Original Birth Certificate - Is it important?

[Maria TH 20]

I sent my AOS package in November, everything seems to be on track. I expect the interview some time in the future, could be a couple of months (hopefully).

For my birth certificate, I sent the copies of original and the translations which I assume there is no problem about that.

The original birth certificate is at my home country, I didn't bring it with me because I had no idea that I would get married here when I came.

My question is, should I ask my mom to send the original birth certificate to me here to prepare for the interview or it is not necessary? Will they ask for original one at the interview? I am afraid to lose it on the way as it is the original one.

Thank you..

[46]

I sent my AOS package in November, everything seems to be on track. I expect the interview some time in the future, could be a couple of months (hopefully).

For my birth certificate, I sent the copies of original and the translations which I assume there is no problem about that.

The original birth certificate is at my home country, I didn't bring it with me because I had no idea that I would get married here when I came.

My question is, should I ask my mom to send the original birth certificate to me here to prepare for the interview or it is not necessary? Will they ask for original one at the interview? I am afraid to lose it on the way as it is the original one.

Thank you..

Yes, your mother should send it. This is something that should be in your possession anyhow.

[ceadsearc 516]

Ask her to send it, or to get another certified copy and send it. I don't know if it's always asked for, but they did check my husband's original at the interview. Copies can be forged, so you want to make sure you have an original to present if they ask for it.

[Night Kisa 0]

Ask her to send it, or to get another certified copy and send it. I don't know if it's always asked for, but they did check my husband's original at the interview. Copies can be forged, so you want to make sure you have an original to present if they ask for it.

I am in the same situation as you are, and had the same exact question!)I've heard of both examples when a person wa asked for it at the AOS interview, and other cases when only passport was requested. I guess it i8s better to have it than not. I am going to ask my parents to send mine as well. As you said, I do not trust mail currier services too though....

Maybe some other VJ members who went through this process can share more experience, please!

[You&Me 8]

You really wanna have the original of the birth certificate with you. I had my interview today and they specifically requested it, and they kept it too

[Maria TH 20]

You really wanna have the original of the birth certificate with you. I had my interview today and they specifically requested it, and they kept it too

They didn't return the original birth certificate to you?! Really?! Wow, most of the people have one and only original birth certificate and we might have to use it in other occasions. How come they keep it? That doesn't make sense to me.

But if so, I will have to ask my parents to get another "original" one from my home country to send to me. I have no idea if we can do that.. but I won't let them keep my one and only original important document and leave me nothing about myself.

What about the next interview for lifting condition and/or citizenship? Will they ask for the original one again?

[You&Me 8]

They didn't return the original birth certificate to you?! Really?! Wow, most of the people have one and only original birth certificate and we might have to use it in other occasions. How come they keep it? That doesn't make sense to me.

But if so, I will have to ask my parents to get another "original" one from my home country to send to me. I have no idea if we can do that.. but I won't let them keep my one and only original important document and leave me nothing about myself.

What about the next interview for lifting condition and/or citizenship? Will they ask for the original one again?

Maybe they will send it back together with my passport and the visa? not sure about that.

But here in Portugal I can pretty much get however many birth certificates I want, and it only makes sense to me it would be the same for you. Your birth certificate is on record, and when you ask for one they just print it out and stamp it.

If I were you I would take it with me to the interview, together with a copy (if the copy's certified even better), and explain to them you wont have an easy time getting another one since you're not home.

I had several small "problems" with documents during my interview and they were very helpful and very reasonable

[jojolicious 38]

Yep you have to show the originals of any documents you submitted with your application and generally its important for you to have your original birth certificate anyway