Notarizing

[Mrs. Disney 0]

So I'm confused. On the AOS instructions it only mentions that translated documents need to be notarized. I know better, so I'm also reading the guides, and the guides say to also notarize a copy of our marriage certificates. So I decided to browse older topics about the same issue and most people say no copies or forms need to be notarized for AOS, to just send in regular copies.

Now, my translated birth certificate is already notarized. Other than that, I only have regular copies of my marriage certificate, passport, taxes, W-2 etc. Do I have to notarize them? If so, which ones? Just trying not to lose time and money. Thanks!

[Radkova 11]

your marriage certificate supposed to have a seal . just make a copy of the original marriage certificate. your translated BC must be notarized. No need to notarized taxes or W2's. You're supposed to send copies of passport ( biographical page ), Copy of Visa, Copy of I-94 front and back, Copy of Entry stamps. That's it and good luck!!!!!

[DoneWaiting 15]

So I'm confused. On the AOS instructions it only mentions that translated documents need to be notarized. I know better, so I'm also reading the guides, and the guides say to also notarize a copy of our marriage certificates. So I decided to browse older topics about the same issue and most people say no copies or forms need to be notarized for AOS, to just send in regular copies.

Now, my translated birth certificate is already notarized. Other than that, I only have regular copies of my marriage certificate, passport, taxes, W-2 etc. Do I have to notarize them? If so, which ones? Just trying not to lose time and money. Thanks!

You don’t need to sent notarized the copies of the documents being submitted for your AOS.. I submitted copies of all the required documents with no notary stamp.. But if it makes you feel better then is your choice, but it will be just an additional expense..

Good luck

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

The instruction to the I-485 http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-485instr.pdf do not say translations need to be notarized. See bottom of p. 2 and top of p. 3. It says it must be certified by the translator as true and accurate and that he/she is competent to translate into English. That means the person doing the translation puts a statement at the bottom saying "I certify that the above tranlation is true and accurate and that I am fluent in both Spanish and English." (Signs name/date) The translator doesn't have to be a paid professional. It could be your neighbor who is bilingual.

The very next section on p. 3 deals with copies. "Unless specifically required that an original document be filed with an application or petition, an ordinary legible photocopy may be submitted....."

Things that I see listed requiring an original document are:

Under criminal history--various documents or statements from arresting officers or the court.

Passport type photographs (ie glossy photo paper, not a Xerox copy)

Maybe the Employer letter to support the Affidavit of Support. (However I sent a photocopy and no RFE)

Possibly the tranlators signed statement should have an original signature.

Nothing is notarized.

[Mrs. Disney 0]

I wasn't sure if the translation needed to be done by a professional translator or not so just to be sure we looked for a professional (which took forever, because there's no translator where we live). So since we were paying for that service, we thought we might as well pay a few bucks extra for it to be notarized. I don't feel like going around and paying for notaries no more. So thank you everyone, I will submit regular copies then.

Also, I thought we were supposed to send the actual I-94? If just a copy is fine, I would rather do that. Can I just send a copy of my I-94 front and back with my AOS?