Lack of Birth Certificate

[Wyld Blu 35]

We are starting to pull together the AOS paperwork and notice that they want a copy of the birth certificate. When we filed the K1 in the first place we sent in the certified copy and the USCIS never sent it back to us. I think it was the only copy my husband had. Is this necessary to send in again?

-Blu-

[bonjur_mimi 0]

We are starting to pull together the AOS paperwork and notice that they want a copy of the birth certificate. When we filed the K1 in the first place we sent in the certified copy and the USCIS never sent it back to us. I think it was the only copy my husband had. Is this necessary to send in again?

-Blu-

So you guys, don't have any birth certificate now?

[ashenflowers 5]

I have the same problem. I no longer have (misplaced or whatever) my long form birth certificate. I had a copy of it too, and can't find the original, nor the copy now. I have a short card sized one, but not the one with all the extra details. Since they ask for it, I imagine that it's required. I'm a little irritated, because if it's something that's required for K1, they should already have it. UGH.

Anyways, to answer your question, I don't have proof that they need it, but I am in the same boat, and am assuming they need it.

Edited March 5, 2010 by ashenflowers

[payxibka 10,045]

We are starting to pull together the AOS paperwork and notice that they want a copy of the birth certificate. When we filed the K1 in the first place we sent in the certified copy and the USCIS never sent it back to us. I think it was the only copy my husband had. Is this necessary to send in again?

-Blu-

You never send originals to the USCIS unless they specifically ask for them... A regular photocopy of the original or certified copy is all that is needed

[VanessaTony 3,567]

We are starting to pull together the AOS paperwork and notice that they want a copy of the birth certificate. When we filed the K1 in the first place we sent in the certified copy and the USCIS never sent it back to us. I think it was the only copy my husband had. Is this necessary to send in again?

-Blu-

Yep.. well if your husband is the person filing AOS that is (the one that's getting the greencard).

[Wyld Blu 35]

So you guys, don't have any birth certificate now?

No, we don't. USCIS should have it because they kept the one we sent them originally.

-Blu-

[VanessaTony 3,567]

You never send originals to the USCIS unless they specifically ask for them... A regular photocopy of the original or certified copy is all that is needed

It doesn't need to be an original that you send, but if you no longer HAVE an original to copy then you will need to obtain another copy of the certificate and then photocopy it to mail it in.

[TheBears 9]

It's USCIS, Blu. What should be and what is are two different things. Is there a way to get another birth certificate? Maybe the nearest consulate or embassy?

[trillium13 84]

You should be able to get another one, right? My husband didn't have one with him when he came to the US-his mother was able to get one and mail it to us.

[Wyld Blu 35]

You should be able to get another one, right? My husband didn't have one with him when he came to the US-his mother was able to get one and mail it to us.

Well, of course if we HAVE to have it, we will have to order a new one from the Netherlands. However, mail from Holland seems to take over a month to get to where I live. We were hoping to send of our AOS paperwork as soon as we get our marriage cert in the mail. If we MUST send them another copy it will take a lot longer to file. My husband can be stubborn. He was looking all over the USCIS website for where is says they need this again, and couldn't find that. So, now I wonder if VJ adds it to the guides as a precautionary measure, or if it is a true requirement of the USCIS.

-Blu-

[Shanh 2]

It's in the I-485's instructions -> initial evidence to be filed with application, page 3.

[baron555 934]

It's in the I-485's instructions -> initial evidence to be filed with application, page 3.

Meaning....Yes they need another copy. You know what to do. Just do it.

[Wyld Blu 35]

Meaning....Yes they need another copy. You know what to do. Just do it.

Ah damn. lol. Well...we gotta do what we gotta do. I KNEW he should have gotten more than one copy to begin with...but like I said...he can be stubborn. I guess he will be out of status a little while, while we wait on the postal service to deliver.

Last year, he sent me a Christmas post card from Holland in November. I finally arrived in February. LOL.....guess we will be waiting awhile.

-Blu-

[ashenflowers 5]

We have to delay our AOS filing (after already delaying it for other reasons) because we have to get another copy of my birth certificate too. And we ALREADY had a copy made. You just do what you have to do. I'm just irritated by the extra cost associated with it.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Ah damn. lol. Well...we gotta do what we gotta do. I KNEW he should have gotten more than one copy to begin with...but like I said...he can be stubborn. I guess he will be out of status a little while, while we wait on the postal service to deliver.

Last year, he sent me a Christmas post card from Holland in November. I finally arrived in February. LOL.....guess we will be waiting awhile.

-Blu-

A suggestion. As with the paperwork only a PHOTOCOPY is required to be sent (the original at interview maybe) then perhaps you can have it mailed to someone in the Netherlands and then they can scan it and email it to you. That means you have the copy to send now and then they can try and express post the original to you in time for the interview.

As they have an original on file, you would hope that you don't need it for the interview and if they DO then you can simply point to where it is in your file when you get to the interview. It's still best to try and get the original but yeah.. it MIGHT work that way for the interview but the scanned and printed version should be okay if it's a good quality copy.