CR-1 IV Package - Marriage Certificare from US Wedding

[silverjetplane 34]

(I've searched the VJ site and the State Department site for an answer, but I can't find an exact answer.)

Background: I (petitioner) married my spouse (beneficiary) in January 2014 in New York, USA. We are currently living in Chile and filing from abroad. We are preparing his IV package to be sent once we can make the payment on the CEAC website.

Question: Do we need to submit the original/certified copy of our marriage certificate issued in New York, USA with his IV package?

From the State Department website: "Marriage Certificate. If you are married, you must obtain an original marriage certificate, or a certified copy, bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority. Note: Marriage certificates from certain countries are unavailable. More specific information is from the NVC, the nearest U.S. Immigrant visa processing post, or online at Reciprocity by Country."

Is there any difference because we were married in the US? Should we still submit the original document or a certified copy with the IV package? We can always bring the original to the interview, but as far as I've read, NVC requires originals/certified copies as part of this package.

Thanks in advance.

[mamibebek 12]

You can send in original or certified copy that you got from county you married in. You must also include one copy of the original document or the certified document, whichever you provide. Hope that helps.

[NikLR 13,227]

Certified copy = copy from the issuer

So sending the original is fine unless you want to go get a certified copy.

[silverjetplane 34]

Thanks NLR and mamibebek.

As a follow-up, I've read that during the interview, sometimes the original certificates are passed back to the applicant. Is this true? I'm obviously concerned about sending in the original document when getting a certified copy is quite difficult from outside the US.

Thanks again.

EDIT: I've found my own answer here:

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/interview/prepare/appointment.html

"Original documents submitted to the NVC with photocopies will be returned to the applicant when the interview has been successfully completed."

Again, thanks. I appreciate all the help.

Edited August 4, 2014 by silverjetplane

[NikLR 13,227]

Yes the originals are given back at interview day.

Send an original and a photocopy to the NVC.