Certificate of Naturalization - is it okay to laminate?

[aussie girl 1]

I've been reading so much about damages and mutilation of the CON when sending to the Dept of State for the passport application. I didn't apply for a U.S. passport yet. Does anyone know if its okay to have the CON laminated? I am thinking maybe I should do something to protect it. Apparently, it will cause a lot to get a new CON.

Thanks for any info.

[v333k 59]

no, no, no......

it will invalidate it

[Highyella72 11]

I've been reading so much about damages and mutilation of the CON when sending to the Dept of State for the passport application. I didn't apply for a U.S. passport yet. Does anyone know if its okay to have the CON laminated? I am thinking maybe I should do something to protect it. Apparently, it will cause a lot to get a new CON.

Thanks for any info.

NO....It is not O.K. to laminate your Certificate of Citizenship..... They tell you this at your Oath Ceremony, It will become null and void, and you will have to apply for a duplicate which will end up costing you money.....I would suggest, putting it in a picture frame with a glass casing for protection, or a clear notebook sleeve......that is used to protect documents..... Congrats and good luck!!!!

I've been reading so much about damages and mutilation of the CON when sending to the Dept of State for the passport application. I didn't apply for a U.S. passport yet. Does anyone know if its okay to have the CON laminated? I am thinking maybe I should do something to protect it. Apparently, it will cause a lot to get a new CON.

Thanks for any info.

NO....It is not O.K. to laminate your Certificate of Citizenship..... They tell you this at your Oath Ceremony, It will become null and void, and you will have to apply for a duplicate which will end up costing you money.....I would suggest, putting it in a picture frame with a glass casing for protection, or a clear notebook sleeve......that is used to protect documents..... Congrats and good luck!!!!

[ryna 132]

Make a high quality color copy of the original. Laminate the copy if you want it that way for whatever reason. You don't want to alter the original in any way, shape or form.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

No, you absolutely SHOULD NOT laminate it.

If you wish to do something analogous, make a b/w copy of it (this is legal--a full-colour copy isn't), then laminate the copy (ditto).

[ryna 132]

No, you absolutely SHOULD NOT laminate it.

If you wish to do something analogous, make a b/w copy of it (this is legal--a full-colour copy isn't), then laminate the copy (ditto).

The only reason I said color copy was that, once it is laminated, it's worthless (officially) anyhow.

On a side note - The copy machine where I work says "Do not copy - currency, licenses, passports, birth certificates, etc." and I thought to myself: "I couldn't have submitted any of my wife's immigration packets if I hadn't copied those things (minus the currency)." BTW - I sent USCIS color copies of everything that weren't originals and there wasn't any problem. Without the raised seal, it was obvious they were copies, color or not.

[Maad 0]

If you wish to do something analogous, make a b/w copy of it (this is legal--a full-colour copy isn't), then laminate the copy (ditto).

Where did you read about the color copy been illegal?

[NickD 202]

The only reason I said color copy was that, once it is laminated, it's worthless (officially) anyhow.

On a side note - The copy machine where I work says "Do not copy - currency, licenses, passports, birth certificates, etc." and I thought to myself: "I couldn't have submitted any of my wife's immigration packets if I hadn't copied those things (minus the currency)." BTW - I sent USCIS color copies of everything that weren't originals and there wasn't any problem. Without the raised seal, it was obvious they were copies, color or not.

Walgreen's wouldn't make copies for us, Officemax did, even told the guy at Walgreen's USCIS told us to make copies. Yeah, all of my ink jet printers are in the trash can, if you don't use them everyday, they dry up. Even Kodak wants more of a new print head than for a new printer. Copying your certificate is much ado about nothing, you need those copies. New certificates removed that don't copy statement.

For my wife, took one of those plastic sleeves and cut it down to size, taped on three sides, DOS could have taken her certificate out if they wanted to. But returned it exactly the way I sent it.

Got lazy with my stepdaughter, just left it in the standard sleeve unmodified, apparently someone at the DOS wanted to keep that, her certificate came back in that brown first class envelop without that protective sleeve. But I have a large mailbox, was rolled a little, but no ceases in her certificate.

Only thing we didn't copy of stuff we sent into the USCIS is our Wisconsin marriage certificate. Bit letters on the top $10,000 fine for copying this document for any reason. For five bucks wasn't about to copy that, for one thing, would show the USCIS we were breaking the law. They now have three originals of that certificate.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Where did you read about the color copy been illegal?

We were told at our ceremony that a colour copy was perfectly fine......it is quite obviously not the original anyway.

No laminating as mentioned.....it bugs me too though that the certificate is just paper and could be damaged. I wasn't impressed with how the passport office treated it. I keep mine and my copies in the safe and doubt I'll ever have to take it out now that I have a US passport.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

As a compromise, you can put a plastic report-cover over it (not the same as laminating--as the cert can be taken out of the cover), which will give it the protection I think you're aiming for.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Let me assure you, in the overwhelming amount of cases the CoN comes back as purdy and crispy as the moment you've first held it in your hand. The passport folks handle these day in, day out. You are not alone.

Important is that you have scanned the CoN with high resolution, then made at least 2, better 3 color copies. Once you get the CoN back, put it in the bank safe or the safest place you have access to. You don't need immediate access, because it is really a worst case scenario backup document in case a Tsunami, wildfire, or earthquake has swallowed your entire house and every document you ever had with it. For that reason the CoN needs to be safe. Really safe.

Also, you need to apply for a passport book and, for $25 extra, a passport card. Keep both passports separate. Only use the book for international travel; for all other things like updating your SSA records, or proof of citizenship at the DMV use the card. They just slide it and that's all they need to do. It's practical, because you can put it in your wallet.

But, as an American, you do not need to take any form of identification with you. All you are required to do is to identify yourself to a peace officer or federal agent. All you need to do is say: I am soandso and I live thereandthere. That's it. Of course, when you operate a motor vehicle, you need to carry a DL with you. But keep your passport card safe as well. With the passport book and the passport card, you have two independent proofs of US citizenship, and there's no need that you ever should have to pull the CoN out of the save, save for a catastrophe.

[NickD 202]

Needed my birth certificate for enrolling in school the first time, getting an SS card and drivers' license only the first time when I was 16, and for Uncle Sam when I was drafted into the military. Guess I never got it back from Uncle Sam. Never needed one ever again until I met this gal I wanted to marry and bring her here for the USCIS. Never had need for a US Passport, but had to get a birth certificate for the DOS. The basterds never returned it, but fortunately got extra copies of it.

Have to admit, you do get paranoid when dealing with the USCIS and DOS. SS is suppose to keep records now of your citizenship, but if they purchased the same computer system the IRS did in 1995 for 27 billion bucks that was a total disaster and failure, wouldn't depend on that. Hell, the USCIS apparently doesn't keep a record of your certificate, that is why they want copies made of it, and 400 bucks.

[ndu26 114]

No lamination of ANY legal documents is allowed by most agencies. yes you can color copy your Cert of Naturalization...I did mine and sent to DOS for passport issuance and there was no problem.. Original came back like it was never touched. I did not pay for premium processing (thank god cos it took less than two weeks to process mine so I realized those who paid to expedite theirs ( so they could receive it in two weeks) must have watsed their money( my two cents worth))

[Mama mia 9]

Another option is to apply at a passport agency. Once you give them all your documents, they will copy them and return the originals to you, right then and there.

[No-Ten 1]

I put my CON in a sheet protector and it came back to me in the same condition i sent it out and still in the sheet protector. I read where one CON was damaged by water and i tired to avoid that. I hope this bit helps.

Best wishes.