I-130 RFE

[pushbrk 13,217]

If you sent a copy of an original certificate, it may well be the wrong document.  What they want is a photocopy of a certified copy of an "original" document that is owned and controlled by the government entity that registered your marriage.  If that's what you sent, send it again.  If you sent anything else, get what they need and send it in.

[TBoneTX 46,342]

A post and a reply have been edited to remove names.  This is a VERY public forum.

OP, if your user name is your real name, safer to change it.

In addition, a hijack post has been removed.  Please put it in your existing thread or a new thread.

[vp005a75a 0]

You must submit a "Certified" Copy of your Certificate of Marriage. A simple photo copy of the original Certificate of Marriage is not sufficient. If your marriage took place in the US contact the Marriage License Bureau of the County where you have initially obtained your Marriage License. Do let them know  that you would like to order at least 2 (two)  Certified Copies with the RAISED SEAL and THE SIGNATURE OF THE OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF SUCH CERTIFICATIONS  and do mention that you need these Certified Copies to be valid for immigration purposes (and actually consider ordering 3 (three) Certified Copies). They will often will include  a copy of the Application for Marriage License. The fee ranges anywhere from $5 TO $35 per each Certified Copy of Certificate of Marriage. So don't be surprised! Now I will answer two more questions that you would naturally ask. 1) Why is a simple photo copy is not enough? The answer is that the photo copies are really easy to forge. And, additionally, the Certified Copy of the Certificate of Marriage, signed by a certifying official in charge, certifies that the marriage was legal in any jurisdiction and and any country. 2) Why do I need to waste my money and order two, or three, or more Certified Copies? The answer is that it is your responsibility to prove that the marriage a) took place, b) was legal in that jurisdiction/country, c) and that you can instantaneously prove it with these Certified Copies of the Certificate of Marriage. As far as I am concerned  you should spend the money and order 3 (three) Certified Copies because a) you will need to send 1 Copy by mail, b) you will need to present 1 Copy at your interview and submit it if they lost/misplaced it or if they want/demand yet another copy, and c) you will need 1 Copy at the next interview in 2-3 years when you will apply to Remove Conditions on your Green Card (basically to extend you first 2 year Green Card into a permanent 10 year Green Card) and before that last possible interview you can present your Certified Copy to prove your familial relationship to any official government agency - your County, local SSA (Social Security Administration), and etc. I hope that this information will be helpful. Good Luck!

[NikLR 13,232]

On 8/27/2018 at 5:40 AM, Logan Cochran said:

Good morning,

 

I received an RFE  that states the following:

 

Submit a photocopy of the original marriage certificate for the marriage of ____ and ____. The marriage certificate must be issued by an appropriate civil authority. In order for the marriage to be considered valid for immigration purposes, it must have been legally valid in the location where the marriage took place. The document must include the date of registration and signature of the registrar.

 

I have copies of the I-130 form that I originally submitted and it has the marriage license, so I know I sent it before. I noticed that when I sent the photocopy it's on 8 1/2" X 11" paper, rather than legal size, can this be the reason they want it resubmitted? Could the size of the paper be a cause for them to re-request it? Or could there be another reason they could be asking for this document again? 

^^^^^^^

2 hours ago, vp005a75a said:

You must submit a "Certified" Copy of your Certificate of Marriage. A simple photo copy of the original Certificate of Marriage is not sufficient. If your marriage took place in the US contact the Marriage License Bureau of the County where you have initially obtained your Marriage License. Do let them know  that you would like to order at least 2 (two)  Certified Copies with the RAISED SEAL and THE SIGNATURE OF THE OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF SUCH CERTIFICATIONS  and do mention that you need these Certified Copies to be valid for immigration purposes (and actually consider ordering 3 (three) Certified Copies). They will often will include  a copy of the Application for Marriage License. The fee ranges anywhere from $5 TO $35 per each Certified Copy of Certificate of Marriage. So don't be surprised! Now I will answer two more questions that you would naturally ask. 1) Why is a simple photo copy is not enough? The answer is that the photo copies are really easy to forge. And, additionally, the Certified Copy of the Certificate of Marriage, signed by a certifying official in charge, certifies that the marriage was legal in any jurisdiction and and any country. 2) Why do I need to waste my money and order two, or three, or more Certified Copies? The answer is that it is your responsibility to prove that the marriage a) took place, b) was legal in that jurisdiction/country, c) and that you can instantaneously prove it with these Certified Copies of the Certificate of Marriage. As far as I am concerned  you should spend the money and order 3 (three) Certified Copies because a) you will need to send 1 Copy by mail, b) you will need to present 1 Copy at your interview and submit it if they lost/misplaced it or if they want/demand yet another copy, and c) you will need 1 Copy at the next interview in 2-3 years when you will apply to Remove Conditions on your Green Card (basically to extend you first 2 year Green Card into a permanent 10 year Green Card) and before that last possible interview you can present your Certified Copy to prove your familial relationship to any official government agency - your County, local SSA (Social Security Administration), and etc. I hope that this information will be helpful. Good Luck!

No actually you do not submit a certified copy.  You submit a PHOTOCOPY of the certified copy or original.  As stated in the RFE. 

 

We sent a photocopy.  Unless you're asked specifically for an original or certified copy, you only send a photocopy.  

[pushbrk 13,217]

7 hours ago, NikLR said:

^^^^^^^

No actually you do not submit a certified copy.  You submit a PHOTOCOPY of the certified copy or original.  As stated in the RFE. 

 

We sent a photocopy.  Unless you're asked specifically for an original or certified copy, you only send a photocopy.  

Correct.  But, even USCIS's RFE wording can be misleading.  A  photocopy of the "original" is what you get when you order a "certified copy" of the document.  The "Original" is the property of the government agency registering the marriage.  The (original) "Certified Copy" should be carried to the interview.  USCIS needs a photocopy of a certified copy.

 

Words mean things here.  If the OP literally submitted a photocopy of the "original" marriage certificate, it may likely be a souvenir document, produced BEFORE the government agency actually registered the marriage.