Regular copy or certified/original?

[pushbrk 12,876]

YES YES YES!!!

Went to the Embassy again today! With the regular copy, and it was totally fine! They were asking around a little bit, it took about 10min untill they said 'OKAY PICK YOUR VISA UP MONDAY!'' TOTALLY APPROVED!!! I AM FLYING HOME TUESDAY!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE ADVICE THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO PROGRESS! For all the prayers send my way! Thank you!

I'm happy as can be with this approval!

So, you gave them a regular photocopy of document. The document copied was a "certified copy" of a birth certificate. Is that correct?

[Lytha 2]

The document copied was of the original!

[pushbrk 12,876]

The document copied was of the original!

With rare exceptions an "original" birth certificate is NEVER in the hands of an individual. The original is on file with a government agency who provides "certified copies" of the original. Sometimes people confuse these "certified copies" with originals. Without carefully inspecting the document, it is impossible to know whether it was an "original" birth certificate or an original "certified copy" of a birth certificate.

I'm not talking about hospital issued birth certificates. Those are not official. Copies of them would not be acceptable for any official purpose.

[Lytha 2]

Well Cosponsor requested it, Vital Record - thing or something..

And they got her that, and i had a copy of it. Thats what I took back to embassy, and was accepted

[pushbrk 12,876]

Well Cosponsor requested it, Vital Record - thing or something..

And they got her that, and i had a copy of it. Thats what I took back to embassy, and was accepted

When an individual requests a vital record, they receive a "certified copy" of the original record. I'm glad we got this cleared up. Please understand my purpose is not to correct YOU, but rather to clearly inform the other readers. What was needed and what you submitted was a photocopy of a certified copy of a birth certificate.

[zmpart 5]

i am so happy it all worked out for you....i am also confused by the copy/certified copy thing for offical documents as well but i think from pushbrk's explanation things are clearing up....anyway best of luck and much love and happiness for you! congrats!!

[mountaingoat 4]

YES YES YES!!!

Went to the Embassy again today! With the regular copy, and it was totally fine! They were asking around a little bit, it took about 10min untill they said 'OKAY PICK YOUR VISA UP MONDAY!'' TOTALLY APPROVED!!! I AM FLYING HOME TUESDAY!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE ADVICE THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO PROGRESS! For all the prayers send my way! Thank you!

I'm happy as can be with this approval!

Woo Hoo!!! I'm so happy for you!!

[amazngrace 3]

YES YES YES!!!

Went to the Embassy again today! With the regular copy, and it was totally fine! They were asking around a little bit, it took about 10min untill they said 'OKAY PICK YOUR VISA UP MONDAY!'' TOTALLY APPROVED!!! I AM FLYING HOME TUESDAY!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE ADVICE THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO PROGRESS! For all the prayers send my way! Thank you!

I'm happy as can be with this approval!

Oh that is just wonderful! i am very happy to hear such good news! Blessings on your journey!

[Lytha 2]

When an individual requests a vital record, they receive a "certified copy" of the original record. I'm glad we got this cleared up. Please understand my purpose is not to correct YOU, but rather to clearly inform the other readers. What was needed and what you submitted was a photocopy of a certified copy of a birth certificate.

Oh yeah thats totally fine! Didnt mean to sound 'mean' or anything, I was clueless on it! Thanks for your information! Now I know lol

[pushbrk 12,876]

Oh yeah thats totally fine! Didnt mean to sound 'mean' or anything, I was clueless on it! Thanks for your information! Now I know lol

My frustration with this thread was on multiple levels. You asked a question. No problem with that. You got WRONG answers from members here and from the Consulate. I went to the effort in multiple posts, to clear up the confusion but still you were confused. I presume if you were still confused, so were or would be other readers.

First I wrote...

1. Acceptable evidence of status for a sponsor is a regular copy of passport data page or a photocopy of a certified copy of the birth certificate. If you have a photocopy of a certified copy, you're good to go.

2. Again, they do want just a "copy" but the key is what they want a copy OF. They want a copy of a certified copy of a birth certificate or a copy of the passport data page. Correct instructions from a Consular Officer trump all but sometimes people are just too lazy to give a complete answer.

Photocopy of a certified copy. I can't imagine that what you HAVE is not exactly that. Look at it and see if what you have a copy of isn't a "certified copy". If it is, it will say so.

You then wrote... Went to the Embassy again today! With the regular copy, and it was totally fine!...

To which I replied...

3. So, you gave them a regular photocopy of document. The document copied was a "certified copy" of a birth certificate. Is that correct?

To which you replied... The document copied was of the original!

The rest is all on this last page of posts. I'm glad you now understand. I hope others do too. As you move forward in the immigration process, I hope you and others will consider that when they hear or read a term with which they are not familiar, they will avoid making assumptions and seek to understand the meaning of the term. This starts by carefully studying instructions, interpreting them literally and responding accordingly.

Some confusion arises with regard to birth certificates because even in the I-130 instructions, "a copy of" describes the birth certificate but then it adds "issued by a civil registrar, vital statistics office, or other civil authority." without using the term "certified copy". The I-864 instructions also just refer to a copy of your birth certificate.

Birth certificates issued by civil registrars, vital statistics offices or other civil authorities are by definition, certified copies as the "originals" are kept in the official archives. "Originals" bear the original signature of doctors etc.