Confused on what to do!

[pbgirl 1]

We need a visa to visit the EU and one of the things the German Embassy asks for in the visa packet is the "orginial valid alien registration card" (i.e. the greencard) or a copy of a valid US visa (and K is not listed as one...).

So of course, I am verrrrrry uncomfortable and less then thrilled than having to send the green card in the mail, even it is to a government facility. I was told I could make a copy of the green card and get it notarized but NO notary public will notarize it b/c they can't notarize that something is a true copy. Which is hilarious because I have had a US goverment AND the German consulate and the Indian consulsate say to me in the past to get a copy of something notarized (which of course has never worked). So why do they say that when it ISN"T POSSIBLE?!?!

So should I just send the greencard off and hope it doesn't get lost or stolen? Should send the K3 visa instead and ignore the greencard request? Does anyone know of how I can get a notarized copy (short of making an Infopass appointment?)....?

What if by chance it is lost, what hoops do you have to jump through??

Anyone have experience with this??

Edited October 19, 2006 by pbgirl

[mawilson 2,133]

I'd just mail the green card certified or registered mail.

If you lose your GC, you fill out a form, pay a fee, wait a bunch and get a new one.

No biggie (except for the wait.)

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

We need a visa to visit the EU and one of the things the German Embassy asks for in the visa packet is the "orginial valid alien registration card" (i.e. the greencard) or a copy of a valid US visa (and K is not listed as one...).

So of course, I am verrrrrry uncomfortable and less then thrilled than having to send the green card in the mail, even it is to a government facility. I was told I could make a copy of the green card and get it notarized but NO notary public will notarize it b/c they can't notarize that something is a true copy. Which is hilarious because I have had a US goverment AND the German consulate and the Indian consulsate say to me in the past to get a copy of something notarized (which of course has never worked). So why do they say that when it ISN"T POSSIBLE?!?!

So should I just send the greencard off and hope it doesn't get lost or stolen? Should send the K3 visa instead and ignore the greencard request? Does anyone know of how I can get a notarized copy (short of making an Infopass appointment?)....?

What if by chance it is lost, what hoops do you have to jump through??

Anyone have experience with this??

I'm not positive about this, but I believe you can go to any of the EU countries if you get a visa for one of them. You get to pick which one you want to get the visa for. I think the only conditiion is that's the country you have to enter the EU in. Any possibility a different EU country might have a more reasonable process?

[lak&ajm 0]

And just as a side note - a notary public is not notarizing the document - in this case they would not be stating it is an authentic green card. A notary is just verifying the indivdiual who signed the piece of paper in front of them is in fact that individual.

Edited October 19, 2006 by lak&ajm

[pbgirl 1]

And just as a side note - a notary public is not notarizing the document - in this case they would not be stating it is an authentic green card. A notary is just verifying the indivdiual who signed the piece of paper in front of them is in fact that individual.

Right, that is what I was told by the notary. But then why do these governments ask for "notarized copies" of documents? How can you get anything certified (unless it is a birth certificate or something). Just an interesting situation.

Thanks for the suggestions. I suppose we'll have to go with sending everything in and hope for the best. We have to enter through Germany so the German consulate is our only option.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I am not sure how it works in the States but I was a Commissioner of Oaths in Ontario and I was allowed to make copies of documents and certify that they were a true and unaltered copy of the original, stamp it with my stamp then sign and date it. It is deifnitely a different process than notarizing a document. A Notary would prepare a summary of facts or a statement from an individual then notarize that this was sworn by the individual to be true. I was also authorized to take sworn statements from indivduals. I don't know if they have the equivalent of a Commissioner of Oaths here or not. My office was an appointment from the Province.

[de_sjiem 0]

In Michigan, notaries cannot notarize that documents are true copies.. I had this problem this past year for our taxes when I needed a copy of my passport for my ITIN.. The notary I went to showed me in her little book about that.. Other states can do it, but Michigan can't.. Is there no embassy nearby that you could go to and maybe not have to send in your greencard? Otherwise I guess you'd have to send it in..but I'd send it registered mail (like mawilson suggested) and try to put insurance on it of what it would cost to replace the green card (which is about $200 last I checked..) Good luck!

[CarolineM 0]

Recently to get my new name on my passport I had to send my passport in. I cannot TELL you how anxious that made me...but it was fine. I had to send my marriage certificate - the original AND the passport but I sent it so I could track it...which I did...and it all got returned to me with no problems...it's scary but it did work out

[sheraz 0]

We need a visa to visit the EU and one of the things the German Embassy asks for in the visa packet is the "orginial valid alien registration card" (i.e. the greencard) or a copy of a valid US visa (and K is not listed as one...).

So of course, I am verrrrrry uncomfortable and less then thrilled than having to send the green card in the mail, even it is to a government facility. I was told I could make a copy of the green card and get it notarized but NO notary public will notarize it b/c they can't notarize that something is a true copy. Which is hilarious because I have had a US goverment AND the German consulate and the Indian consulsate say to me in the past to get a copy of something notarized (which of course has never worked). So why do they say that when it ISN"T POSSIBLE?!?!

So should I just send the greencard off and hope it doesn't get lost or stolen? Should send the K3 visa instead and ignore the greencard request? Does anyone know of how I can get a notarized copy (short of making an Infopass appointment?)....?

What if by chance it is lost, what hoops do you have to jump through??

Anyone have experience with this??

I have had this experience. All you need to do is make a copy of your green card, the notary will sign on the copy and put his stamp and thats it. If the German embassy refuses to consider this copy, then you talk to them and explain the situation. There are many places where you have send notarized copy of green card: mortgage companies, bank loans, University admissions. I dont know why this is any different