Birth certificate VS Passport copies

[mdc 0]

for the F1, for the initial I-129F petition package, which is preferred, a certified birth certificate or passport copies to prove citezenship? i was going to do the BC but each copy is expensive (and i want 3). if i do passport instead, Does the passport copies need to be certified or notarized, or do i just scan each page and print, and maybe signed?

[YuAndDan 153]

USCIS no longer routinely requires submission of original documents or "certified copies." Instead, ordinary legible photocopies of such documents (including naturalization certificates and alien registration cards) will be acceptable for initial filing and approval of petitions and applications.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

[pushbrk 13,176]

for the F1, for the initial I-129F petition package, which is preferred, a certified birth certificate or passport copies to prove citezenship? i was going to do the BC but each copy is expensive (and i want 3). if i do passport instead, Does the passport copies need to be certified or notarized, or do i just scan each page and print, and maybe signed?

I would send a photocopy of a certified copy of BC with your petition. F1 is not the fiance visa. K1 is.

[SonoranSongbird 3]

I would send a photocopy of a certified copy of BC with your petition. F1 is not the fiance visa. K1 is.

That's what I would send. Just to clarify, it has to be the "long form." That's the one that lists whatever information about your parents the county you were born in deems relevant (mine even had the name of the OB who delivered me!). I'm sure photocopies of your passport would be fine instead, but they want ALL the pages--which just adds to the bulk of your package unnecessarily.

[Mike and Elisa 0]

A copy of a certified birth certificate will be fine to show citizenship for the I-129F, but you're also going to need to include a copy of your passport photo page and entry/departure page to document that you made a trip to her country and that you've actually met in person. You are going to need both.

[Mike and Elisa 0]

That's what I would send. Just to clarify, it has to be the "long form." That's the one that lists whatever information about your parents the county you were born in deems relevant (mine even had the name of the OB who delivered me!). I'm sure photocopies of your passport would be fine instead, but they want ALL the pages--which just adds to the bulk of your package unnecessarily.

I've seen others say to send in copies of all pages of the passport too. I just provided copies of the photo page and the entry departure page showing the visit. USCIS never mentioned the lack of the rest of the pages. The NVC never mentioned it. Our embassy interview is in just under two weeks. I'm confident the embassy won't mention it either.

I believe that providing copies of all pages is much more important for the adjustment of status once she gets here than it is for the K-1.

If you want to be absolutely sure, it certainly doesn't hurt to provide copies of all pages.

[hope2018 25]

I sent in a copy of my Birth Cert a copy of her translated birt cert a copy of my passport and one of hers and that was it . Good luck

[YuAndDan 153]

I sent in a copy of my Birth Cert a copy of her translated birt cert a copy of my passport and one of hers and that was it . Good luck

This has to do with PROVING US Citizenship to file the I-129F. Proof of US citizenship can be provided in 3 ways, US Birth Cert, US Naturalization cert, or US Passport (Because to get the passport proof of citizenship was needed).

Just a plain old photo copy of one of the above is acceptable for filing the petition.

Foreign citizen's passport or birth cert are not needed to file the petition, they are needed at the visa interview.

Edited December 20, 2007 by YuAndDan

[SonoranSongbird 3]

I've seen others say to send in copies of all pages of the passport too. I just provided copies of the photo page and the entry departure page showing the visit. USCIS never mentioned the lack of the rest of the pages. The NVC never mentioned it. Our embassy interview is in just under two weeks. I'm confident the embassy won't mention it either.

If you are using passport instead of birth certificate to prove the petitioner is a USC, the instructions for the I129F specifically say to include copies of all pages, I think even including the cover. For entry stamps to prove you have met, they only ask for the ID page and the relevant entry stamps. We also did what you did.

[rosa.sputnik 0]

for the F1, for the initial I-129F petition package, which is preferred, a certified birth certificate or passport copies to prove citezenship? i was going to do the BC but each copy is expensive (and i want 3). if i do passport instead, Does the passport copies need to be certified or notarized, or do i just scan each page and print, and maybe signed?

we sent a unreadable short form of the bc and plain copies of the passport... not notarized, certified or anything... just plain copies...

it was enough since we did not get a rfe...

[pushbrk 13,176]

for the F1, for the initial I-129F petition package, which is preferred, a certified birth certificate or passport copies to prove citezenship? i was going to do the BC but each copy is expensive (and i want 3). if i do passport instead, Does the passport copies need to be certified or notarized, or do i just scan each page and print, and maybe signed?

we sent a unreadable short form of the bc and plain copies of the passport... not notarized, certified or anything... just plain copies...

it was enough since we did not get a rfe...

Perhaps they used your passport copy to prove citizenship and ignored the unreadable birth certificate.

"Short form" and "long form" are not universal descriptions of birth certificates. An acceptable birth certificate from either petitioner or beneficiary/applicant will include full name of self and both parents and the date and place of birth. It will also bear the seal of the issuing authority. (government entity issuing certificate).

Once you've satisfied the evidence of citizenship, passport copies may also be used as evidence of meeting. The cover need not be copied. They all say the same thing. All inner pages indicate USA too.

[mdc 0]

I am aware that the BC OR the passport are needed to prove citzenship. I know that later i will need passport copies. The whole long/short thing doesnt apply because there is just one certified bc to apply for on my city's website. (i am the US fiancee). I still dont know if i should pay 23 bucks per copy to get a (3) certified copy of the birth certificate, or just get one and make copies, or just do the passport pages (whether i do the whole thing, or just the important pages, or whatever). Also, so far i havent read anything indicating that the foreign fiance needs a copy of his bc. so, im still confused

[pushbrk 13,176]

I am aware that the BC OR the passport are needed to prove citzenship. I know that later i will need passport copies. The whole long/short thing doesnt apply because there is just one certified bc to apply for on my city's website. (i am the US fiancee). I still dont know if i should pay 23 bucks per copy to get a (3) certified copy of the birth certificate, or just get one and make copies, or just do the passport pages (whether i do the whole thing, or just the important pages, or whatever). Also, so far i havent read anything indicating that the foreign fiance needs a copy of his bc. so, im still confused

I would get one certified copy of your own birth certificate. With the petition, include a photocopy of it.

Yes, the foreign fiance(e) will need a birth certificate to take to the interview but it is not needed when you file the petition.

If you use the birth certificate copy to prove citizenship, you only need the relevant passport pages copied as evidence of meeting. There should be additional primary evidence of meeting as well, like boarding passes etc.

[payxibka 10,047]

I would get one certified copy of your own birth certificate. With the petition, include a photocopy of it.

Yes, the foreign fiance(e) will need a birth certificate to take to the interview but it is not needed when you file the petition.

If you use the birth certificate copy to prove citizenship, you only need the relevant passport pages copied as evidence of meeting. There should be additional primary evidence of meeting as well, like boarding passes etc.

Are you saying that the foreign fiance(e) requires a certified bc of the USC at the interview?

Edited December 20, 2007 by fwaguy

[pushbrk 13,176]

I would get one certified copy of your own birth certificate. With the petition, include a photocopy of it.

Yes, the foreign fiance(e) will need a birth certificate to take to the interview but it is not needed when you file the petition.

If you use the birth certificate copy to prove citizenship, you only need the relevant passport pages copied as evidence of meeting. There should be additional primary evidence of meeting as well, like boarding passes etc.

Are you saying that the foreign fiance(e) requires a certified bc of the USC at the interview?

No. Do you read something that looks like I'm saying that? The foreign fiance needs their own birth certificate at the interview.

Since you ask, having a certified copy of the USC's birth certificate on hand at the interview is a good idea, my wife did, but it was not asked for. I would consider such a request quite rare, because USCIS has already ruled on any citizenship issue.