I-485 Supporting Docs - Certified copies?

[jassan 1]

Perhaps I'm overthinking this, but I'm confused by the requirements for these two documents.

7. A copy of the intending immigrant's birth certificate along with English translation. (If in any language other than English)

8. A certified copy of your marriage certificate. (If filing for your spouse)

I'm pretty sure I have the translated birth certificate with an official seal of translation. I believe I have a copy of the the original translation of the marrige certificate. So, I have a copy of the certified translation, but not necessarily a certified copy of the translation - do you understand? Does this make sense? Am I over thinking this?

Thanks.

[Tom_Jim 40]

According to my lawyer, a photocopy of the marriage license would suffice. But do bring the original one to the interview.

[sunset2005 0]

i have always just sent photocopies of everything and never was asked for the original but I do agree with the previous post, bring the original to the interview cuz you just never know.

[bora bora 1]

We sent a copy of the translation of my husband's BC and a certified copy of our marriage license.

[taurean 0]

We sent photocopies of the certified BC and Marriage License and we also sent photocopies of the translations. I wouldn't feel safe to send the originals (even if certified copies) for fear they'd get lost in the mail. We didn't have an interview and the GC was approved using just the copies of the documents.

[JamalNTam 1]

so you can send certified copies of the marriage license and not the actual certified certificate?

[cellarlily 0]

Agh! Don't send your original certificate because you'll never get it back! That's for you to keep.

Like others have said, a photocopy of the original certificate seems to be sufficient, but certified copies in Chicago were so cheap that we ended up getting a half dozen. I'll need a bunch of them for name changes and whatnot, so we went ahead and sent a certified copy with the AOS package.

[JamalNTam 1]

ok - so I can send a copy of the certified license and not a copy of the actual certified marriage certificate? Thats what I meant. I just wanted to make sure the license was ok and not the actual certificate because we want to send our AOS as soon as we get married and we are worried about waiting for the actual certificate because we dont want to pass the 30th July.

[cellarlily 0]

No no, not your license. Your license is what you get before you get married. It's what you apply for a day or so beforehand and does not proove marriage. Only the marriage certificate (which is signed by a judge, minister, priest, officiant) is valid. It depends on how and where you're getting married. If it's at the court house, the judge him/herself may submit the certificate for you or you may ask to take it to the clerk's office yourself (to speed things up so you can request certified copies then and there). If you get married in a church or outside the courthouse, the minister/etc. will sign and you will physically take it to the clerk's office (where you can then request copies).

If you don't request certified copies, you can make a photocopy of the actual certificate as proof. It's yours to keep, so hang onto it.

Of course, this varies from state-to-state, but this is what happened in Illinois when we got married.

[chaplin 0]

ok - so I can send a copy of the certified license and not a copy of the actual certified marriage certificate? Thats what I meant. I just wanted to make sure the license was ok and not the actual certificate because we want to send our AOS as soon as we get married and we are worried about waiting for the actual certificate because we dont want to pass the 30th July.

You need to send the marriage certificate in. The license is only "proof" that you have filed intentions to get married, not that you have done so. The certificate is proof that the marriage took place, by someone with the authority to do so. A copy of the certified certificate is appropriate for the package.

eta : or what cellarlily said. :-)

Edited May 31, 2007 by chaplin

[JamalNTam 1]

so taurean and Bora Bora were both incorrect to send their licence?

[bora bora 1]

Did I say license? hehehe

I meant certificate. My bad.

They're right - the license is only the permission to get married. In Florida the certificate is the same thing - only signed by our witnesses and stamped by the notary (in Florida a notary can marry couples).

We sent a certified copy of our marriage CERTIFICATE. Our witnesses signed at the wedding (which was at a friend's house). The notary brought her stamp with her and signed and stamped the certificate so we could take it to the county clerk's office the next day and have our certified copies in our hands. They're only $2.50 a piece so we ordered a few.

We needed a few copies but I had to send one with AOS and present it for my (the USC) name changes. Sometimes I'm able to change my name over the phone, other times I have to present a copy of the certificate.

[chaplin 0]

so taurean and Bora Bora were both incorrect to send their licence?

if that is what they sent. they may have written license, but sent the actual form that was signed by the officiant. that is what is needed. some may call it a license, but in actuality it was the certificate. that is the important and only relevant piece of paper, not your intentions. because the state that I am from makes a disctinction between the two, I wanted to clarify that there might be confusion between the documents.

[JamalNTam 1]

AHHH OK - I just hope I'll be able to get my certified certificate the day after the wedding myself! I really need to make that July 30th deadline! lol!

[bora bora 1]

AHHH OK - I just hope I'll be able to get my certified certificate the day after the wedding myself! I really need to make that July 30th deadline! lol!

I think you can get it - that was our case. I do believe there is a distinct difference between license and certificate (since the license does not mean your're married). I just made the mistake, and I'm sure others have too...hehehe

Good luck.