Official Copy Of Birth Certificate - "your original documents may be immediately destroyed upon receipt"

[BlueberryMuffin 2]

So I ordered a couple official copies of my birth certificate and "illegal to reproduce" and "void without watermark" and "verify watermark" is written all over it. It is quite clear it is not my original birth certificate and just one that I ordered off the state website.

The I-129F instructions say: 

"NOTE: If you submit original documents when not required or requested by USCIS, your original documents may be immediately destroyed upon receipt."

but my "Certificate Of Vital Record" says it's illegal to reproduce. Is photocopying this ok or should I send the official copy? Send both just to be safe? I don't want to accidentally do something illegal but I also don't want an RFE because they destroyed my copy of my birth record.

Thanks!

[payxibka 10,047]

13 minutes ago, BlueberryMuffin said:

So I ordered a couple official copies of my birth certificate and "illegal to reproduce" and "void without watermark" and "verify watermark" is written all over it. It is quite clear it is not my original birth certificate and just one that I ordered off the state website.

The I-129F instructions say: 

"NOTE: If you submit original documents when not required or requested by USCIS, your original documents may be immediately destroyed upon receipt."

but my "Certificate Of Vital Record" says it's illegal to reproduce. Is photocopying this ok or should I send the official copy? Send both just to be safe? I don't want to accidentally do something illegal but I also don't want an RFE because they destroyed my copy of my birth record.

Thanks!

Never ever ever let an original BC out of your control.   We live in an era of high identity theft.  Photo copy is golden 

[Pitaya 2,577]

You are not alone, most folks' documents say the same thing, VOID, Do not duplicate, etc. Send a good legible photocopy of your valuable certified document. Bring the originals to the interviews for viewing and comparison with the copies, as needed.

 

You may want to read and interpret the entire text of the section you previously partially quoted:

Quote

Copies. You should submit legible photocopies of documents requested, unless the Instructions specifically state that you must submit an original document. USCIS may request an original document at the time of filing or at any time during processing of an application, petition, or request. If USCIS requests an original document from you, it will be returned to you after USCIS determines it no longer needs your original.

NOTE: If you submit original documents when not required or requested by USCIS, your original documents may be immediately destroyed upon receipt.

 REF:  https://www.uscis.gov/i-129f , Instructions, page 2.

 

Good luck on your immigration journey.