Do we need to include copies of originals with DS-230?

[champi 13]

Hello all,

For all whose case is complete, did you guys include copies of original documents (such as Marriage certificate, Birth Certificate, PCCs) in the package along with originals? A friend of mine went through this process last year and he had included copies of following:

1. Passport’s Biographic Data Page of the Beneficiary (so basically two copies in package)

2. Birth Certificate of the Beneficiary

3. Marriage Certificate of the Beneficiary and the Petitioner

4. Police Certificates of the Beneficiary

Thanks for your help.

[gaeliza 0]

Hello all,

For all whose case is complete, did you guys include copies of original documents (such as Marriage certificate, Birth Certificate, PCCs) in the package along with originals? A friend of mine went through this process last year and he had included copies of following:

1. Passport’s Biographic Data Page of the Beneficiary (so basically two copies in package)

2. Birth Certificate of the Beneficiary

3. Marriage Certificate of the Beneficiary and the Petitioner

4. Police Certificates of the Beneficiary

Thanks for your help.

I asked this question as well. I am nervous about sending originals and certified copies are impossible since we were married in Kuwait. The instructions clearly state to send originals.

[champi 13]

Hi gaeliza,

I am also bit uneasy about sending originals but at the same time I don't want to risk RFEs so I am going to go with originals. I basically want to know if we would need to include copies of the originals in the package along with originals so they keep copies and we get originals back at the interview time...

[johndecka 0]

Hello all,

For all whose case is complete, did you guys include copies of original documents (such as Marriage certificate, Birth Certificate, PCCs) in the package along with originals? A friend of mine went through this process last year and he had included copies of following:

1. Passport’s Biographic Data Page of the Beneficiary (so basically two copies in package)

2. Birth Certificate of the Beneficiary

3. Marriage Certificate of the Beneficiary and the Petitioner

4. Police Certificates of the Beneficiary

Thanks for your help.

Make the copies and get them Certified. Then send the Certified ones.

[trailmix 77]

Make the copies and get them Certified. Then send the Certified ones.

No, don't do that.

They want originals or certified copies from the issuing entity - ie Government office that issues documents in your country - not certified photocopies.

You can look at the instructions here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html

Yes, you need to send a photocopy of each original you send, along with the original.

Birth Certificate

Court and Prison Records

Deportation Documentation

Marriage Certificate

Marriage Termination Documentation

Military Records

Petitioner Documents

Photocopy of Valid Passport Biographic Data Page

Police Certificate(s)

Edited March 31, 2009 by trailmix

[gixbr 0]

champi, I don't yet if I got a RFE but look what I sent (this is part of my cover letter):

 Two (2) Passport Size Photographs of Beneficiary.

 DS-230 Part 1 completed and signed by beneficiary

 DS-230 Part 2 completed by beneficiary – unsigned.

 Photocopy of the beneficiary's passport biographic data page.

 Certified Birth Certificate of beneficiary.

 Certified Marriage Certificate.

 Original police certificates of the beneficiary.

 A set of photocopies of the certified or original documents.

I sent a set of photocopies in the end, with paper clip, I don't know if it's the right to do but i didn't read anywhere how to do it. I hope it works that way.

[champi 13]

thanks guys. That answers my question

[gaeliza 0]

Hi gaeliza,

I am also bit uneasy about sending originals but at the same time I don't want to risk RFEs so I am going to go with originals. I basically want to know if we would need to include copies of the originals in the package along with originals so they keep copies and we get originals back at the interview time...

My instructions say to send one copy with the originals and when I talked to the girl at NVC she also said to send originals and a copy

[May May 0]

Do we need to translate the documents that are sent.

[champi 13]

Do we need to translate the documents that are sent.

I believe so. See the link below

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/..._IV_Package.29:

Also, more about this on official NVC link:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html

Edited March 31, 2009 by champi

[May May 0]

Do we need to translate the documents that are sent.

I believe so. See the link below

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/..._IV_Package.29:

All documents not in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made

This is what confuses me, it says or in the official language of the country

[gaeliza 0]

Do we need to translate the documents that are sent.

yes and they have to be translated by an approved translator, not just anyone, there is a link on the NVC site for the country you are involved with that posts a list of approved translators

[Dan & Juan 12]

Hello all,

For all whose case is complete, did you guys include copies of original documents (such as Marriage certificate, Birth Certificate, PCCs) in the package along with originals? A friend of mine went through this process last year and he had included copies of following:

1. Passport’s Biographic Data Page of the Beneficiary (so basically two copies in package)

2. Birth Certificate of the Beneficiary

3. Marriage Certificate of the Beneficiary and the Petitioner

4. Police Certificates of the Beneficiary

Thanks for your help.

Well now I have thought about this and I must say I did not included extra copies of anything in my mailing. I gues sI mis-read this thinking it says make copies in case they are lost etc. So this includes copies of everything in the envelope, a photocopy (not origiginal not certified) of ds-230, biographic passport page, marriage cert, police cert, i-864, taxes package information all copies of every single page I sent them? And do you think I should send copies now separately in an envelope that will arrive a day later? HELP now I am so worried

[gixbr 0]

Well now I have thought about this and I must say I did not included extra copies of anything in my mailing. I gues sI mis-read this thinking it says make copies in case they are lost etc. So this includes copies of everything in the envelope, a photocopy (not origiginal not certified) of ds-230, biographic passport page, marriage cert, police cert, i-864, taxes package information all copies of every single page I sent them? And do you think I should send copies now separately in an envelope that will arrive a day later? HELP now I am so worried

I don't know if they would give you a RFE just because you didn't send the copies, I haven't seen a case like that, but also I don't think that sending only the copies would help anything.

They say those copies are for them keeping a file of your case there, but it's a new request so I think and I hope for you that they will let it pass.

[Lars-N-Yenia 8]

For what it's worth, our first time through NVC we sent all ORIGINAL documents without copies along with the DS-230...we had every document translated, which I later learned was NOT necessary (if the documents are in the native language of country in which the embassy interview will be performed)...also at that time some people were sending in copies of the required documents along with the DS-230 and then were required to bring the ORIGINALS to the interview...NVC has obviously done some changes in the past 9 months so I dont know if this information is still current, but now that we will be going through NVC again, I plan on sending untranslated originals in with the DS-230...good luck