembling the I-130 Package: Checklist" document available on line uses "copy" and "certified copy" designation. For example point #7 and few others say "A copy..." but point #8 and #9 says "A certified copy..." for marriage certificate and divorce documents. On the other hand the instructions for I-130 says do not send originals unless specifically requested. And the same instruction says the "copy of marriage certificate". So which one is correct? My feeling is the copies should be ok but this discrepancy makes me bit wonder. Anyone has any comments about those?

[Moustafa/Crystal 65]

I sent a regular copy of the marriage certificate...not certified. No RFE was received.

In fact, I never sent in a certified copy of anything. Moustafa did take the originals of everything to the interview.

[Maria4Garrett 5]

Civil documents need CERTIFIED TRUE COPY. USEM-Tokyo specifies which is just copy or not. Please be careful. ORIGINAL COPY AND CERTIFIED TRUE COPY are different.

Edited July 25, 2015 by Maria4Garrett

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi,

When in doubt, go to the official I-130 instructions; http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-130instr.pdf

The official I-130 instructions states to send in only copies. There is no need to send in certified copies.

The checklist on this site is incorrect. VJ needs to update it.

Best of luck

[mallafri76 1,012]

Like Aaron says, you only send photocopies. The originals (or certified copies if the originals have been lost) will need to be brought to the interview at the embassy.

[tklife 0]

Thank you for all comments and suggestions...

After further looking into this (it never ends), I wondered how should we interpret the instruction from I-130 for translating documents. It says:

"Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English."

My wife and I understand the above differently. One of us believes this calls for certified copies of translated document while the other things it just says the translated original document must be certified by the translator but we can use the copies of the translated document freely without having each copy specifically certified. Thoughts...?

[aaron2020 11,651]

Thank you for all comments and suggestions...

After further looking into this (it never ends), I wondered how should we interpret the instruction from I-130 for translating documents. It says:

"Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English."

My wife and I understand the above differently. One of us believes this calls for certified copies of translated document while the other things it just says the translated original document must be certified by the translator but we can use the copies of the translated document freely without having each copy specifically certified. Thoughts...?

Whomever said certified copies of translated documents is wrong.

Whomever said the translation must be certified by the translator is correct. Google "USCIS translation."