RFE for marriage certificate???????

[IstanBulls 1]

Hi all,

I just received a mail for an RFE. It asks me to submit a copy of my marriage certificate. What I don't understand is I have already submitted a certified marriage certificate. Are they asking me a copy of my mariage certificate? I am puzzled here. Did u guys send the MC itself, certified copy or did u send the copy of the certified copy?

Thank u in advance

[Otto 83]

If the RFE notice clearly states they're needing the marriage certificate (or a copy of) then perhaps the one you sent was misplaced or stuck to the bottom of another and not seen. Sounds like an easy fix.

[FortLaudy 10]

There's a difference between the marriage "licence" and marriage certificate, make sure you sent in the certificate or the other depending on which they're asking for, otherwise they've just misplaced it and just fedex it asap, no biggie I'm sure !

[FortLaudy 10]

We sent a color copy of the actual marriage certificate, back and front (the official red stamp was on the back of the certificate).

The "licence" looks just like the certificate (only missing a few signatures at the top right), and we needed that to have the ceremony performed, then later they mailed to us the marriage "certificate"... they look very much alike so maybe you sent the licence by mistake?

[marie09 5]

Aw Istanbulls, That sucks... Sorry to hear that... But should be a really easy/fast fix.

I sent the certified marriage cert too.

Maybe they missed it in your file or something... i've read of that happening sometimes.

I would send the certified one again plus maybe make a copy if the original too, just in case.

Btw did they send you an e-mail about the RFE - before you got the letter?

Just wondering since the touches aren't always accurate if you can get an RFE without anything showing up online?

[marie09 5]

Oh yeah and to actually answer your question about what was sent...

I sent: I-130: certified marriage cert

I-485, I-131 & I-765: color copies front and back of the certified marriage cert.

[Inna 0]

We sent a copy of the certified copy, and the only RFE we reieved was to SUBMIT A COPY OF MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE. I was confused myself, I did my research and it seemed like they accept a copy of certified copy, so I wasn't sure if the RFE was asking for the certified copy or copy of the original? I sent the ACTUAL certfied copy (not a photocopy of it) which was $20-$25, and didn't even think they would give it back. But my IO gave it back to us at our interview. If you sent the certified copy, and they are asking for another one, it might be because they lost the first one..

[FortLaudy 10]

Marie, when I was reading the instructions, nowhere did it mention anywhere to send "certified" copies,

only:

"Copies. Unless specifically required that an original document be filed with an application or petition, an ordinary legible photocopy may be submitted."

I-485 instructions, page 3 (which is also the same instruction for all the other forms...)

Why do you think a certified copy is required? Is it something I missed? I'm hoping I won't get the same RFE.

But at the interview stage they don't even accept your copies of ID's, passports etc...

they take your documents and make their own copies... so what different does it make sending a "certified" copy?

So maybe making a copy of the "certified" copy is the mistake? We just made a color copy of the original, front and back with our home printer, nothing certified.

Also the only form that requires the marriage certificate is the I-130, so that's the only copy we sent.

[Alla 3]

Hi all,

I just received a mail for an RFE. It asks me to submit a copy of my marriage certificate. What I don't understand is I have already submitted a certified marriage certificate. Are they asking me a copy of my mariage certificate? I am puzzled here. Did u guys send the MC itself, certified copy or did u send the copy of the certified copy?

Thank u in advance

You needed to submit one copy with I-130 and one copy with I-485.

It says on their website that they are not going to look for some papers in another place (application). They can't take your certificate from I-130 and put in I-485. For them easier to issue RFE.

[marie09 5]

Marie, when I was reading the instructions, nowhere did it mention anywhere to send "certified" copies,

only:

"Copies. Unless specifically required that an original document be filed with an application or petition, an ordinary legible photocopy may be submitted."

I-485 instructions, page 3 (which is also the same instruction for all the other forms...)

Why do you think a certified copy is required? Is it something I missed? I'm hoping I won't get the same RFE.

But at the interview stage they don't even accept your copies of ID's, passports etc...

they take your documents and make their own copies... so what different does it make sending a "certified" copy?

So maybe making a copy of the "certified" copy is the mistake? We just made a color copy of the original, front and back with our home printer, nothing certified.

Also the only form that requires the marriage certificate is the I-130, so that's the only copy we sent.

Hey Shani,

Nope a certified copy isn't required, I just sent it as we'd ordered several so I had a a spare. You read the instructions right, if I hadn't had extra certified copies I would have sent copies for all forms. I sent color copies with the others just to explain my name change. I don't even think that's necessary - I just did it as a safe guard in case someone got confused...

[FortLaudy 10]

Hi all,

I just received a mail for an RFE. It asks me to submit a copy of my marriage certificate. What I don't understand is I have already submitted a certified marriage certificate. Are they asking me a copy of my mariage certificate? I am puzzled here. Did u guys send the MC itself, certified copy or did u send the copy of the certified copy?

Thank u in advance

You needed to submit one copy with I-130 and one copy with I-485.

It says on their website that they are not going to look for some papers in another place (application). They can't take your certificate from I-130 and put in I-485. For them easier to issue RFE.

Please tell me on which page of the I-485 instructions does it say you need to include a copy of the marriage certificate...?

I did not include one as I did not see that it is required as per the I-485 instructions.

I know some people like to be super over-prepared and send copies of everything with every application, I think this only adds to the paperwork the poor IO has to go through and bulks up the application for no good reason, just follow the instructions to the "t" and attach only what they ask for.

I don't believe a copy of the marriage certificate is required for submission of the I-485, only for the I-130 as per the instructions, so your post might be confusing for some people who followed the instructions and has already filed all their paperwork.

"Submit a complete relative petition" - meaning submit I-130 along with I-485. Translations: The I-485 requests that the completed I-130 is attached (I-130 asks for a marriage certificate, so it should be included with I-130), it does not ask specifically to attach a marriage certificate along with the I-485.

Please let me know if I've missed something and clear this up by letting me know where on the instructions for the I-485 does it ask for a marriage certificate, thanks.

[milimelo 4,550]

I'd say you need a copy of marriage certificate for I-485 since you are proving the basis for adjustment of status and that is what marriage certificate shows.

[FortLaudy 10]

You're right, the basis is that a relative has petitioned for you (filing I-130), in case of a foreign spouse married to a US Citizen, so you have to include a copy of the petition (I-130) or proof that the petition was received by USCIS (NOA) agreed, of course. My point is that the instructions for I-485 never specifically list the "Marriage Certificate" as a required document to attach.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-485instr.pdf

You must file your application with the folowing evidence:

1. Criminal history

2. Birth Certificate

3. Copy of passport with nonimmigrant visa

4. Photos

5. Biometric Services

6. Police Clearances

7. Medical Examination

8. G-325A

9. Affidavit of support

10. Evidence of Eligibility: SUBMIT A COMPLETE RELATIVE PETITION (I-130)

The I-130 requires a copy of the Marriage Certificate, the I-485 does not, only that the I-130 is attached/filed concurrently to show eligibility for adjustment of status.

[Alla 3]

Please tell me on which page of the I-485 instructions does it say you need to include a copy of the marriage certificate...?

I did not include one as I did not see that it is required as per the I-485 instructions.

I know some people like to be super over-prepared and send copies of everything with every application, I think this only adds to the paperwork the poor IO has to go through and bulks up the application for no good reason, just follow the instructions to the "t" and attach only what they ask for.

I don't believe a copy of the marriage certificate is required for submission of the I-485, only for the I-130 as per the instructions, so your post might be confusing for some people who followed the instructions and has already filed all their paperwork.

"Submit a complete relative petition" - meaning submit I-130 along with I-485. Translations: The I-485 requests that the completed I-130 is attached (I-130 asks for a marriage certificate, so it should be included with I-130), it does not ask specifically to attach a marriage certificate along with the I-485.

Please let me know if I've missed something and clear this up by letting me know where on the instructions for the I-485 does it ask for a marriage certificate, thanks.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide2

Go down to form I-485,open your eyes and read number 7.

[FortLaudy 10]

Ok, this is not the I-485 Instruction page, but a page on this Visa Journey website, if you can show me where on I-485 Instruction page it lists "Marriage Certificate" I'll believe you... but thanks, now I see where people are getting their checklists from...

We used these guides on websites just as that, guides... However we read and followed the oficial instructions from USCIS that came along with each application thoroughly, they're very clear and list precisely everything needed to send along with each application, so I don't think I'll have a problem or RFE (hopefully!)