Originals vs copies??

[Ninna 1]

So on my husbands interview  letter it states that if copies of documents  were sent during n400 then we need to bring originals to the interview. I only have copies of our marriage certificate. I do not have an original. We also only have copies of his bc no originals of that either. Will this be a problem from everyone’s experience??? 

[Going through 5,671]

9 minutes ago, Ninna said:

So on my husbands interview  letter it states that if copies of documents  were sent during n400 then we need to bring originals to the interview. I only have copies of our marriage certificate. I do not have an original. We also only have copies of his bc no originals of that either. Will this be a problem from everyone’s experience??? 

Depends on the officer, sometimes, I believe.

 

Normally, copies are ok for the marriage certificate, because logically they have already seen the original/certified copy when you did the AOS, and then received a second copy when you did the ROC (if you did the ROC, not sure if you entered on a K1 or CR-1 or whatever).  Just to clarify, when you say "copies" are you talking about certified copies or just "regular" photocopies made yourself?

 

For my interview the officer asked to see my original birth certificate.  Others haven't been asked for the birth certificate at all.

 

 

[Ninna 1]

7 minutes ago, Going through said:

Depends on the officer, sometimes, I believe.

 

Normally, copies are ok for the marriage certificate, because logically they have already seen the original/certified copy when you did the AOS, and then received a second copy when you did the ROC (if you did the ROC, not sure if you entered on a K1 or CR-1 or whatever).  Just to clarify, when you say "copies" are you talking about certified copies or just "regular" photocopies made yourself?

 

For my interview the officer asked to see my original birth certificate.  Others haven't been asked for the birth certificate at all.

 

 

Its a copy of a certified copy..... yes I believe we sent them originals in the very beginning when we first applied for the cr1. On the uscis website it states to bring a copy of the marriage certificate as one of the items listed. But in the interview letter it states to bring originals of any copies we sent. So I don’t know. I don’t have an original. My marriage certificate is from overseas not the us. 

[Dashinka 24,512]

No one actually gets the original of marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, etc., as those are kept at the local clerks office.  The only thing we get are certified copies, so if you do not have a certified copy to take with you to the interview, you should get one.

 

Good Luck!

[Ninna 1]

17 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

No one actually gets the original of marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, etc., as those are kept at the local clerks office.  The only thing we get are certified copies, so if you do not have a certified copy to take with you to the interview, you should get one.

 

Good Luck!

We were married in Palestine. Where could I possibly get a certified copy from down here? 

[Lemon23 400]

34 minutes ago, Ninna said:

We were married in Palestine. Where could I possibly get a certified copy from down here? 

hard to help you on this question because we don't know from which state you are, if you don't want to fill out your timeline I would suggest try to use google so you would know where to get or to do the certified copy of your marriage certificate.

[Dashinka 24,512]

1 hour ago, Ninna said:

We were married in Palestine. Where could I possibly get a certified copy from down here? 

So my assumption is that you brought several certified copies of the marriage certificate with you.

[Ninna 1]

13 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

So my assumption is that you brought several certified copies of the marriage certificate with you.

I only have a copy of the certified marriage certificate. My dad was the sponsor for when we applied my hubby to come here on the cr1. Im for certain he sent all original certified copies when we first did the paperwork. Right now I just have a copy. Just some extra copies that my dad had copied himself in his office. Not an original certified. Just a photocopy of it. 

[Ninna 1]

55 minutes ago, Lemon23 said:

hard to help you on this question because we don't know from which state you are, if you don't want to fill out your timeline I would suggest try to use google so you would know where to get or to do the certified copy of your marriage certificate.

We live in Louisiana. Married in Palestine. Marriage certificate is one from Palestine. 

[Ninna 1]

I’m sure a copy will be just fine. I don’t think it should cause a problem.  

[Dashinka 24,512]

9 minutes ago, Ninna said:

I only have a copy of the certified marriage certificate. My dad was the sponsor for when we applied my hubby to come here on the cr1. Im for certain he sent all original certified copies when we first did the paperwork. Right now I just have a copy. Just some extra copies that my dad had copied himself in his office. Not an original certified. Just a photocopy of it. 

OK, so you wrote that the notice said if copies were submitted bring originals to the interview.  My point was that when they say original for something like a marriage certificate, they really mean a certified copy because no one has the actual originals.  So if you are certain the certified copies were submitted, you should be fine.

 

Good Luck!

[afrocraft 313]

Is he filing based on the 3-year marriage exemption? If so, it is kind of important he proves his marriage to a US citizen -- especially if that marriage was conducted outside the US. The prudent thing to do in that circumstance is to get an original copy, or take compelling evidence explaining why he doesn't have the original. His birth certificate isn't as important, in my view.

Edited June 19, 2019 by afrocraft

[Ninna 1]

8 hours ago, afrocraft said:

Is he filing based on the 3-year marriage exemption? If so, it is kind of important he proves his marriage to a US citizen -- especially if that marriage was conducted outside the US. The prudent thing to do in that circumstance is to get an original copy, or take compelling evidence explaining why he doesn't have the original. His birth certificate isn't as important, in my view.

So he’s filing the five year not three because we’ve been married 10 years already. So I see online that there are certified translators that can take your foreign document and translate and certify it in English for you. Since I don’t have an original certified copy of my marriage certificate how about I get my foreign marriage certificate translated and certified online? 

[Going through 5,671]

Then if he's filed based on the 5 year, I wouldn't even worry about needing a certified copy of the marriage certificate for the interview. 

His N400 is adjudicated based on his residency for 5 year filers, not his marriage (as it would be for 3 year filers).  

 

I believe it mentions in the interview letter that the marriage certificate is suggested as an item to bring for those who applied based on their marriage only.  

 

If needed, the IO can refer back to the copy they already have in their file infront of them during his interview.

Edited June 20, 2019 by Going through

[dilip 187]

As commented by several,  once can only have certified copy of marriage certificate and it is considered original, since the original stays with marriage office in your county.  If you already submitted certified copy, then you submitted an original copy.  If IO asks for original copy during interview, say to IO that the last certified copy was submitted with application and you have a photocopy of the certified copy, no more certified copy.  Hope, you will be okay.