Front & BACK??? copy of birth certificate??

[scotinmass 588]

Mine's blank on the back but I sent them a copy of that anyways

Are you sure it was your birth certificate? What if you accidentally sent them a photocopy of the back of your shopping list? It's an easy mistake to make because one blank piece of paper looks just like another one. But if you did and they discovered it was a copy of the wrong blank piece of paper they will think you have lied and then they will investigate you to see what other lies you have told. The outcome might be no visa and a lifetime ban.

Is it really worth the risk?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Are you sure it was your birth certificate? What if you accidentally sent them a photocopy of the back of your shopping list? It's an easy mistake to make because one blank piece of paper looks just like another one. But if you did and they discovered it was a copy of the wrong blank piece of paper they will think you have lied and then they will investigate you to see what other lies you have told. The outcome might be no visa and a lifetime ban.

Is it really worth the risk?

Can't believe this thread is still going. Finally somebody agreed with me. LOL You're cracking me up David. I was beginning to think I was the only idiot on here.

Part of the process is being able to follow instructions, it will get you delayed every time if you don't.

I vote for this. If you can't follow simple instruction explicitly spelled out in one line, you will run into delay in your journey.

Every time, you follow your "assumptions" or "thinking" that it would be okay and deviate from the instruction. You will often get into trouble. Don't do that!

Just gotta say in my defense, I've done okay with following directions so far. If you click my timeline link on the left, you'll see I've got 26 boxes checked off and colored blue...all with no RFEs or asking an opinion from the forum. Sometimes you'll find forms are one-size-fits-all for multi-purposes and have to cover the entire world. Sometimes you have to connect the dots and understand the directions may not fit your situation exactly, but at the same time comprehend what information the USCIS or DOS needs from you to continue with your application. People who feel a photocopy of a blank page gives the USCIS vital information for approving their petition should include it.

Edited January 14, 2012 by Nich-Nick

[aaron-christine 8]

Just got our NOA2 and did not copy the back of the birth certificate.. I guess I got my answer

[Rufus2012 175]

I did not copy the back. I put a post-it note on the front page and wrote "back page of birth certificate is blank". No RFE.

However, I think the best thing is to copy both pages, and just write on the blank what it is - as Gary suggested. Having spent some time on this website and having read a few stories here, I'd take the more literal interpretation of what they wanted.

[ryna 132]

Are you sure it was your birth certificate? What if you accidentally sent them a photocopy of the back of your shopping list? It's an easy mistake to make because one blank piece of paper looks just like another one. But if you did and they discovered it was a copy of the wrong blank piece of paper they will think you have lied and then they will investigate you to see what other lies you have told. The outcome might be no visa and a lifetime ban.

Is it really worth the risk?

I generally don't get my grocery list notarized so there's no raised seal that shows up when the back side is copied.

Just because the back side of your birth certificate is indistinguishable from the back side of any other sheet of paper doesn't mean that everyone else's is. The copy of the writing-free back side of my birth certificate clearly proves that it made from the same sheet of paper that the front-side copy came from.

One of the "required" documents for the AOS interview is the birth certificate of the USC. They never asked to see mine but they already had proof that the back of mine was blank from my I-129F submission. Yes, every paper filed throughout the process, to USCIS, to the embassy, to the officer at the POE, is returned to USCIS for use during AOS (and beyond.)

It probably won't slow anything down, it probably won't cause an RFE but they may just ask to see the original when the time comes for an AOS interview. It's a judgement call of the IO who will interview you to ask for whatever they want to overcome their questions about the validity of the relationship. Do what you want, but I just don't see what the big deal is in flipping over a piece of paper and pressing 'Copy' one more time.

[Robert&Karen 264]

At least they only want the front and the back. Imagine if they started asking for the sides.

[scotinmass 588]

At least they only want the front and the back. Imagine if they started asking for the sides.

Now you've put that idea into people's heads they might start doing that too just in case!

[scotinmass 588]

I generally don't get my grocery list notarized so there's no raised seal that shows up when the back side is copied.

Just because the back side of your birth certificate is indistinguishable from the back side of any other sheet of paper doesn't mean that everyone else's is. The copy of the writing-free back side of my birth certificate clearly proves that it made from the same sheet of paper that the front-side copy came from.

One of the "required" documents for the AOS interview is the birth certificate of the USC. They never asked to see mine but they already had proof that the back of mine was blank from my I-129F submission. Yes, every paper filed throughout the process, to USCIS, to the embassy, to the officer at the POE, is returned to USCIS for use during AOS (and beyond.)

It probably won't slow anything down, it probably won't cause an RFE but they may just ask to see the original when the time comes for an AOS interview. It's a judgement call of the IO who will interview you to ask for whatever they want to overcome their questions about the validity of the relationship. Do what you want, but I just don't see what the big deal is in flipping over a piece of paper and pressing 'Copy' one more time.

I actually did photocopy the back of mine cos it had writing on it.

[david'sgirl 134]

There are instructions but following them does not mean you throw common sense out the window. Some of the responses must be tongue in cheek. It reminds me of the Amelia Bedelia books I read as a child where Amelia Bedelia puts prunes on the hedges when asked to prune them and takes her umbrella for the baby shower. It is possible to take something too literally. The only reason the back would be necessary is if it had writing on it.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

There are instructions but following them does not mean you throw common sense out the window. Some of the responses must be tongue in cheek. It reminds me of the Amelia Bedelia books I read as a child where Amelia Bedelia puts prunes on the hedges when asked to prune them and takes her umbrella for the baby shower. It is possible to take something too literally. The only reason the back would be necessary is if it had writing on it.

Just because you can't find anything distinguishable on the back of the document does not mean it is not there. There may be artifacts you are unaware of.

[scotinmass 588]

Just because you can't find anything distinguishable on the back of the document does not mean it is not there. There may be artifacts you are unaware of.

Like what? A secret watermark? Invisible ink? Something that can only show up when a top secret government light is shone on it?

Even if this was the case. It would only show up on the original and not the ordinary piece of printer paper that you bought at Staples!

[david'sgirl 134]

I really assumed a lot of this was folks having a laugh. It just seems too absurd to think of sending in a blank page.

Edited January 14, 2012 by david'sgirl

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

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[david'sgirl 134]

html is disabled.

Thanks. Fixed it.