Does petitioner need to bring birth certificate to interview?

[ajhigh 2]

I'm in "Testing & Interview" status, waiting notification of interview date (Chicago local office, might be awhile with the backlog there.)

I want to start gathering interview documents. Does my husband (USC) need to bring his birth certificate to the interview, or is his US passport sufficient?

(The certificate is with his parents on the other side of the country. We're not planning on visiting them for awhile. They can post it secure-mail if we need it for the interview, but wanted to check if that's necessary.)

Thanks.

[TwoSwifts 8]

I'm in "Testing & Interview" status, waiting notification of interview date (Chicago local office, might be awhile with the backlog there.)

I want to start gathering interview documents. Does my husband (USC) need to bring his birth certificate to the interview, or is his US passport sufficient?

(The certificate is with his parents on the other side of the country. We're not planning on visiting them for awhile. They can post it secure-mail if we need it for the interview, but wanted to check if that's necessary.)

Thanks.

We consulted with both an attorney (although not retained), and a preparer of our documentation, and albeit having photocopies submitted with our packet for USCIS, both highly recommended that all "original" copies be present with you for your interview in case you are asked. Photocopies are good for the packet submission, but I would bring every last piece of original documentation and records you can think of. My wife is from Spain, and we had one of her friends send the original Birth Certificate and Libro De Familia to the US. Even though I have a valid passport, I am bringing my Birth Certificate as well in case they ask...Better to be safe than sorry.

I would think that is a document you would want in your personal files anyways should you need it for something else moving forward in life. Surely you would need it at some point....

[tangrien 7]

I don't know if it is 100% required (I'd assume probably not, otherwise we'd hear a lot more about it), but I can say that at our interview Wednesday the officer was looking at my birth certificate photocopy, then said they needed to see the original (which I had). I'm not sure what would have happened if I didn't have it.

Sorry to not be of more help. I would just mail it, but I probably have more faith in the USPS than others

[hmh33 117]

You need to bring the original of either the birth certificate or the passport of the USC petitioner. It's not necessary to bring both. You just need one original document that establishes US citizenship, for which either is acceptable.

[teanet 20]

They kept the interview letter but I think it stated as what documents to bring is both birth certificates. Also it's saying bring all originals submitted with application and I think with I130 we had to send petitioner birth certificate. But the I130 was over year ago so I might be wrong about that

I had petitioner birth certificate but the io didn't ask to see it,