Regular copy or certified/original?

[Lytha 2]

Hey guys!

I am debating here on what to do ...

Some of you allready know the story, for others here in short : Went to Embassy last week, missed out on a paper (birthcertificate of Joint Sponsor, basically proof of citizenship) .. anyways,, Called the Embassy back later to ask them what kind of copy they needed,, they said certified copy...

NOW.. If you read the instructions for the filing of I 864 for Joint Sponsor, (where NVC should of noticed it was missing.) It says: For U.S. citizens or nationals, a copy of your birth certificate, passport, or certificate of naturalization or citizenship

So A COPY.

NO specifications...

See, tomorrow I have to go back to the Embassy, if I have the document (right now I have a regular copy of the birthcertificate of jointsponsor).. They only take 'comebacks' on Thursdays, If I don't have the original through UPS by tmorrowmorning, here I have another delay of a week to go back up there... Orrr, I can take the simple copy thats in my email.

What would you do??

Go with a regular copy anyway? If UPS doesnt get the original to me by tmrwmorning?

Thanks for any advice!

I really dont know what to do!

[amazngrace 3]

Hey guys!

I am debating here on what to do ...

Some of you allready know the story, for others here in short : Went to Embassy last week, missed out on a paper (birthcertificate of Joint Sponsor, basically proof of citizenship) .. anyways,, Called the Embassy back later to ask them what kind of copy they needed,, they said certified copy...

NOW.. If you read the instructions for the filing of I 864 for Joint Sponsor, (where NVC should of noticed it was missing.) It says: For U.S. citizens or nationals, a copy of your birth certificate, passport, or certificate of naturalization or citizenship

So A COPY.

NO specifications...

See, tomorrow I have to go back to the Embassy, if I have the document (right now I have a regular copy of the birthcertificate of jointsponsor).. They only take 'comebacks' on Thursdays, If I don't have the original through UPS by tmorrowmorning, here I have another delay of a week to go back up there... Orrr, I can take the simple copy thats in my email.

What would you do??

Go with a regular copy anyway? If UPS doesnt get the original to me by tmrwmorning?

Thanks for any advice!

I really dont know what to do!

Really! Wow am sory to hear of this! If they stated it needed to be a certified copy then that is what you need. Taking them anything else will just be a waste of your time. I pray you get it in time and are not delayed in your process. I just sent off my AOS / IV packet 2 days ago to the NVC. I did not include and proof of citizenship for my co-sponsor? Is this proof needed for me as well or is it specific to particular countries?

Edited October 26, 2011 by amazngrace

[Lytha 2]

Really! Wow am sory to hear of this! If they stated it needed to be a certified copy then that is what you need. Taking them anything else will just be a waste of your time. I pray you get it in time and are not delayed in your process. I just sent off my AOS / IV packet 2 days ago to the NVC. I did not include and proof of citizenship for my co-sponsor? Is this proof needed for me as well or is it specific to particular countries?

look it up on the instructions : The instructions for me stated : For U.S. citizens or nationals, a copy of your birth certificate, passport, or certificate of naturalization or citizenship. It is just whenever I called that the Embassy told me otherwise. Which doesnt make any sense. If i wouldnt of called, i wouldnt of known and I would of went in with a regular copy in hands. When at the Embassy and talking, no one ever mentioned to me certified/notarized. From what I read here by browsing on VJ, and considering the instructions for the I864 packet - a copy should be sufficient. As you know, or not know, during your interview at the Embassy you get all originals/certified papers back anyway.. So this all just contradicts itself. Instead of waiting on UPS (which is also a waste of time) I might just go up there anyway...

Good luck to you aswell! Read instructions carefully!

[Navyk 78]

Hey guys!

I am debating here on what to do ...

Some of you allready know the story, for others here in short : Went to Embassy last week, missed out on a paper (birthcertificate of Joint Sponsor, basically proof of citizenship) .. anyways,, Called the Embassy back later to ask them what kind of copy they needed,, they said certified copy...

NOW.. If you read the instructions for the filing of I 864 for Joint Sponsor, (where NVC should of noticed it was missing.) It says: For U.S. citizens or nationals, a copy of your birth certificate, passport, or certificate of naturalization or citizenship

So A COPY.

NO specifications...

See, tomorrow I have to go back to the Embassy, if I have the document (right now I have a regular copy of the birthcertificate of jointsponsor).. They only take 'comebacks' on Thursdays, If I don't have the original through UPS by tmorrowmorning, here I have another delay of a week to go back up there... Orrr, I can take the simple copy thats in my email.

What would you do??

Go with a regular copy anyway? If UPS doesnt get the original to me by tmrwmorning?

Thanks for any advice!

I really dont know what to do!

When it comes to Consulates/ Embassies, it is better to take the actual document type they asked for instead of going on the basis of the requirement specification, as they may not like to be told. However if you have a different document say a copy of passport, then it may be worth taking that. Well I hope you get the courier in time.

Edited October 26, 2011 by Navyk

[pushbrk 12,232]

Acceptable evidence of status for a sponsor is a regular copy of passport data page or a photocopy of a certified copy of the birth certificate. If you have a photocopy of a certified copy, you're good to go.

[Darnell 8,478]

Verbal instructions from a Visa Officer (A USCitizen on the staff at the Embassy IV Unit) trump written instructions on the I-864.

Good Luck !

[Lytha 2]

Thanks guys! I'll just go up there with a copy of the original! Hubby emailed it to me, I might as well go tomorrow and see how it works out. What can I lose. On the spot when I was there last week, no one mentioned it needed to be certified. Just 'a copy'. Its whenever I called to ask them, they said 'certified'. Idk what to believe anymore now lol. We'll just see how it works out tomorrow won't we. I'll keep you posted.

[Darnell 8,478]

who or what is 'they' ?

[Lovemad 7]

Thanks guys! I'll just go up there with a copy of the original! Hubby emailed it to me, I might as well go tomorrow and see how it works out. What can I lose. On the spot when I was there last week, no one mentioned it needed to be certified. Just 'a copy'. Its whenever I called to ask them, they said 'certified'. Idk what to believe anymore now lol. We'll just see how it works out tomorrow won't we. I'll keep you posted.

All the best to you. I hope and pray that things work out well for you, and please be sure to let us know how you get on.

[Lytha 2]

Verbal instructions from a Visa Officer (A USCitizen on the staff at the Embassy IV Unit) trump written instructions on the I-864.

Good Luck !

When in there, Consul said copy, people at the windows said copy. No one mentioned 'certified or original' till i called them to check and make sure what days and time I could go back. Consul said regular copy - come back Tuesday. I call Embassy, talk to a lady, ask her what time on Tuesday - she says 'well no we only take comebacks on thursdays'. Than I ask info bout the document of proof of citizenship. Told her my husband would send me that, she says certified. Consul or any other personnel last week didnt even mention the 'certified' part.

Seems like they are very confusing/confused up there. Idk what to believe anymore really...

who or what is 'they' ?

Oh, I'm sorry. The Embassy people. Whoever I got on the phone that day really ...

[Lytha 2]

All the best to you. I hope and pray that things work out well for you, and please be sure to let us know how you get on.

Thanks! Good luck to you aswell!

[pushbrk 12,232]

Thanks! Good luck to you aswell!

Again, they do want just a "copy" but the key is what they want a copy OF. They want a copy of a certified copy of a birth certificate or a copy of the passport data page. Correct instructions from a Consular Officer trump all but sometimes people are just too lazy to give a complete answer.

Photocopy of a certified copy. I can't imagine that what you HAVE is not exactly that. Look at it and see if what you have a copy of isn't a "certified copy". If it is, it will say so.

[mountaingoat 4]

I think it really depends on who you talk to and what day it is. lol A lot of times people who answer the phone do not give you correct answers. When I was gathering documents from my joint sponsor I was confused about whether they wanted a certified copy or regular copy. I called the NVC and was told that the Embassy would not accept a birth certificate as proof of citizenship. They told me they only accepted a passport or naturalization certificate. That was obviously the wrong info!

This week at my husband's interview the US Citizen Consular Officer was ready to let my husband come back for his visa in 2 days but one of the Tunisian employees of the Embassy insisted that my husband had to bring a different copy of our marriage certificate. We had submitted a certified copy that my husband got from the notary who married us. It was then given the stamps of all the proper government agencies. The Tunisian employee said we needed a certified copy from the township. The two discussed it for at least 10 minutes and the CO kept showing the Tunisian employee that it had all the appropriate stamps. In the end the Tunisian employee won and the CO told my husband that he had to bring in the new marriage certificate.

I think it's a good idea to take a regular copy if the certified copy doesn't show up in time. It doesn't hurt to try!

[Navyk 78]

Thanks! Good luck to you aswell!

Go in faith - we are praying for you. All the best.

[Lytha 2]

YES YES YES!!!

Went to the Embassy again today! With the regular copy, and it was totally fine! They were asking around a little bit, it took about 10min untill they said 'OKAY PICK YOUR VISA UP MONDAY!'' TOTALLY APPROVED!!! I AM FLYING HOME TUESDAY!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE ADVICE THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO PROGRESS! For all the prayers send my way! Thank you!

I'm happy as can be with this approval!