beneficiary birth certificate required for AoS?!

[Zadan 1]

Hi,

I'm the U.S.C. and married my wife last Nov 24th. She has a SS# now and we've changed her last name (awaiting new card now). She came in on a K1 and went through immigration just fine--but they took her package of documents that had her BC + translation. She does have her own int'l passport.

In the I-485 document I only see that it states: "Attach a copy of the fiancé(e) petition approval notice and the marriage certificate" for K1s (our case).

We are getting ready to send in her AoS application, and the guides here say we need her birth certificate (and English translation). Is that actually true? To get a certified copy at this point would be particularly difficult and would have to be done by her mom back home.

Edited December 8, 2007 by Zadan

[Neonred 3,446]

They did asked to see my wife's birth certificate at our AOS interview. It was the second that was asked for after the marriage certificate.

You didn't really send in the only copy you had, right? You sent in a photo copy and kept the original or copy you had, right? If not, time to start getting that birth certificate and translation again.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Does she not have her original birth certificate??? if she does not have this you will need to get one.... you will need it..

Kez

[seng 0]

i sent them a copy of my birth certificate (non-english) and one in english translated by myself signed and dated certified (by me)

[Zadan 1]

Does she not have her original birth certificate??? if she does not have this you will need to get one.... you will need it..

Kez

She has her original one but it's back in Ukraine! So it will take awhile to get another certified copy and translation.

They did asked to see my wife's birth certificate at our AOS interview. It was the second that was asked for after the marriage certificate.

You didn't really send in the only copy you had, right? You sent in a photo copy and kept the original or copy you had, right? If not, time to start getting that birth certificate and translation again.

We haven't yet sent in the AoS application, that's why I'm asking. I didn't see it mentioned anywhere.

[Jasman0717 8]

You can't go wrong if you follow the VJ guide

[AUBGER 0]

Does she not have her original birth certificate??? if she does not have this you will need to get one.... you will need it..

Kez

She has her original one but it's back in Ukraine! So it will take awhile to get another certified copy and translation.

They did asked to see my wife's birth certificate at our AOS interview. It was the second that was asked for after the marriage certificate.

You didn't really send in the only copy you had, right? You sent in a photo copy and kept the original or copy you had, right? If not, time to start getting that birth certificate and translation again.

We haven't yet sent in the AoS application, that's why I'm asking. I didn't see it mentioned anywhere.

how long can it take? In moldova, the neighboring country it can be done in 1 day! and if her mom sends it through DHL or something you can have it in 2 days!

[zzzonzo 0]

From everything I've read, you need a certified copy for the application. Just a photocopy of a certified copy will do, if you have one of those. You will need an original certified copy for the interview though. So I would think if you have any sort of copy and either have a copy of a certified translation, or if you can obtain a certified translation locally, you could file using that and meanwhile start the wheels turning on getting a certified copy to bring to your interview. Make sure you don't send the original of your certified translation either, just a photocopy.

Check the instructions and you'll see it mentions that the only originals required to be sent are the forms themselves. Everything else can be copies.

[kim&james 0]

Always send photocopies of original documents to the USCIS. Take the originals with you to the interview.

[AUBGER 0]

From everything I've read, you need a certified copy for the application. Just a photocopy of a certified copy will do, if you have one of those. You will need an original certified copy for the interview though. So I would think if you have any sort of copy and either have a copy of a certified translation, or if you can obtain a certified translation locally, you could file using that and meanwhile start the wheels turning on getting a certified copy to bring to your interview. Make sure you don't send the original of your certified translation either, just a photocopy.

Check the instructions and you'll see it mentions that the only originals required to be sent are the forms themselves. Everything else can be copies.

her birth certificate is in Cyrillic...she HAS to have it translated!

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

They asked for originals of it at our AOS interview, so better be safe and have it

[Zadan 1]

They asked for originals of it at our AOS interview, so better be safe and have it

Ok. Did you just send a copy with your I-485 though?

[Zadan 1]

how long can it take? In moldova, the neighboring country it can be done in 1 day! and if her mom sends it through DHL or something you can have it in 2 days!

Her mom lives in a very small town about 45mins from a nearby city where it could be done and works odd hours, so it's not so straightforward. Otherwise, it could be done in a day there too.

Edited December 8, 2007 by Zadan

[Zadan 1]

From everything I've read, you need a certified copy for the application. Just a photocopy of a certified copy will do, if you have one of those. You will need an original certified copy for the interview though. So I would think if you have any sort of copy and either have a copy of a certified translation, or if you can obtain a certified translation locally, you could file using that and meanwhile start the wheels turning on getting a certified copy to bring to your interview. Make sure you don't send the original of your certified translation either, just a photocopy.

Check the instructions and you'll see it mentions that the only originals required to be sent are the forms themselves. Everything else can be copies.

Ok, I think what we'll do then is have her mom obtain a certified copy and translation, scan+email it to us so we can send the I-485--and have her send the originals via snail-mail. By the time the actual interview occurs, we should have the originals on hand.

Edited December 8, 2007 by Zadan

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Can I ask why she did not bring the original with her when she came here?

Kez