Original Wife's passport for Interview??

[csoul 0]

Hello guys,

I am a little bit worried because I get my interview letter with an extra page saying that I need to bring my wife's original passport or birth certificate to prove she is US Citizen. The thing is that my wife is in India for a Buddhist retreat until the end of September. She obviously have her passport and I just have a copy of her passport and her birth certificate but nothing else. I was trying to find an expired passport that I remember is somewhere in the house but no luck.

I was reading some Interview experiences and most of the time (I think is all the time!) the IO didn't ask for wife's / husband's passport for 3 year N-400 applications based on marriage.

I am going with everything else in originals (marriage certificate, bills, bank statemens, credit cards statements, loan statements, car insurance, photos and more) but I am worried about this critical part.

Thank you.

Edited August 11, 2010 by csoul

[ryna 132]

You are in the US, correct?

Does your wife have internet access on this retreat in India? You can purchase certified copies of birth certificates issued in the US online at a site called Vitalchek.com

I've purchased mine from there in the past because I live far away from where I was born. I'm pretty sure they offer them from almost everywhere in the US, but you have to check the rules as to who can request one. Maybe, depending on the location, you as the spouse can do it without issue? If vitalchek doesn't have them for her place of birth, I suggest directly contacting the Vital Statistics Dept where she was born. They should be able to help you.

[antda 13]

Csoul-Well, on the bright side....At least you have the photocopies of your wife's passport and birth certificate..

So that's better than nothing at all! And yes, bring those photocopies to the interview too, just in case they ask....

As for the interview..from my experience, they didn't even want to see any of the original paperwork of what I brought in...even though I offered to show them such...but they were satisified with what they already had in the file of a photocopy of my husband's birth certificate..and didn't inquire further than that...

So hopefully that will be the same in your case...That they don't inquire further about your wife's documents and are ok with just the photocopies that you have....

As for the passport...lol....if it makes you feel any better....My husband (who is a US citizen by birth) still does not have a US passport. No problems there....if you don't have a passport....

Again, having photocopies is better than not having anything at all....So maybe they will be ok with that too...

As well, I would bring copies of her travel schedule, tickets, etc. to prove that your wife is on a trip and you can't get those original documents otherwise...No need on your end to search for her documents.....

Worse case scenario, maybe you can give the USCIS your wife's contact information, so they can verify such for themselves in terms of her information, during your interview...(lol..though I would feel bad about interupting your wife on her retreat...lucky her!)....

I doubt though, that you can contact the vital stats department for her certificate for any help there, as you as the spouse, may not be entitled to such private documents....

(for example, here in NYS, only the parents and the person/child themselves or by court order are entitled to birth certificates...spouses are not entitled to such...lol...)

Hope this helps. Nevertheless, good luck on your interview and good luck with the rest of your journey too.

Ant

Hello guys,

I am a little bit worried because I get my interview letter with an extra page saying that I need to bring my wife's original passport or birth certificate to prove she is US Citizen. The thing is that my wife is in India for a Buddhist retreat until the end of September. She obviously have her passport and I just have a copy of her passport and her birth certificate but nothing else. I was trying to find an expired passport that I remember is somewhere in the house but no luck.

I was reading some Interview experiences and most of the time (I think is all the time!) the IO didn't ask for wife's / husband's passport for 3 year N-400 applications based on marriage.

I am going with everything else in originals (marriage certificate, bills, bank statemens, credit cards statements, loan statements, car insurance, photos and more) but I am worried about this critical part.

Thank you.

Edited August 11, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[milimelo 4,578]

Hello guys,

I am a little bit worried because I get my interview letter with an extra page saying that I need to bring my wife's original passport or birth certificate to prove she is US Citizen. The thing is that my wife is in India for a Buddhist retreat until the end of September. She obviously have her passport and I just have a copy of her passport and her birth certificate but nothing else. I was trying to find an expired passport that I remember is somewhere in the house but no luck.

I was reading some Interview experiences and most of the time (I think is all the time!) the IO didn't ask for wife's / husband's passport for 3 year N-400 applications based on marriage.

I am going with everything else in originals (marriage certificate, bills, bank statemens, credit cards statements, loan statements, car insurance, photos and more) but I am worried about this critical part.

Thank you.

You're worrying over nothing. You have her birth certificate - bring that in.

[NickD 203]

I assume that your wife is a natural born US citizen that already petitioned for you so you can get your green card. Kind of beat the heck out of me why they wanted to see my passport or birth certificate again for the N-400 interview. While my wife had the originals of both of them with her, and as tough as her IO was, never wanted to see them. But for some peculiar reason wanted to see our original divorce papers.

If you already have a copy of your wife's birth certificate, you know where to go to get a certified copy of that. I needed a certified copy of my own birth certificate, just got in google and typed the name of the city and state I was born in with birth certificate. Told me exactly what to do to get one.

But if you do have a copy of your wife's birth certificate, maybe your IO won't be a hard head about it, wasn't a copy of that sent in with your application as well?

When I first read the requirements for the N-400, asked the question, to myself, how in the hell did my wife get a green card in the first place? We already went through all this stuff, do they think she got it out of a Cracker Jack Box?

[csoul 0]

Thank you guys! I feel much better know.

The list of original documents came in a separate page with the Interview letter appointment, is the form N-659 (Naturalization Interview Document Check List)

That form start with the following: "Bring the original and a photocopy of..."

then in Part 3 of that form:

"If you are applying for naturalization on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen, bring:

Proof that your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least the past three years (brith certificate, naturalization certificate...

and a more documents they ask like marriage certificate, IRS Form 1722, Proof of marital union as well as proof of residence"

So I don't think they are asking to me and only to me to bring the original passport. Looks like is a general rule with that form.

I will go with the copy of both my wife's passport and copy of her birth certificate plus all the originals of the marriage certificate, bills, bank statemens, credit cards statements, loan statements, car insurance, photos and more.

I can't find her original birth certificate. She born in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Can I request (as her spouse) a certified copy of her birth certificate?

Thanks again.

[csoul 0]

Guys! I was able to order online a certified copy of my wife's birth certificate!!!!!! for just $14 in the website of worcester city! With all the info I had with the copy of her birth certificate everything was very simple and I was able to pay with credit card. I hope to get that copy on time.

Thank youuuu guys! and thanks for the idea NickD!!!!!!!!!

[NickD 203]

Guys! I was able to order online a certified copy of my wife's birth certificate!!!!!! for just $14 in the website of worcester city! With all the info I had with the copy of her birth certificate everything was very simple and I was able to pay with credit card. I hope to get that copy on time.

Thank youuuu guys! and thanks for the idea NickD!!!!!!!!!

See you already found http://www.worcesterma.gov/e-services/online-payments/bills-services/birth-certificate, now that wasn't so bad, was it?