Documents for N-400 - originals or notarized copies ok?

[Anna C. 4]

I'm referring to Dh's birth certificate and the kids' and our marriage record. Do I have to send the originals or are notarized copies acceptable? those darn things are expensive and hard to come by since we're military and everybody was born in different places and we got married in a different state as well.

[v333k 59]

Never send originals. They will not give them back. Copies are acceptable without being notarized. If they wish to see the originals - they will ask for them during the interview (to look at only).

[Anna C. 4]

Great, thanks!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

+1.

Not only that, but my original birth certificate is almost 54 years old. I would not mail that to anybody for any reason.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Never send originals. They will not give them back. Copies are acceptable without being notarized. If they wish to see the originals - they will ask for them during the interview (to look at only).

Well, you can ask for them back, and maybe the IO will give them to you at the interview. Otherwise, file and pray later. If the documents don't appear "original", and are not needed for your file, then they may be discarded before you get a chance to ask for them back.

[NickD 202]

Its clearing stated in the instructions to only send in copies of your originals, you bring in all of your originals in with you to your interview. Your IO may want to see each and every original or just accept your copies as being valid. We had both experiences.

Did toss in a couple of originals for my wife at her interview, he IO wanted to see those, made copies, but in all cases YOU LEAVE WITH ALL OF YOUR ORIGINALS! For what you mail in, do not have to be certified or notarized copies, just verbatim copies. Would be kind of dumb if you scanned an original and made changes to what you send in. Will find yourself on a plane to your home country.

On time ever you leave the USCIS without a document you have, your green card when you walk out of your oath ceremony, but with a valid checked for correctness, your US certificate of citizenship.

Only time ever you have to send in an original, and that is your US certificate of citizenship when going to any of their 9,000 agents when applying for a US passport. Apparently the DOS trust their agents in every aspect of your application, even that it is you on the photo that is applying with exception of them making a copy of your original certificate. But can get by that if you personally apply at one of their dozen same day passport service areas. With SS, can bring that certificate in, they will copy it and return it to you, just like anyone else like voters registration if required.

Unlike Bob, or my wife or stepdaughter, kept a very close watch on their birth certificates, those cost me a small fortune. With mine, didn't care being born here, was five bucks for a certified copy so got five of them. USCIS kept two, DOS the third, still have two left, but if need more, another five bucks.