Which documents require originals?

[waitman 0]

Hello all, may your waits be less painful and their fruit rewarding!

I'm the USC petitioner for our I-129f and have been following the NOLA book on marriage immigration while working on our application. In the chapter that deals with consular processing, there is a checklist of items that my foreign fiance has to bring for the interview at the consulate. The list seems to suggest that the ORIGINALS of the following are required:

1. NOA2 Notice

2. USC's proof of citizenship such as a naturalization certificate or a birth certificate (they've gotta be kidding!)

3. Other items submitted as a part of the original I-129F (plane boarding passes or receipts).

Is that really right? If possible, I'd prefer sending down copies since should the originals be lost it's gonna be a major pain to replace them.

What have you done about the above? If a copy is acceptable, should it be notarized or will my scanner and printer alone do the job?

Thanks!

[Dan J 277]

Hello all, may your waits be less painful and their fruit rewarding!

I'm the USC petitioner for our I-129f and have been following the NOLA book on marriage immigration while working on our application. In the chapter that deals with consular processing, there is a checklist of items that my foreign fiance has to bring for the interview at the consulate. The list seems to suggest that the ORIGINALS of the following are required:

1. NOA2 Notice

2. USC's proof of citizenship such as a naturalization certificate or a birth certificate (they've gotta be kidding!)

3. Other items submitted as a part of the original I-129F (plane boarding passes or receipts).

Is that really right? If possible, I'd prefer sending down copies since should the originals be lost it's gonna be a major pain to replace them.

What have you done about the above? If a copy is acceptable, should it be notarized or will my scanner and printer alone do the job?

Thanks!

1. The consulate/embassy does not even need it. But you will need it for AOS. Even then, only a copy is needed.

2. Not needed for USC, unless included as part of I-134. But then a copy is fine. For the beneficiary, the original is needed with a translation if requested.

3. Copies are fine, the consulate will get the petition that you sent to the USCIS. So you don't need to provide more copies of the evidence you have already sent.

The only thing you need originals or certified copies for are the beneficiaries birth certificate, divorce decrees if either of you have had previous marriages and police certificate.