Will USCIS accept the customer copy of marriage certificate with Form I-130?

[yaoyu 0]

Hi All

Is anyone here married in Los Angeles or California?

I'm getting all the forms together to apply for AOS for my wife. I understand the uscis doesn't require original documents or certified copies of documents anymore. When I submit Form I-130 where I have to include a marrige certificate can I submit the customer copy that I get after our court ceremony? They told me that the customer copy version just has the "Customer Copy" watermark across the paper, but it's exactly the same document that gets filed. The county clerk told me that it's not going to be a certified copy since it hasn't been officially recorded at the county clerk's office yet. If I want a certified copy I will have to wait 6-8 weeks for them to mail it to me. They are unable to give certified copies right after the ceremony. I want to get the packet mailed out so the uscis puts it in pending status so my wife can remain in the country as her OPT status is expiring in May '08. Just wanted to make sure I can mail in a photocopy of marriage certificate customer copy. I plan on getting a certified copy for our own records to use in the interview if needed. I can wait for that since the interview won't be until later. I just want to get the initial forms sent in asap.

Thanks in advance.

[YuAndDan 153]

You will need to send a copy of the actual certificate, I am not sure what an adjudicator would do with one that says "Customer Copy" on it, they may RFE you for it.

I would send it in with the "customer Copy" and get a certified one ASAP and have it ready in case you get an RFE, and also bring the certified one with you to the visa interview.

On a different note, you may want to check out "A Candle For Love" that site deals with Chinese immigrations issues, and has many members that have dealt with Hong Kong.

http://candleforlove.com

[yaoyu 0]

Will definitely go through the site. Thanks for the referring it.

I don't know why the recorder's office takes so long to file the marriage certificate, but that's probably their standard policy. I'll be asking them tomorrow why it takes them so long to file and to get a certified copy. I'll probably just get some generic answer that has always been their policy and everyone has to wait.

Our paperwork is relatively easy after going through all the forms. If I wait 6-8 weeks to receive the marriage certificate before mailing in the entire packet am I potentially putting her status to be able to remain in the US at risk? Or should I go by your advice and send the packet in with a copy of the "customer copy" marriage certificate and if it's rejected I can send in a certified copy afterwards. The thing is if the packet is rejected for any reason that still doesn't give my wife conditional status to remain in the US while we wait for the all the approvals to process through does it? I'm sure that's the case, but perhaps you can give me an actual answer, but the uscis website is a maze of information and you really can't find anything easy there.

Thanks again.

[YuAndDan 153]

Will definitely go through the site. Thanks for the referring it.

I don't know why the recorder's office takes so long to file the marriage certificate, but that's probably their standard policy. I'll be asking them tomorrow why it takes them so long to file and to get a certified copy. I'll probably just get some generic answer that has always been their policy and everyone has to wait.

Our paperwork is relatively easy after going through all the forms. If I wait 6-8 weeks to receive the marriage certificate before mailing in the entire packet am I potentially putting her status to be able to remain in the US at risk? Or should I go by your advice and send the packet in with a copy of the "customer copy" marriage certificate and if it's rejected I can send in a certified copy afterwards. The thing is if the packet is rejected for any reason that still doesn't give my wife conditional status to remain in the US while we wait for the all the approvals to process through does it? I'm sure that's the case, but perhaps you can give me an actual answer, but the uscis website is a maze of information and you really can't find anything easy there.

Thanks again.

An RFE is not a rejection, it is a request for additional evidence, the case remains open and waiting at USCIS while you send them what they are requesting.