Birth Certificate

[Cupidoll 1]

It's been a long time since I've contributed and I apologize for being absent so long.

I was wondering if anyone has experienced the same issue I'm running into regarding Birth Certificates of the US Citizen spouse.

Essentially, I have (or possibly had because I can't find the one I used during the K1 to N-400 process) two very different looking birth certificates. One is from the 90's and the other I ordered in 2006. I scanned both of them into my computer but, used the one from the 90's because it looked better. The newer one seemed to have security markings that didn't take in the scanning process. Anyway, my wife's interview is scheduled for 9 March and USCIS is requesting the originals of my birth certificate, first marriage's divorce decree, and our marriage license. Well, I was looking for the 90's original birth certificate and can't find it. The problem is that both birth certificates look completely different and I was wondering if anyone has run into an issue like this and if so, what was the outcome? Or any advice would be appreciated.

Personally, I don't see a problem with it as the version I have is a certified copy of my birth certificate issued from the county I was born in however, that's being logical...

I still have plenty of time to turn the house upside down as we've moved two times and it's probably in a box somewhere. I thought I did a better job of keeping things in our safe but, I obviously failed.

Anyway, thanks for your help in advance.

[KittyPollitt 284]

It's been a long time since I've contributed and I apologize for being absent so long.

I was wondering if anyone has experienced the same issue I'm running into regarding Birth Certificates of the US Citizen spouse.

Essentially, I have (or possibly had because I can't find the one I used during the K1 to N-400 process) two very different looking birth certificates. One is from the 90's and the other I ordered in 2006. I scanned both of them into my computer but, used the one from the 90's because it looked better. The newer one seemed to have security markings that didn't take in the scanning process. Anyway, my wife's interview is scheduled for 9 March and USCIS is requesting the originals of my birth certificate, first marriage's divorce decree, and our marriage license. Well, I was looking for the 90's original birth certificate and can't find it. The problem is that both birth certificates look completely different and I was wondering if anyone has run into an issue like this and if so, what was the outcome? Or any advice would be appreciated.

Personally, I don't see a problem with it as the version I have is a certified copy of my birth certificate issued from the county I was born in however, that's being logical...

I still have plenty of time to turn the house upside down as we've moved two times and it's probably in a box somewhere. I thought I did a better job of keeping things in our safe but, I obviously failed.

Anyway, thanks for your help in advance.

I don't think you will have a problem.. Most states change what the certified birth certificates look like from time to time.. and they have the date they were issued printed right on them, so it will be obvious that there was a decade between printings. If you really feel uncomfortable about it, I would just attach a note to the newer copy explaining why it's appearance is different from the one you sent in. Honestly, I did the same thing and didn't even think about it, because they're both stamped and are both legal certified copies.

[Dakine 26]

I went thru the trouble of ordering a new one for my wifes interview. Of course they didn't even look at it.

Got to have one tho just in case.

[NickD 203]

Hardly an issue with the USCIS, should dawn on them they already saw it during the AOS as well as your divorce and new marriage certificate. They are happy with copies of whatever you have, but want you to bring the original in for your interview, you get that back. Got a bit angry when my wife's IO insisted on keeping my original tax returns, she also wanted our original divorce papers, but my wife had enough sense to say no to that. If I do have an audit from the IRS, will just tell them to go to the USCIS can get my tax returns back. But I heard they keep transcripts. Plus it's all on my computer.

Still wonder what happened to that wonderful IO we had at St. Paul during our AOS. Maybe they canned her because she spoke perfect English, the USC IO sure couldn't speak understandable English, wife should have been testing her.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

It's been a long time since I've contributed and I apologize for being absent so long.

I was wondering if anyone has experienced the same issue I'm running into regarding Birth Certificates of the US Citizen spouse.

Essentially, I have (or possibly had because I can't find the one I used during the K1 to N-400 process) two very different looking birth certificates. One is from the 90's and the other I ordered in 2006. I scanned both of them into my computer but, used the one from the 90's because it looked better. The newer one seemed to have security markings that didn't take in the scanning process. Anyway, my wife's interview is scheduled for 9 March and USCIS is requesting the originals of my birth certificate, first marriage's divorce decree, and our marriage license. Well, I was looking for the 90's original birth certificate and can't find it. The problem is that both birth certificates look completely different and I was wondering if anyone has run into an issue like this and if so, what was the outcome? Or any advice would be appreciated.

Personally, I don't see a problem with it as the version I have is a certified copy of my birth certificate issued from the county I was born in however, that's being logical...

I still have plenty of time to turn the house upside down as we've moved two times and it's probably in a box somewhere. I thought I did a better job of keeping things in our safe but, I obviously failed.

Anyway, thanks for your help in advance.

I am presuming you are the US citizen? I have two birth certificates also. One is a photo copy of the original (looks like it was printed off a microfiche) which has been stamped by the county clerk, the other I can best describe as a "transcription", also stamped by the county clerk and made official. I used that one for the I-129f and my most recent passports. It is much easier to read. I had no problems.

If you are inquiring about the foreign beneficiary, there are several iterations of birth certificates in Ukraine, depending on how old your wife is. The consulate in Kiev will accept ANY official birth document whether it is USSR, CIS, or Ukrainian.

[ELW 5]

Agreed with the others, it is no big thing. You could try to find the original but sending the copy ordered later is enough. I could never find my original birth certificate so sent the copy I ordered in 2007. Don't forget to include copies of your passport because that is very important to them too.

[Cupidoll 1]

I don't think you will have a problem.. Most states change what the certified birth certificates look like from time to time.. and they have the date they were issued printed right on them, so it will be obvious that there was a decade between printings. If you really feel uncomfortable about it, I would just attach a note to the newer copy explaining why it's appearance is different from the one you sent in. Honestly, I did the same thing and didn't even think about it, because they're both stamped and are both legal certified copies.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think they'll have a problem either but some IO's seem to do what that want to do. I'll provide a quick note, if I can't find the other original, and leave it at that. I'm also planning on giving my wife my US passport and drivers license to carry in with her as well...Although I'm more nervous than my wife, I do feel oddly at ease since they are simply asking for stuff pertaining to me the US citizen.

Thanks again for your help.

[Cupidoll 1]

I thought instead of replying separately, I'll just make one large reply to each person...

ELW - Glad to hear that they didn't have an issue with your birth certificate. It makes sense that they wouldn't have an issue with the most recent compared to the older one that was used. I guess we'll find out on 9 March....Thank you for your help.

Gary and Alla - Yes, I'm the US citizen. We'll see if they have an issue. I learned early on to expect the absolute worst from USCIS so that way when they mess something up, it's better than the worst case scenario in my head...I had been using a copy of the older birth certificate since the I-129F and even for the N-400 submission out of habit instead of making sure I knew where it was before submitting the paperwork. Thanks for the suggestions and help.

NickD - Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I couldn't stop laughing about your last sentence. One of my wife's Russian friends was commenting to me about an hour ago about her USC experience and how some of the IO's didn't speak English as well as you would think they should. Apparently, at her oath ceremony a few people commented on that fact. It's just funny to me.

Dakine - I hope you're right about not needing them in the end. Like you said though, you need them and it's far better to have them and not need them. Thank you too for your help...

BTW, I don't know how the other local offices do things but, my wife's Russian friend said that the Washington D.C. Office seems to have more than one oath ceremony per day. She was given the opportunity select what time in the afternoon. The IO actually checked the schedule and mentioned she wouldn't have enough time for one time but, asked her about two other times...Of course she was applying based on longevity in the US, not marriage based. I'm going to sit and wait for my wife just in case they do give her the option of being sworn in that day and for moral support.

Thanks again to all of you for your help. Even though I don't participate on Visa Journey as much as I should, I proselytize the website like crazy. You guys/gals are awesome....

[ELW 5]

I'm also planning on giving my wife my US passport and drivers license to carry in with her as well

NO, NO! Not a good idea! How will you drive without a license? And one should NOT let the passport leave the country without YOU holding it! None of us did that (I don't think!) and no IO will ask for your actual passport. Send copies only!

Edited February 16, 2010 by ELW

[lucyrich 20]

NO, NO! Not a good idea! How will you drive without a license? And one should NOT let the passport leave the country without YOU holding it! None of us did that (I don't think!) and no IO will ask for your actual passport. Send copies only!

Since the subject was a naturalization interview, I suspect he was talking about handing her the papers in the waiting room, letting her carry them into the interview to show the officer, and then having her carry them back out to the waiting room where the USC spouse would have remained, waiting. The passport wouldn't cross international boundaries, and the USC wouldn't drive during the 20 minutes or so that his license was out of his possession. That sounds safe enough.

I sent my passport in, but I kept my license.

[NickD 203]

Since the subject was a naturalization interview, I suspect he was talking about handing her the papers in the waiting room, letting her carry them into the interview to show the officer, and then having her carry them back out to the waiting room where the USC spouse would have remained, waiting. The passport wouldn't cross international boundaries, and the USC wouldn't drive during the 20 minutes or so that his license was out of his possession. That sounds safe enough.

I sent my passport in, but I kept my license.

Wife had a lot of our legal documentation to bring in, in case they wanted to see it, just told her to make damn sure she got it all back, only hand over one item at a time. Got her a folder type brief case with tabs marked so she could quickly find whatever she was asked for. Before we left, I checked everything, all was there except my tax returns, where are those? Wife said her IO wanted to keep those, said, well, I guess so, still have copies, but my passport was there.

Wife told me on some stuff like our home deed and certificate of deposit, her IO wanted to make a copy of that, but handed the original back to her. Wife did tell her copies of those were in the stack, her IO said it's easier to make a copy than to look through that stack.

The think is, if they want to see something, and you don't have it, you have got to go back that can be an extensive delay. Our AOS interviewer was not that way, she didn't want to see any of our original documents, but wife sure got stuck with a paranoid IO. Thing is, you just don't know, but have to be prepared for the worse.

I have a pretty darn good memory, if you don't, make yourself a check list of all the evidence you brought in.

[Cupidoll 1]

Wife had a lot of our legal documentation to bring in, in case they wanted to see it, just told her to make damn sure she got it all back, only hand over one item at a time. Got her a folder type brief case with tabs marked so she could quickly find whatever she was asked for. Before we left, I checked everything, all was there except my tax returns, where are those? Wife said her IO wanted to keep those, said, well, I guess so, still have copies, but my passport was there.

Wife told me on some stuff like our home deed and certificate of deposit, her IO wanted to make a copy of that, but handed the original back to her. Wife did tell her copies of those were in the stack, her IO said it's easier to make a copy than to look through that stack.

The think is, if they want to see something, and you don't have it, you have got to go back that can be an extensive delay. Our AOS interviewer was not that way, she didn't want to see any of our original documents, but wife sure got stuck with a paranoid IO. Thing is, you just don't know, but have to be prepared for the worse.

I have a pretty darn good memory, if you don't, make yourself a check list of all the evidence you brought in.

Sorry for the delay in responding.....

ELW - lucyrich is correct that I will be in the waiting room waiting for my wife for the 20 or so minutes. And no, I would never send anything like that across international boundries without them on my person at all times. The interview is in Washington D.C....I am paranoid when I go to Ukraine with her to see her family and practically chain and duct tape the passport to my body...Hurts when I remove the duct tape to leave the country though...

NickD - Per your suggestions, I've begun to make a checklist of all the evidence and have gathered some additional things that weren't included in the original submission. I'll also have my wife check things off and go over everything with her. I've been a terrible husband and haven't explained a lot of things to her (bad because if something were to happen to me, she'd be left in the dark...or worse).

You really have some serious experience with this. It sounds like you've gone through ever conceivable problem USCIS can throw at people...I hope the end is near for you and yours....