Original Birth and Marriage Certificates

[siyaram 0]

I do not have my NOA2 yet but I looked over the instruction sheet for Packet 3 (K-3). They request original birth and marriage certificates. Would these originals be handed to VFS office when submitting documents or is the beneficiary supposed to only take during interview?

Also, would these originals be surely returned during the interview? I am a bit concerned in submitting the originals. I am also going to check if I can have my wife visit the respective authorities to have another original certificates from them. That might be a safer option just in case those originals are not returned back.

Is petitioner's birth certificate required to be submitted? I am assuming that its only beneficiary's thats required.

Thank you.

Edited September 10, 2008 by siyaram

[Dakine 26]

For one don't count on originals being returned.

For two have wife get at least 3 original copies of all the documents related to your case. You may need them later and it can be a "mother dog" getting them once she's in the US.

Edited September 10, 2008 by Haole

[ELW 5]

For one don't count on originals being returned.

What do you mean? My hubby handed over his original documents like birth certificate, Police Clearance Certificate, Mother's Affidavit, etc., to the VFS office and he got them all back during the interview. I have heard the same thing from all the others who went through India.

Yes only beneficiarie's birth certificate is required, but I sent mine to India for him to take to the interview just in case. No one asked to see it though.

Siyaram, I have heard recent regulations that require you to send the original documents to the NVC after the NOA2 comes. I suppose the NVC then sends it to India to be returned during the interview. You'll have to see posts of recent interviews to check about other's experiences with that. And yes, if your wife is able to get more original copies of documents like Haole said, go ahead and do so. It is always good to have more copies!

[DanielParul 50]

Yes, I submitted all originals to the VFS before the interview and got all documents back during my interview (most had not even been opened, let alone lost)

[siyaram 0]

Thank you all for your responses. We will try to get additional original documents to submit to VFS. If we can't, we will submit the original to VFS and look forward to getting it back during the interview.

ELW - You mentioned that I will need to send the documents to NVC after NOA2. Are you referring to CR1? I have filed for K-3 although I plan to follow both routes once I-130 and I-129F gets approved to see if I can convert K-3 interview to CR1. I will however, check the recent posts to understand the new regulations.

Once again, thanks all for your responses