Accidentally Submitted an Original Birth Certificate

[mconfes 0]

Hello--

I live in Chicago and submitted my case to chicago. Is it possible for me to retreive a document that I inadvertantly submitted to the USCIS?

I think I submitted my wife's original birth certificate (i know, bad mistake) and need to retrieve it, if possible. Anyone have any experience with this?

Appreciate any help.

[LaL 418]

Is it impossible to obtain a new birth certificate from her home country?

[reeses16 8]

If that doesn't work, read this post it tells you how to request orginals: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry1138519

[raymaga 25]

If you have a photocopy of her birth certificate, take it with you to your interview, and they may give you the original back and keep the photocopy in her file.

If you don't have a copy of it, you could try asking them if they could make a copy while you're at the interview. I'm not sure if they'll make copies for you, but it can't hurt to ask.

Good luck.

[jsnearline 2]

My understanding is that USCIS is not required to return an original to you in situations where they do not request one but you send one anyway. In cases where they request an original you can request to have it returned once they've processed your case.

[Otto 83]

Hello--

I live in Chicago and submitted my case to chicago. Is it possible for me to retreive a document that I inadvertantly submitted to the USCIS?

I think I submitted my wife's original birth certificate (i know, bad mistake) and need to retrieve it, if possible. Anyone have any experience with this?

Appreciate any help.

Are you not certain?

At any rate - as far as my knowledge goes - it is typically not likely to obtain/retrieve original documents previously submitted - however, as suggested, it may be possible to request the BC at interview (should you have one).

[LKDougherty 0]

We also submitted his original birth certificate. Yikes! We had to have his parents get another one and mail it to us.

[mconfes 0]

My understanding is that USCIS is not required to return an original to you in situations where they do not request one but you send one anyway. In cases where they request an original you can request to have it returned once they've processed your case.

Thanks. I know we submitted the required documentation; I just don't remember if we sent the original or not. Reason being, I can't find the original. I have copies so that's good. I'll try to talk to USCIS and see wha they say. In the worst case scenario I'll try to request the original at the Interview.

Another question: At the interview, does the immigration officer actual have his hands on all of the documents (the packet) that we originally submitted? If so, that would be great.

[pushbrk 12,968]

If you have a photocopy of her birth certificate, take it with you to your interview, and they may give you the original back and keep the photocopy in her file.

If you don't have a copy of it, you could try asking them if they could make a copy while you're at the interview. I'm not sure if they'll make copies for you, but it can't hurt to ask.

Good luck.

Good plan and it should work fine if you have a copy. They might take pity on you and make a copy if you beg humbly.

[Carlawarla 1]

I'd request the original back...explaining what happened at the interview. However, you may not even get an interview! My advise would be, if you don't get an interview, and can't find an "original" in your own papers, then get one...or better yet, get a couple more certified copies from your wife's country, and then you'll have them. I did hear about one VJ'er quite some time ago, where after adjudicating their case, they sent the original back, but I think this was just a specific case, not the norm. They did this of their own volition, not because someone contacted them requesting this. I think due to the volume of files they're working on, and those that are waiting, they wouldn't send it back even if they could find it!

Edited March 17, 2008 by Carlawarla

[mconfes 0]

Ok, thanks very much for the input.