I Hole Punched My Certified Marriage Certificate

[Team J and B 2]

I accidentally two-hole punched my certified marriage certificate. On the bottom the certificate it says: Any alteration or erasure voids this certificate.

Thank goodness I ordered two certified copies. But that just means I now have to send the unblemished one with my AOS packet and the hole-punched one is void. I have to order another one.

Don't be careless and make the same mistake I did!

(Hubby says we should just shred the hole-punched one, but I think it's useable as proof of our marriage. I mean, when we need to show it as proof, it surely looks and feels real with real ink smudges and the raised seal. Or should I just shred it? Arghhh!)

[Galateia 1]

B)-->

QUOTE(Team J and B @ May 30 2008, 12:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I accidentally two-hole punched my certified marriage certificate. On the bottom the certificate it says: Any alteration or erasure voids this certificate.

Thank goodness I ordered two certified copies. But that just means I now have to send the unblemished one with my AOS packet and the hole-punched one is void. I have to order another one.

Don't be careless and make the same mistake I did!

(Hubby says we should just shred the hole-punched one, but I think it's useable as proof of our marriage. I mean, when we need to show it as proof, it surely looks and feels real with real ink smudges and the raised seal. Or should I just shred it? Arghhh!)

When we got out marriage license the county clerk warned us that it was the only original that we'd ever get, so to keep it safe and get certified copies for all paperwork. So if we lost it, etc, we would never get another fancypants official document with the shiny seals and all.

It may differ for each county. Good call on the certified copies, though!

[Heliosphan 1]

B)-->

QUOTE(Team J and B @ May 30 2008, 12:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I accidentally two-hole punched my certified marriage certificate. On the bottom the certificate it says: Any alteration or erasure voids this certificate.

Thank goodness I ordered two certified copies. But that just means I now have to send the unblemished one with my AOS packet and the hole-punched one is void. I have to order another one.

Don't be careless and make the same mistake I did!

(Hubby says we should just shred the hole-punched one, but I think it's useable as proof of our marriage. I mean, when we need to show it as proof, it surely looks and feels real with real ink smudges and the raised seal. Or should I just shred it? Arghhh!)

If you hole punched it to put in the ACCO fasteners that's fine. Alteration or erasure means changing the content.

[Team J and B 2]

WAY-DA-MINNIT!

Are you positive? That's exactly the reason why I hole-punched it. Did you do the same? Did anyone do it to put in the ACCO fastener? I just feel like the government will take everything literally. If there's a hole then they'll send the whole packet back to me...

[Heliosphan 1]

B)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Team J and B @ May 30 2008, 01:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->WAY-DA-MINNIT!

Are you positive? That's exactly the reason why I hole-punched it. Did you do the same? Did anyone do it to put in the ACCO fastener? I just feel like the government will take everything literally. If there's a hole then they'll send the whole packet back to me...

They're humans at the USCIS, they know the reason you're hole punching the documents is to put them together.

I hole punched mine and it's fine thus far. They just want proof of your marriage.

Edited May 30, 2008 by Heliosphan

[K&W 0]

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QUOTE(Team J and B @ May 30 2008, 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

WAY-DA-MINNIT!

Are you positive? That's exactly the reason why I hole-punched it. Did you do the same? Did anyone do it to put in the ACCO fastener? I just feel like the government will take everything literally. If there's a hole then they'll send the whole packet back to me...

I did. That's the way USCIS and VJ recommended.

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

Hope this helps..

[ready4ONE 5,400]

We punched holes in our certified copy of Marriage license to use the ACCO fasteners and somehow slipped through USCIS. If you don't they will. We saw our actual file at the interview, it was huge, and everything in it was punched.

[English Muffin 59]

I hole punched mine. But then again I just sent a photocopy of my original certificate, there's no need to send a certified copy.

[Team J and B 2]

Thanks for the assurance. As to not sending in the original marriage certificate, I just read the USCIS site and it seems a photocopy is sufficient (but didn't list marriage certificate, but I would assume so) so that's good for other people to know.

Did you all use one ACCO fastener? I used five: I-485, G-325A, I-864 (thick as it contained 2007-2005 tax assessments), I-751, I-131. Is that overkill?

Edited May 30, 2008 by Team J and B

[Heliosphan 1]

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QUOTE(Team J and B @ May 30 2008, 11:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the assurance. As to not sending in the original marriage certificate, I just read the USCIS site and it seems a photocopy is sufficient (but didn't list marriage certificate, but I would assume so) so that's good for other people to know.

Did you all use one ACCO fastener? I used five: I-485, G-325A, I-864 (thick as it contained 2007-2005 tax assessments), I-751, I-131. Is that overkill?

I used two for each form, fastened at the top (not at the side).

I think you need certified copies of the marriage certificate not just photocopies. Photocopies of the birth certificate is fine.

[Cassie 8]

I have only sent in photocopies of my marriage certificate -- got me through the AOS process fine, we'll see about removing of conditions.

[Steph0814 1]

I received 3 originals and only sent them the photocopy with mine...

It says a specifically a copy for the 485. And bring an Original to the Interview....

Do you think I will get a RFE for that?

[English Muffin 59]

I think you need certified copies of the marriage certificate not just photocopies. Photocopies of the birth certificate is fine.

Nope, photocopies are fine. This is what it says on the instructions for the I-485;

Copies. Unless specifically required that an original document be filed with an application or petition, an ordinary legible photocopy may be submitted. Original documents submitted when not required will remain a part of the record, even if the submission was not required.

[Heliosphan 1]

Do you think I will get a RFE for that?

No, if it's a legible copy it'll be fine.

In New York certified copies are exactly the same as the original

[Mrs D. 13]

Do you think I will get a RFE for that?

No, if it's a legible copy it'll be fine.

In New York certified copies are exactly the same as the original

Same i Ohio And we got 15 certified copies just to make sure they'll last us a while