Sending Originals for the Interview

[neodragon0l 6]

Ok. The first hurdle of submitting the I-129F is done. Do I have mail my original Certificate of Naturalization and Passport to my fiancee? What have you guys done? Thank you for the input!

[pddp 240]

No, they are not needed, copies are fine. They only need originals from the beneficiary at the interview stage.

[Darnell 8,479]

wait for the last hurdle, then send off yer original documents. she'll need them for the interview.

[Hank_ 9,174]

wait for the last hurdle, then send off yer original documents. she'll need them for the interview.

No way!! No he should not send his passport and original naturalization documents, the embassy only needs copies. Last thing they need is for his passport and original naturalization papers lost in transit.

[neodragon0l 6]

Thank you for replying to my topic. Thank you Hank and Amy whichever is responding to my initial post.

That's what I am afraid of. Sending original documents may get lost in transit. Getting another Certificate of Naturalization is $420 dollars. I rather not send it and save it for the honeymoon .

I actually looked the answer up on this forum because the guide says "original." There is a letter from the USCIS (formerly known as the INS) http://www.visajourney.com/examples/FC-029.pdf stating that legible photocopies of the original documents such as the Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. Passport are allowed as long as you state the following in a letter. This letter has to be signed and dated. I wrote something a similar language, so I think I will be fine.

"Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered original documents and I understand that I may be required to submit original documents to an Immigration or Consular official at a later date."

Edited June 13, 2012 by neodragon0l

[Enigma11561 336]

Unless you absolutely, positively must..NEVER send originals of anything. These are yours. What you said about producing originals at a later date is what many people miss and when they lose their docs....big ooops.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I actually looked the answer up on this forum because the guide says "original."

The guides here are pretty useless, unless you want to find new ways to torture yourself over minutia as well as rely on outdated and erroneous information. The guides available at the USCIS.gov and the travel.state.gov websites are the more current and accurate, as well as eliminate all the superfluous fluff. Check this out: http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/A2en.pdf and http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2994.html and http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3204.html and http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction%20Packet%20_3__rtf2_005.pdf

[Caryh 5,206]

I sent originals of things I could easily replace. That would not be my passport or naturalization papers, the later I don't have anyway. But I file taxes electronically, so I sent original W2's I had more of the same. Original SS card. Original divorce decree, Birth Certificate, etc... I gave my wife specific instructions to keep originals separated from photocopies and to only leave photocopies is they wanted a copy. My wife felt better having those originals, and she brought them all with her when she arrived. Making her less nervous through the embassy and CFO interviews was worth the risk with replaceable documents.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I sent originals of things I could easily replace. That would not be my passport or naturalization papers, the later I don't have anyway. But I file taxes electronically, so I sent original W2's I had more of the same. Original SS card. Original divorce decree, Birth Certificate, etc... I gave my wife specific instructions to keep originals separated from photocopies and to only leave photocopies is they wanted a copy. My wife felt better having those originals, and she brought them all with her when she arrived. Making her less nervous through the embassy and CFO interviews was worth the risk with replaceable documents.

Not sure why someone would want to sent the originals of their SS card, divorce decree or even birth certificate when copies are all the embassy wants. Especially the SS card being identity thief is such a concern these days, heck SS even tells you to NOT carry it on your daily.

Never DO-DO when DO will DO.

Edited June 13, 2012 by Hank_Amy

[Caryh 5,206]

Not sure why someone would want to sent the originals of their SS card, divorce decree or even birth certificate when copies are all the embassy wants. Especially the SS card being identity thief is such a concern these days, heck SS even tells you to NOT carry it on your daily.

Never DO-DO when DO will DO.

Because it made my wife more comfortable, and she had heard of people getting stuck with demands to see the original at the CFO. We did have a discussion about identity theft and being very very careful with any form with so much personal data on it, including guarding the SSN. You're actually handing over all the same data with photo copies of taxes and such. She did get asked at the CFO to see originals of the divorce decree and my birth certificate. I will say it rather pissed me off to be expected to show some of these documents to the CFO. It would be so easy for someone there to be ripping off identities and selling them. Its not so much the SS card, but the SS number, which is the danger in identity theft.

[CristiFur 15]

Don't send originals. I only scanned my divorce decree and certificate of citizenship and had her print it out. Anyways they did not even ask for it during her interview.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Because it made my wife more comfortable, and she had heard of people getting stuck with demands to see the original at the CFO. We did have a discussion about identity theft and being very very careful with any form with so much personal data on it, including guarding the SSN. You're actually handing over all the same data with photo copies of taxes and such. She did get asked at the CFO to see originals of the divorce decree and my birth certificate. I will say it rather pissed me off to be expected to show some of these documents to the CFO. It would be so easy for someone there to be ripping off identities and selling them. Its not so much the SS card, but the SS number, which is the danger in identity theft.

No one asks to see a copy of your SS card, and yes any data with your SSN on it is putting things out in the breeze, but someone having your original SS card is even more so. They only ask for copies of your BC and divorce decree at CFO.

[Caryh 5,206]

No one asks to see a copy of your SS card, and yes any data with your SSN on it is putting things out in the breeze, but someone having your original SS card is even more so. They only ask for copies of your BC and divorce decree at CFO.

You're forgetting number 4 in the requirements.

Other documents as may be required by the counselors

As my wife put it as she was gathering up all the info she could on those other documents, "Would you rather have it delayed if they ask for it or send it now?", I saw her logic. Actually knowing how poor security is at most companies' and the government's computers are, I worry more about my information being stolen directly from them.

[Hank_ 9,174]

You're forgetting number 4 in the requirements.

Other documents as may be required by the counselors

As my wife put it as she was gathering up all the info she could on those other documents, "Would you rather have it delayed if they ask for it or send it now?", I saw her logic. Actually knowing how poor security is at most companies' and the government's computers are, I worry more about my information being stolen directly from them.

"Other documents" or not, they do not ask for originals only copies. And a copy of your SS card is never one of them... total no-no, and if a CFO officer asked for that I would want to be talking their boss. And I would not give CFO anything with my SSN on it... embassy yes, CFO no.

Your wife may have been paranoid and wanted the originals from you, but CFO would never ask for the originals, and they won't ask for anything with your SSN on it unless someone has "other motives".

As for the OP question: NEVER SEND ORIGINALS OF PERSONAL DOCUMENTS.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

"Other documents" or not, they do not ask for originals only copies. And a copy of your SS card is never one of them... total no-no, and if a CFO officer asked for that I would want to be talking their boss. And I would not give CFO anything with my SSN on it... embassy yes, CFO no.

Your wife may have been paranoid and wanted the originals from you, but CFO would never ask for the originals, and they won't ask for anything with your SSN on it unless someone has "other motives".

As for the OP question: NEVER SEND ORIGINALS OF PERSONAL DOCUMENTS.

Yeah, this is a country that needed a copy of my credit card to let my wife board the airplane, but wouldn't accept the copy I sent with the middle eight numbers blacked out. So, I faxed a copy of one of my statements. Sure enough, I get a letter from my credit card company saying, "Someone fraudulently attempted to use your credit card information to make a purchase from a foreign country. Here is your new card. Please destroy your old card."