Consulate kept original birth certificate at interview

[Klam 24]

Hi, my wife just had her consulate interview today for CR-1 visa.  During the document check prior to the actual interview, she handed over her original birth certificate along with a scanned copy.  The clerk kept the original and gave back the scanned copy (the two are very easy to distinguish).  She was given verbal approval for her visa by the CO but they still have her original BC.  Is this normal?  Can she expect to get it back?

[pushbrk 12,106]

16 minutes ago, Klam said:

Hi, my wife just had her consulate interview today for CR-1 visa.  During the document check prior to the actual interview, she handed over her original birth certificate along with a scanned copy.  The clerk kept the original and gave back the scanned copy (the two are very easy to distinguish).  She was given verbal approval for her visa by the CO but they still have her original BC.  Is this normal?  Can she expect to get it back?

Not normal.  Should not expect to get it back.

[Klam 24]

That’s problematic.  She’s been emailing the consulate about it.  Getting a new BC is practically impossible as she was actually born in Venezuela.  Did some foolish clerk keep it by mistake?  Is there any hope in resolving this and getting it back?

[Ontarkie 13,915]

Originals are normally never given back. i filled a form to ask for some of my original documents back. They sent me pictures and a letter saying they do not give back government documents. I was like what it's not even your government. So ya I ordered 7 certified copies for the rest. AOS, ROC N400. I wasn't going to repeat that again. 

 

You can try before the they seal it all up but don't hold your breath. 

[KartineeKartoons 434]

9 hours ago, Klam said:

Hi, my wife just had her consulate interview today for CR-1 visa.  During the document check prior to the actual interview, she handed over her original birth certificate along with a scanned copy.  The clerk kept the original and gave back the scanned copy (the two are very easy to distinguish).  She was given verbal approval for her visa by the CO but they still have her original BC.  Is this normal?  Can she expect to get it back?

Hi did she bring originals of petitioner’s documents to interview (AOS, tax docs, W2) Thank you. 

[Klam 24]

Yes, she brought everything.  They kept copies of some docs and didn’t seem to care about others.  The BC is the only original that they kept.  According to my wife, the clerk didn’t seem very organized.  Didn’t speak English well and overlooked some docs that the CO later asked to see (CO specifically said the clerk made some mistakes).  This is why we suspect a mistake was made in keeping the BC.

[carmel34 3,529]

Standard interview protocol is to ask to see originals of all civil documents plus a photocopy.  They will review them and if satisfied, keep the photocopy for their file.  The only original they will keep is the applicant's passport so that they can (hopefully) put the visa inside it if approved eventually.  Visa applicants need to be familiar with the protocol to help prevent mistakes like the one that happened in your case.  All you can do is ask for the original back, but be prepared to send away for another one if you don't get what you want.

Edited June 11, 2019 by carmel34

[John & Rose 7,237]

Consular Services don't return any paperwork if submitted.  We had originals and copies.  The pre-interviewer looked at the originals and kept the copies.  We lost annulment paperwork at our K-1 last year and learned that lesson.  You will not get the originals back.

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

Always have copies of originals. Everytime you submit something, they keep it 99% of the time.

[JISnJRS 22]

The Original as to be sent in? Cant get by with a photocopy?

[Teetop 4]

15 hours ago, Klam said:

Hi, my wife just had her consulate interview today for CR-1 visa.  During the document check prior to the actual interview, she handed over her original birth certificate along with a scanned copy.  The clerk kept the original and gave back the scanned copy (the two are very easy to distinguish).  She was given verbal approval for her visa by the CO but they still have her original BC.  Is this normal?  Can she expect to get it back?

Firstly, I would advise you to keep eyes on ceac status, probably they want to run additional background check as per the birth certificate. Secondly, they might send it back with your visa to the pick up address.. best of luck 

[NikLR 13,220]

Sometimes its in the packet sent when you POE if you get a physical packet.  She can try to get it then.  However Canada mostly does electronic packages so don't hold your breath. 

Im a little confused since this showed up in my Canada portal but you said the BC is Venezuelan? 

Edited June 12, 2019 by NikLR

[Klam 24]

Thanks for the responses.  To clarify, my wife is a Canadian national and currently resides in Toronto.  However, she was born in Venezuela (which is effectively a failed state at this point) so getting a new BC isn’t practical.  We emailed the Montreal consulate and they said that this is normal and they’d send the BC back with the passport.  This is contrary to conventional wisdom on VJ but that’s what they said.  Guess I’ll find out sooner or later.  Unfortunately, as of April 1, 2019, petitioners are no longer allowed to accompany the interviewee in the Montreal consulate so I wasn’t able to catch this and remind her to ask on the spot.  Seems to me that we won’t need the BC for RoC or naturalization so that’s a bright spot.

[geowrian 22,335]

It’s not that they won’t or can’t return the original, but never expect to get anything you submit back. If you do, great.

Edited June 12, 2019 by geowrian

[KartineeKartoons 434]

1 hour ago, Klam said:

Thanks for the responses.  To clarify, my wife is a Canadian national and currently resides in Toronto.  However, she was born in Venezuela (which is effectively a failed state at this point) so getting a new BC isn’t practical.  We emailed the Montreal consulate and they said that this is normal and they’d send the BC back with the passport.  This is contrary to conventional wisdom on VJ but that’s what they said.  Guess I’ll find out sooner or later.  Unfortunately, as of April 1, 2019, petitioners are no longer allowed to accompany the interviewee in the Montreal consulate so I wasn’t able to catch this and remind her to ask on the spot.  Seems to me that we won’t need the BC for RoC or naturalization so that’s a bright spot.

Please come back and update when the passport comes. I hope they send it back. Thank you