DS-230 question

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

Hey, just spoke with my lawyer and she was telling me that when/if we get my DS-230 pkg together, I need to include a certified photocopy of my marriage and birth certificates. Sooo, does that mean I can go to any local lawyer/notary, bring along my originals, get them photocopied and stamped - by said lawyer/notary and that will be accepted by USCIS? Or do I have to get the certified copy from the actual issuing agencies?

The reason I'm asking is that I just called vital stats in B.C. and they do not offer cert. copies. (I live in Canada).

Thanks )

[Darnell 8,479]

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3190.html

read all 7 pages.

[Visa Pro 1]

Hey, just spoke with my lawyer and she was telling me that when/if we get my DS-230 pkg together, I need to include a certified photocopy of my marriage and birth certificates. Sooo, does that mean I can go to any local lawyer/notary, bring along my originals, get them photocopied and stamped - by said lawyer/notary and that will be accepted by USCIS? Or do I have to get the certified copy from the actual issuing agencies?

The reason I'm asking is that I just called vital stats in B.C. and they do not offer cert. copies. (I live in Canada).

Thanks )

Notary/ Lawyer can not do certified copies. You have to go to issuing agencies to get certified copies. If it is hard for you to get certified copies, You can send originals if you want. You get all Original documents back at interview.

[TheMatrix 6]

Send originals. That's even better than certified copies.

[OBX 51]

Hey, just spoke with my lawyer and she was telling me that when/if we get my DS-230 pkg together, I need to include a certified photocopy of my marriage and birth certificates. Sooo, does that mean I can go to any local lawyer/notary, bring along my originals, get them photocopied and stamped - by said lawyer/notary and that will be accepted by USCIS? Or do I have to get the certified copy from the actual issuing agencies?

The reason I'm asking is that I just called vital stats in B.C. and they do not offer cert. copies. (I live in Canada).

Thanks )

I thought most provinces supply certified copies. From the BC vital statistics site it appears as though they do. http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/births/bc-birth-cert-parental.html You need the one with the parents' info on it. Good luck!

[pushbrk 13,172]

I thought most provinces supply certified copies. From the BC vital statistics site it appears as though they do. http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/births/bc-birth-cert-parental.html You need the one with the parents' info on it. Good luck!

What is pictured at the above link is exactly what is needed. "Certified copy" and "certified photocopy" are not the same terminology. Read carefully and interpret literally. Generally, "originals" of such documents are kept on file and what the agency issues is "certified copies".

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

Thank you everyone, for your responses, I appreciate it.

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

When I look at other peoples' timelines, I sometimes see an entry that says "touched" beside a date...what does that mean exactly?

[OBX 51]

When I look at other peoples' timelines, I sometimes see an entry that says "touched" beside a date...what does that mean exactly?

It refers to a change in the date USCIS last "looked" at your file if you are checking your status online. There is not really any way to know what it means. It can mean USCIS actually worked on your file or merely moved it from one pile to the next.

In some cases, filers have noticed a flurry of activity before their approval...but that is not a hard and fast rule. Gives you something to do everyday while you are waiting I suppose

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Touches

Edited April 15, 2010 by OBX