RFE For Proof of Citizenship (Passport)

[OldUser 10,900]

3 hours ago, mythlin said:

 

I wonder if we can like contact USCIS in some way (maybe using the live chat or something?) to ask for clarification because we're worried about getting this wrong and getting denied.

Unlikely going to help. USCIS does not provide legal advice. When you called them, you get "welcomed" by a robot, which is difficult to bypass. When you finally speak to a person (phone or chat), it is a low wage hourly worker who has no clue what they're talking about. And the worst part, they make up answers to finish your call or chat sooner, so they can take next person's question improving their performance for statistics.

 

I would try getting more traction here or even employing a lawyer. The reason I didn't give advice of what to do, is because this may be more complex than what it appears to be. That's why I asked where the petitioner was born etc. Because it seems like USCIS for whatever reason is not convinced they are a citizen. Wrong  or incomplete reply to RFE may result in petition denial, e.g. time and money wasted.

Edited 10 hours ago by OldUser

[mythlin 5]

8 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Unlikely going to help. USCIS does not provide legal advice. When you called them, you get "welcomed" by a robot, which is difficult to bypass. When you finally speak to a person (phone or chat), it is a low wage hourly worker who has no clue what they're talking about. And the worst part, they make up answers to finish your call or chat sooner, so they can take next person's question improving their performance for statistics.

 

I would try getting more traction here or even employing a lawyer. The reason I didn't give advice of what to do, is because this may be more complex than what it appears to be. That's why I asked where the petitioner was born etc. Because it seems like USCIS for whatever reason is not convinced they are a citizen.

 

Yeah I thought so regarding contacting USCIS, since I've seen others say the same about the support being unhelpful.

 

And I see. Perhaps they did get confused in some way? The petitioner is a US born Citizen (in California specifically) so I wonder why they wouldn't be convinced, if that is the reason.

 

I do wonder if it could be something like, maybe they just want both the birth certificate (which is what we originally sent) and passport, since it only specified passport? (And with the vague wording, apparently both of our passports? Although I'm still not sure of what to make of that.)

 

Thank you for responding yet again though, it's all helpful .

Edited 10 hours ago by mythlin

[OldUser 10,900]

4 minutes ago, mythlin said:

 

Yeah I thought so regarding contacting USCIS, since I've seen others say the same about the support being unhelpful.

 

And I see. Perhaps they did get confused in some way? The petitioner is a US born Citizen (in California specifically) so I wonder why they wouldn't be convinced, if that is the reason.

 

I do wonder if it could be something like, maybe they just want both the birth certificate (which is what we originally sent) and passport, since it only specified passport? (And with the vague wording, apparently both of our passports? Although I'm still not sure of what to make of that.)

Was certificate short form or long form version? If short version was sent this could explain at least why they're not happy about sponsor's documentation.

 

As for beneficiary, do they live in the country of their birth and citizenship or let's say they're Nigerian citizen living in the UK?

Edited 10 hours ago by OldUser

[mythlin 5]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

Was certificate short form or long form version? If short version was sent this could explain at least why they're not happy about sponsor's documentation.

 

As for beneficiary, do they live in the country of their birth and citizenship or let's say they're Nigerian citizen living in the UK?

 

It was the long form version, so really don't know why it wasn't enough!

 

The beneficiary lives in the country of their birth and citizenship, which is the United Kingdom, yes.

 

Thanks for the extra questions though to try and understand the possible reasons !

 

[Coco8 1,060]

I think it would be bizarre to request you to submit the actual passports. If you look over all of their website, it always says "copy of...".

 

The passports could get lost in the mail. They also don't have any way to return them to you. Whenever they ask for the real thing, they also request an envelope with postage so they can return things to you. 

 

During the interview, you have to take originals for everything you submitted as a 'copy'. 

 

I would submit copies of both passports. Like someone else said, send copy of all pages (except the blank pages without stamps). Maybe your husband has a very common name. I also saw that they are getting more stringent with someone background checks, so that could be another issue. For instance, I saw someone who is a naturalized citizen and only submitted copies of passport get an RFE to also submit citizenship certificate.

 

 

[mythlin 5]

8 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

I think it would be bizarre to request you to submit the actual passports. If you look over all of their website, it always says "copy of...".

 

The passports could get lost in the mail. They also don't have any way to return them to you. Whenever they ask for the real thing, they also request an envelope with postage so they can return things to you. 

 

During the interview, you have to take originals for everything you submitted as a 'copy'. 

 

I would submit copies of both passports. Like someone else said, send copy of all pages (except the blank pages without stamps). Maybe your husband has a very common name. I also saw that they are getting more stringent with someone background checks, so that could be another issue. For instance, I saw someone who is a naturalized citizen and only submitted copies of passport get an RFE to also submit citizenship certificate.

 

 

 

Yes it seems bizarre to us too for sure, and exactly for the reasons you said here, like them getting lost. Thank you for replying with this information, and with further clarification on what USCIS would do if they did want the original document.

 

Upon reading more instructions, it does seem like they would specifically state if they wanted any original documents, so we're doing exactly what you and others have said.

 

So specifically we're gonna send:

• One complete photocopy of the Petitioner's passport (all pages).
• One complete photocopy of the Beneficiary's passport (all pages).
• A certified copy of the Petitioner's birth certificate (we originally only sent a photocopy with the I-129F application).
• A photocopy of the Beneficiary's birth certificate.

We'll update this post with the result of the RFE as soon as we know for the sake of future applicants looking this information up .

 

And interesting about the being more stringent with background checks, maybe it's to do with the petitioner (who is a US born citizen) having one parent who is naturalised that got flagged? I guess we'll never know, but interesting for sure.