Interview coming up

[Yodrak 7]

dr_lha,

Perhaps wondering why they would need two certified copies, why the one they already have isn't enough?

Yodrak

YuAndDan and dr_lha,

Just out of curiosity, where did khool write that he sent his only certified copy of the marriage certificate and does not have another copy available?

He may not have another copy, but he has not written anything that would indicate so.

Yodrak

Basic English comprehension and logic Yodrak. If he had another original copy, why would he not just bring that to the interview instead of asking if a photocopy was OK?

[Dr_LHA 3]

dr_lha,

Perhaps wondering why they would need two certified copies, why the one they already have isn't enough?

Yodrak

Well the OP sent his only certified copy to USCIS, meaning s/he currently doesn't have one (this is established by the OP's 2nd post). USCIS lose documents all the time, so would they really want to go into the interview and not be able to provide an original "certified copy" if asked?

Edited December 12, 2006 by dr_lha

[FMore 0]

Khool,

Yuandan is correct. You send a potocopy with the application, the foreign fiance(e) takes the original (plus all other originals which were photocopied to send with the application, birth certificate, proof of having met, proof of ongoing relationship, photos, etc) to the interview.

I paid $9 for a certified copy of my divorce at the county clerk's office here in NY.

[Yodrak 7]

Yodrak,

Yes, khool did clear up the issue in a subsequent post.

Your question here is a good one, which is why I mentioned the capability of USCIS to lose docments from the file in my first post.

Yodrak

dr_lha,

Perhaps wondering why they would need two certified copies, why the one they already have isn't enough?

Yodrak

Well the OP sent his only certified copy to USCIS, meaning s/he currently doesn't have one (this is established by the OP's 2nd post). USCIS lose documents all the time, so would they really want to go into the interview and not be able to provide an original "certified copy" if asked?

[Dr_LHA 3]

Is it possible to get the guide updated on this point? I've noticed that the Guide actually says that you should file "A certified copy of your marriage certificate. (If filing for your spouse)" with your AOS, which is clearly incorrect. The correct statement would be "A photocopy of the certified copy of your marriage certificate. (If filing for your spouse)".

I know some people in the past have delayed filing their AOS to get an extra certified copy, which is unnecessary, or done what the OP has done and mailed their only certified copy with the AOS, which is risky IMHO. USCIS plainly states they don't want originals of official documents, and I myself can attest that sending a photocopy of the "certified copy" was adequate.

[mychelle 1]

^i agree with dr_lha. i did think i had to wait for the CERTIFIED copy of our marriage certificate before filing but when i checked out the I-485 instructions it only asks for a copy of your marriage certificate. it takes a month after the marriage date before we can receive certified copies from LA county and we were going to wait until then, but after reading the instructions i just went ahead and made a copy of the marriage certificate given to us after the civil ceremony. we just received our CERTIFIED copies yesterday and we'll be bringing those to our interview just in case they ask.

[Yodrak 7]

mychelle,

It's the government-issued certified certificate that they want a photocopy of. You may not get an RFE, but don't be surprised if you do.

Yodrak

^i agree with dr_lha. i did think i had to wait for the CERTIFIED copy of our marriage certificate before filing but when i checked out the I-485 instructions it only asks for a copy of your marriage certificate. it takes a month after the marriage date before we can receive certified copies from LA county and we were going to wait until then, but after reading the instructions i just went ahead and made a copy of the marriage certificate given to us after the civil ceremony. we just received our CERTIFIED copies yesterday and we'll be bringing those to our interview just in case they ask.

[Dr_LHA 3]

mychelle,

It's the government-issued certified certificate that they want a photocopy of. You may not get an RFE, but don't be surprised if you do.

Yodrak

Well the civil ceremony was performed by the same "government", so usually the certificate you get from that is fine. Its only usually when you get married in a church that the piece of paper they give you afterwards is useless.

Edited December 12, 2006 by dr_lha

[mychelle 1]

yodrak, i asked around first on which copy of the marriage cert is sent with the AOS apps and from one couple who went through LA county registrar's office...they just made a copy of the original marriage certificate given to them that same day. hopefully it would be sufficient for the USCIS. i haven't seen a lot of RFE's for that around here. i'm actually expecting RFE's for the I-864...for things already sent.

edited to add: yeah, ours was a civil ceremony performed by an officer at the registrar's office. so the marriage certificate we received from them that same day should be considered government-issued.

Edited December 12, 2006 by mychelle

[Yodrak 7]

dr_lha,

The marriage certificate still has to be recorded at the local city or county clerks office, whether the certificate was signed by a religious official or a civil official, and it's the recorded certificate that their looking for.

Yodrak

mychelle,

It's the government-issued certified certificate that they want a photocopy of. You may not get an RFE, but don't be surprised if you do.

Yodrak

Well the civil ceremony was performed by the same "government", so usually the certificate you get from that is fine. Its only usually when you get married in a church that the piece of paper they give you afterwards is useless.

[mychelle 1]

well the next question is: anyone here got an RFE for their marriage certificate sent with the AOS package? if so, what was the reason for the RFE regarding the marriage cert?

edit to add: thanks for the clarification yodrak. in any case if they ask for the CERTIFIED ones...we just got it...so it's all good. right now, we're just chillin' and waitin' for the USCIS to let us know what's up. there is no use in worrying about it...it's out of our hands now. but i'm still keeping our fingers crossed.

Edited December 12, 2006 by mychelle

[Yodrak 7]

mychelle,

Yes, you've got the right thing if it came from the registrar's office. Civil ceremony or religious ceremony, the certificate sent to USCIS needs to be registered and certified by the registrar.

Yodrak

yodrak, i asked around first on which copy of the marriage cert is sent with the AOS apps and from one couple who went through LA county registrar's office...they just made a copy of the original marriage certificate given to them that same day. hopefully it would be sufficient for the USCIS. i haven't seen a lot of RFE's for that around here. i'm actually expecting RFE's for the I-864...for things already sent.

edited to add: yeah, ours was a civil ceremony performed by an officer at the registrar's office. so the marriage certificate we received from them that same day should be considered government-issued.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Edited because Yodrak agrees with me in his last post.

Edited December 12, 2006 by dr_lha

[Dr_LHA 3]

mychelle,

Yes, you've got the right thing if it came from the registrar's office. Civil ceremony or religious ceremony, the certificate sent to USCIS needs to be registered and certified by the registrar.

Yes, and when you have a civil ceremony at the registar's office this happens on the spot, which is why mychelle didn't have to wait for a copy in the mail.

[Yodrak 7]

dr_lha,

No Yodrak did not change his answer, he provided a new answer based on new information.

And civil ceremonies are not necessarily performed at a registry office. Mychelle's was, as it turns out, but many are not. They may be performed in a judges chambers or office, for example, or anywhere else that a civil official authorized to perform marriages will go to perform the marriage.

Yodrak

Do you understand how civil ceremonies work? The ceremony itself is the recording of the marriage, because its performed at the registry office.

Edited December 12, 2006 by Yodrak