Birth Certificate for Interview

[SHK1 0]

Hi guys.

 

My case status for I-485 Adjustment of Status has changed to "Case is ready to be scheduled for an interview".
I know it's still early and that it won't come that soon but I have a question regarding my birth certificate for the interview.

 

So my birth certificate is currently in Australia and in order to get it here for the interview, I would need to get a family member to mail it over.

My concern is that what happens if the parcel gets lost in transit?

That is my biggest fear at this point.

 

In Australia, we have Justice of the Peace, who is able to witness an original document together with a copy of the said document and certify it to be a true copy.

It is a method used in Australia for anything government related so that there is no need to send the original when required.

 

It's a long shot but I was wondering if it is possible to get a certified copy of my birth certificate by the Justice of the Peace and have it sent over to eliminate the risk of the original being lost?

 

I doubt it is possible but I would like to hear from anyone who may know anything about it and inform me.

Any if anyone has any suggestions or have been through a similar experience, please feel free to share your story.

 

Thank you very much.

Edited May 6, 2017 by SHK1

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

 

Hi guys.

 

My case status for I-485 Adjustment of Status has changed to "Case is ready to be scheduled for an interview".
I know it's still early and that it won't come that soon but I have a question regarding my birth certificate for the interview.

 

So my birth certificate is currently in Australia and in order to get it here for the interview, I would need to get a family member to mail it over.

My concern is that what happens if the parcel gets lost in transit?

That is my biggest fear at this point.

 

In Australia, we have Justice of the Peace, who is able to witness an original document together with a copy of the said document and certify it to be a true copy.

It is a method used in Australia for anything government related so that there is no need to send the original when required.

 

It's a long shot but I was wondering if it is possible to get a certified copy of my birth certificate by the Justice of the Peace and have it sent over to eliminate the risk of the original being lost?

 

I doubt it is possible but I would like to hear from anyone who may know anything about it and inform me.

Any if anyone has any suggestions or have been through a similar experience, please feel free to share your story.

 

Thank you very much.

A true copy, or a certified copy of an original, certified by the issuing authority that issues the birth certificate are in legal meaning- originals, not photocopies. Here is from the adjudicator's field manual: https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/AFM/HTML/AFM/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-2061/0-0-0-2073.html

 

"8 CFR 103.2(b)(4) permits the submission of copies, rather than the original, of documents. This regulation does NOT mean that public records need not be certified. In the case of domestic or foreign public records, the correct interpretation of 8 CFR 103.2(b)(4) is that:            
          ·             The petitioner or applicant MUST obtain a certified copy of the record, but need not have the certification authenticated by a U.S. Foreign Service Officer as described in 8 CFR 287.6(b) or (c);        

          ·             The petitioner or applicant may then make a plain copy (i.e., it need not be endorsed as a true copy by a U.S. consular officer, a U.S. Immigration Officer, or an attorney) of the certified copy, and submit the plain copy of the certified copy to USCIS ;        

          ·             If the petitioner or applicant submits a plain copy of the certified copy, the petitioner or applicant MUST retain the certified copy and submit it upon the request of the USCIS officer. " 

 

Basically you can make a certified copy of an original - send a photocopy of this with your filing and then be able to present the certified copy at the time of interview. SOme countries don't even issue paper certificates - Sweden is one- we will always present certified copies since the original is an electronic record. 

Edited May 6, 2017 by Suss&Camm

[SHK1 0]

I'm sorry, I didn't make myself clear.

It is not an Australian birth certificate, it is a Vietnamese birth certificate. I cannot get a certify copy of the original from the country.

 

I did not use the word certify correctly and it has caused confusion in my statements.

 

I am making a photocopy of my birth certificate to present to the Justice of the Peace so that he can witness the documents and
then stamp and sign it to say that it is a true copy of the original. It is by no means an official certified copy.

But it is a method used in Australia to provide a certify copy of an original, if that makes sense.

 

Justice of the Peace

A justice of the peace in Australia is typically someone of good stature in the community who is authorised to witness and sign statutory declarations and affidavits and to certify copies of original documents. Criteria for appointment vary widely, depending on the state.

 

My question is, will this certify copy as per witnessed by a Justice of the Peace be sufficient in presenting to USCIS?

 

 

Edited May 6, 2017 by SHK1

[sparkles_ 456]

Have it sent fedex or DHL with signature and it 99.5% wont get lost in transit. We were never even asked about any birth certs at our interview.....of course, we didn't leave it out, we had it with. I think your certified JOP copy plus explaining would be ok.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

 

I'm sorry, I didn't make myself clear.

It is not an Australian birth certificate, it is a Vietnamese birth certificate. I cannot get a certify copy of the original from the country.

 

I did not use the word certify correctly and it has caused confusion in my statements.

 

I am making a photocopy of my birth certificate to present to the Justice of the Peace so that he can witness the documents and
then stamp and sign it to say that it is a true copy of the original. It is by no means an official certified copy.

But it is a method used in Australia to provide a certify copy of an original, if that makes sense.

 

Justice of the Peace

A justice of the peace in Australia is typically someone of good stature in the community who is authorised to witness and sign statutory declarations and affidavits and to certify copies of original documents. Criteria for appointment vary widely, depending on the state.

 

My question is, will this certify copy as per witnessed by a Justice of the Peace be sufficient in presenting to USCIS?

 

 

I believe the certification has to by the custodian or issuing authority. I agree with @sparkles_ in using Fedex or dhl, you'll get tracking. I've never lost anything using either of them, back and forth to Sweden. That's not a very big statistical population  but it's my experience and understanding that there are rarely problems.

Edited May 6, 2017 by Suss&Camm

[SHK1 0]

 

Have it sent fedex or DHL with signature and it 99.5% wont get lost in transit. We were never even asked about any birth certs at our interview.....of course, we didn't leave it out, we had it with. I think your certified JOP copy plus explaining would be ok.

 

I would think that it'll be sufficient to have a Justice of the Peace copy but I wanted to see if anyone can verify.

 

Perhaps I can make a phone call to USCIS, would they answer such questions?

[sparkles_ 456]

 

 

I would think that it'll be sufficient to have a Justice of the Peace copy but I wanted to see if anyone can verify.

 

Perhaps I can make a phone call to USCIS, would they answer such questions?

Infopass, skip the phone and get yourself a real IO at your local office.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

 

 

I would think that it'll be sufficient to have a Justice of the Peace copy but I wanted to see if anyone can verify.

 

Perhaps I can make a phone call to USCIS, would they answer such questions?

They don't answer any questions on how to fill out forms, prepare documentation or interpret their instructions.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

 

 

I would think that it'll be sufficient to have a Justice of the Peace copy but I wanted to see if anyone can verify.

 

Perhaps I can make a phone call to USCIS, would they answer such questions?

The difference is that the JOP can only certify that it is a copy of the record you present him. He can't certify that the record is an original Vietnamese birth certificate issued by whom it says.

[SHK1 0]

Ok. I got it.

Thanks for the replies.

 

Unfortunately fedex and dhl are not conveniently placed all over Australia like it is in the US and only companies use them as a means of transportation.

 

I will have to see what I can do then, thanks again.

 

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

 

Ok. I got it.

Thanks for the replies.

 

Unfortunately fedex and dhl are not conveniently placed all over Australia like it is in the US and only companies use them as a means of transportation.

 

I will have to see what I can do then, thanks again.

 

It's similar in Sweden. I had to go to a package drop-off center for DHL when sending things before I came over. You can also use post office Priority Mail, but unfortunately the international tracking is often lacking, even though they say it has tracking.