Is a unabridged birth certificate needed for K-1 interview?

[KirstyDustin 1]

Hi all,

I was wondering if someone could help me.

For the interview, do the beneficiaries have to send an unabridged birth certificate or just their normal birth certificate that they have at home? I know that I am only one month into our wait for NOA2, but it is going to take 6 – 8 weeks (maybe longer) to get an unabridged birth certificate if that is what I need to send in.

Also my father passed away in 1998 – do I need to have a copy of his death certificate for the interview to prove he is deceased?

Kirsty

[payxibka 10,044]

moving thread to:

US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

This is the place to post your experiences or questions related to this last step before moving to the US. Topics relating to I-134's, packets sent from consulate and medical & police certificates should be posted here

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Hi all,

I was wondering if someone could help me.

For the interview, do the beneficiaries have to send an unabridged birth certificate or just their normal birth certificate that they have at home? I know that I am only one month into our wait for NOA2, but it is going to take 6 – 8 weeks (maybe longer) to get an unabridged birth certificate if that is what I need to send in.

Also my father passed away in 1998 – do I need to have a copy of his death certificate for the interview to prove he is deceased?

Kirsty

I don't know the difference between an "unabridged" and a "normal" birth certificate in South Africa. In some countries they have a "short form" and "long form" birth certificate. The "short form" is actually a transcript of the birth records (sometimes labeled a "certification" rather than "certificate"). The "long form" is usually a reproduction of the actual certificate prepared and signed at the time of birth. In those cases, both USCIS and the consulate want the "long form". You probably should ask in the regional forums what the consulate in South Africa expects.

There should be no reason they'd want a copy of your father's death certificate. It's not relevant to your K1 visa application in any way.

[HeatDeath 430]

In Commonwealth countries, the "long form" BC will always have both parents names and places of birth. "Short form" BCs often omit detailed info about the parents.

[KirstyDustin 1]

I don't know the difference between an "unabridged" and a "normal" birth certificate in South Africa. In some countries they have a "short form" and "long form" birth certificate. The "short form" is actually a transcript of the birth records (sometimes labeled a "certification" rather than "certificate"). The "long form" is usually a reproduction of the actual certificate prepared and signed at the time of birth. In those cases, both USCIS and the consulate want the "long form". You probably should ask in the regional forums what the consulate in South Africa expects.

There should be no reason they'd want a copy of your father's death certificate. It's not relevant to your K1 visa application in any way.

Thank you for your response. I found out last night that it would be better for me to get an unabridged birth certificate. I also found out that we call the long form birth certificate the unabridged (which shows the parents details) and the short form birth certificate the abridged (normal for me) (which shows just my details).

Regarding my fathers death certificate, here is the story : My real father left my Mother before i was born, and so my grandfather wouldn't allow my Mother to put his name on my birth certificate, so the long form birth certificate only has my Mothers details on it. When i was 10 years old my mother married my step father (he is known to me as my father, because he's the only father i've ever known), and he adopted me. We have all the adoption papers etc. That is why i think it might be relevant for the application. Thank you again for your reply

In Commonwealth countries, the "long form" BC will always have both parents names and places of birth. "Short form" BCs often omit detailed info about the parents.

Thank you

[TBoneTX 43,401]

As a general recommendation, anyone who plans to procure one official/unabridged birth certificate should request TWO of that document. It's always good to have a spare, if only for one's personal files.

[KirstyDustin 1]

As a general recommendation, anyone who plans to procure one official/unabridged birth certificate should request TWO of that document. It's always good to have a spare, if only for one's personal files.

Thanks for this TBoneTX! Appreciate that - very good idea!! thumbs up to that one