Embassy, Customs: Why did you take our Originals?

[LoveMyMiky 35]

Embassy, Customs: Why did you take our Originals?

It is great that we are now together in the US! Now it looks like we will need to get another original birth certificate and translation as the Embassy took the original. This will be the third time as the first documents exceeded a year due to the wait! Additionally, no copy of the medical! What documents the Embassy didn’t take customs did! Did not know this until yesterday -- went back to the airport to retrieve, but customs said they sent them to USCIS. Have copies of everything else since the start with the exception of these two documents.

Questions:

Know we need an original Birth Certificate and translation for the Michigan Marriage certificate; do we need an original for the AOS?

Do we need the medical report for AOS or is understood it would have been given to the Embassy, the hospital has refused to give us copies?

Thanks in advance for experienced guidence!

[baron555 934]

Embassy, Customs: Why did you take our Originals?

It is great that we are now together in the US! Now it looks like we will need to get another original birth certificate and translation as the Embassy took the original. This will be the third time as the first documents exceeded a year due to the wait! Additionally, no copy of the medical! What documents the Embassy didn’t take customs did! Did not know this until yesterday -- went back to the airport to retrieve, but customs said they sent them to USCIS. Have copies of everything else since the start with the exception of these two documents.

Questions:

Know we need an original Birth Certificate and translation for the Michigan Marriage certificate; do we need an original for the AOS?

Do we need the medical report for AOS or is understood it would have been given to the Embassy, the hospital has refused to give us copies?

Thanks in advance for experienced guidence!

READ the AOS Guides

Answers to your questions:

No

Yes

[pushbrk 13,630]

Embassy, Customs: Why did you take our Originals?

It is great that we are now together in the US! Now it looks like we will need to get another original birth certificate and translation as the Embassy took the original. This will be the third time as the first documents exceeded a year due to the wait! Additionally, no copy of the medical! What documents the Embassy didn't take customs did! Did not know this until yesterday -- went back to the airport to retrieve, but customs said they sent them to USCIS. Have copies of everything else since the start with the exception of these two documents.

Questions:

Know we need an original Birth Certificate and translation for the Michigan Marriage certificate; do we need an original for the AOS?

Do we need the medical report for AOS or is understood it would have been given to the Embassy, the hospital has refused to give us copies?

Thanks in advance for experienced guidence!

The Consular services folks "kept" not "took" your originals because you gave them to them without asking for them back and providing copies. CBP officers never give you anything back from the sealed envelope. That's your actual case file. You simply failed to learn the process and properly prepare. No worries. The medical is in your file and a photocopy of a certified copy of your birth certificate is all you need for AOS. Check with the marriage license office in Michigan for their specific documentary requirements. I suspect all you'll need is your passport.

[LoveMyMiky 35]

The Consular services folks "kept" not "took" your originals because you gave them to them without asking for them back and providing copies. CBP officers never give you anything back from the sealed envelope. That's your actual case file. You simply failed to learn the process and properly prepare. No worries. The medical is in your file and a photocopy of a certified copy of your birth certificate is all you need for AOS. Check with the marriage license office in Michigan for their specific documentary requirements. I suspect all you'll need is your passport.

Thanks for your reply; the issue is more related to handing over more than what is required initially to the embassy as you indicated they keep everything. Not being able to be with my fiancée at the interview, she gave them what was needed plus more. Fortunately I have copies of everything except the medical. The issue with the birth certificate is one of preparation. Luckily I have the first original and notarized translation that expired, by one month (over a year) at the time of the interview. I will be able to use it for the marriage license, which is required in the state of MI. The embassy did give back a copy (not certified) of her BC along with the original for her daughter who is arriving at a later date for which I was initially most concerned about.

I think the point is that one should be sure to get an additional original BC with notarized translation while in their home country. Know where have I read this suggestion, which I believe to be a helpful one.