AOS Interview in One Week - Questions

[rbhambha 4]

Hi there,

 

We’re coming to the end of a two year journey, from filing for our I-129f to having our interview for AOS on 1/6/20. I have a few questions regarding the materials to bring to the interview for the AOS.

 

When submitting our I-485 over a year ago, we submitted my wife’s birth certificate and certified English translation. We do not have another certified English translation of her birth certificate, just the original birth certificate in her native language.
 

The I-797  for the interview says to bring her birth certificate and a certified English translation. I assume they will have our submitted completed packet at the interview, but I want to make sure we have everything we need.

 

Does anyone know if we need to bring another certified translation if we already submitted one and they have it? Please let me know... given the time constraints (interview in a week), we are kind of worried about it.

 

Another question: the I-797 also says to bring my (the US citizen‘s) birth certificate. I have a copy of my birth certificate, but not the original. Will this be acceptable, or do I need the original as well as a copy?

 

Thank you for any clarity you can provide!

Edited December 29, 2019 by rbhambha
Added another question

[rbhambha 4]

To add a bit more information, we have a copy of the certified English translation of her birth certificate we submitted with our AOS packet. Will this be sufficient?

[Pitaya 2,577]

They should have those documents in their files, however, that is not the best way to handle those types of documents. You really should have gotten several certified copies of these important and hard-to- obtain documents. When my wife and stepson were still in their home country, my wife had five certified copies of both of their birth certs, and her divorce decree; and several certified copies of his school transcripts. The rationale being that you didn't know who was going to require a certified copy (of course, she was judicious as to who she gave a certified copy versus a good quality copy), and it later on in our immigration journey it would likely be very difficult to obtain additional certified copies. Heck, we even got ten certified copies of our marriage certificate. However, we were purposefully stingy with certified copies. At our AOS interview, we took in an original copy of whatever document, stored in a plastic presentation sleeve, and several good double-sided color laser copies of the document. If the IO asked to see any particular document we presented the original and a copy for comparison, encouraged the IO to inspect the original and accept the copy for their files. It worked out fine. 

 

There is a procedure and a USCIS Form G-884, https://www.uscis.gov/g-884, that is to be used to request original document return. I have not heard how useful and successful people have been using this process. 

 

Good luck on your immigration journey, and your upcoming interview and Happy New Year!! 🍾🥂

[rbhambha 4]

7 hours ago, Pitaya said:

They should have those documents in their files, however, that is not the best way to handle those types of documents. You really should have gotten several certified copies of these important and hard-to- obtain documents. When my wife and stepson were still in their home country, my wife had five certified copies of both of their birth certs, and her divorce decree; and several certified copies of his school transcripts. The rationale being that you didn't know who was going to require a certified copy (of course, she was judicious as to who she gave a certified copy versus a good quality copy), and it later on in our immigration journey it would likely be very difficult to obtain additional certified copies. Heck, we even got ten certified copies of our marriage certificate. However, we were purposefully stingy with certified copies. At our AOS interview, we took in an original copy of whatever document, stored in a plastic presentation sleeve, and several good double-sided color laser copies of the document. If the IO asked to see any particular document we presented the original and a copy for comparison, encouraged the IO to inspect the original and accept the copy for their files. It worked out fine. 

 

There is a procedure and a USCIS Form G-884, https://www.uscis.gov/g-884, that is to be used to request original document return. I have not heard how useful and successful people have been using this process. 

 

Good luck on your immigration journey, and your upcoming interview and Happy New Year!! 🍾🥂

Thank you for your reply!

 

 Given that the interview is only a week away at this point, what would you recommend? I assume the form you linked to is not something we take with us to the interview and hope they’ll release those documents right then and there. 
 

Should I pay for a rush certified translation of my wife’s birth certificate, and have my parents mail me my original birth certificate via express mail?

 

 Thank you for your guidance!

[Pitaya 2,577]

3 hours ago, rbhambha said:

Thank you for your reply!

 

 Given that the interview is only a week away at this point, what would you recommend? I assume the form you linked to is not something we take with us to the interview and hope they’ll release those documents right then and there. You can ask, if not you know the form number.....
 

Should I pay for a rush certified translation of my wife’s birth certificate, and have my parents mail me my original birth certificate via express mail? It is a little late in the game for that, maybe they won't need it, because they already have it? You will have to play it by ear, bring in what you have, explain the circumstances. IOs have seen it before, it is likely not their first rodeo. However, it is your first....The worst is that they give you a RFE for documentation, and address it promptly. For the future, suggest that you get several certified copies of any important documents, i.e., birth certs., divorce decrees, marriage certificates, etc.....

 

 Thank you for your guidance!

One final note, keep in mind about item 4 on your appointment sheet. For our interview, we brought every shred of paper that we had accumulated during our immigration journey until then. It was a good thing. The IO asked me to produce a copy of my divorce decree, claiming it wasn't in the file. That was a bit odd? If I didn't send a copy in with the original K1 petition, I would have gotten an RFE the year before and would have corrected it. We did the original copy in the page saver and color laser copy deal for the IO, he took the copy...and no RFE. 

 

Happy New Year !! 🥂🍾

Edited December 29, 2019 by Pitaya

[Alekezam 161]

5 hours ago, rbhambha said:

Thank you for your reply!

 

 Given that the interview is only a week away at this point, what would you recommend? I assume the form you linked to is not something we take with us to the interview and hope they’ll release those documents right then and there. 
 

Should I pay for a rush certified translation of my wife’s birth certificate, and have my parents mail me my original birth certificate via express mail?

 

 Thank you for your guidance!

If your wife can translate it then just have her do it and have her sign a statement that says she is qualified to translate from her language to English.

 

That is what we did for my wife's Ukrainian Birth Certificate. 

 

As long as the translation is done by someone that is fluent in whatever language is in question it doesn't matter who the person is.....(friend, professional translator, family member, etc.).

 

In fact, if you have a copy handy of what you submitted you can just bring that along with a signed statement of the following. 

 

So I wouldn't sweat it. No need to spend money on obtaining a certified translation. 

 

Use this template, fill in the blanks,  and just have your wife sign it. 

 

I _____________, certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and _______ languages, and that the attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled __________.

 

Signature:________________

Typed Name: _____________

Address:

Date: 

[E & J 2018 132]

On 12/29/2019 at 9:42 AM, rbhambha said:

Thank you for your reply!

 

 Given that the interview is only a week away at this point, what would you recommend? I assume the form you linked to is not something we take with us to the interview and hope they’ll release those documents right then and there. 
 

Should I pay for a rush certified translation of my wife’s birth certificate, and have my parents mail me my original birth certificate via express mail?

 

 Thank you for your guidance!

FYI - We just had our AOS interview on 12/17 and we brought a copy of the certified translation and a copy of her birth certificate and we didn't have any problems.

[rbhambha 4]

On 12/29/2019 at 1:12 PM, Alekezam said:

If your wife can translate it then just have her do it and have her sign a statement that says she is qualified to translate from her language to English.

 

That is what we did for my wife's Ukrainian Birth Certificate. 

 

As long as the translation is done by someone that is fluent in whatever language is in question it doesn't matter who the person is.....(friend, professional translator, family member, etc.).

 

In fact, if you have a copy handy of what you submitted you can just bring that along with a signed statement of the following. 

 

So I wouldn't sweat it. No need to spend money on obtaining a certified translation. 

 

Use this template, fill in the blanks,  and just have your wife sign it. 

 

 

I _____________, certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and _______ languages, and that the attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled __________.

 

Signature:________________

Typed Name: _____________

Address:

Date: 

Thank you! That’s a relief. We won’t sweat it.

51 minutes ago, E & J 2018 said:

FYI - We just had our AOS interview on 12/17 and we brought a copy of the certified translation and a copy of her birth certificate and we didn't have any problems.

Thanks so much! We won’t sweat it, then. How about your birth certificate? Did you have your original, did they ask to see it, and do you think I’d get by with just a copy if I bring along my passport as well? 

[E & J 2018 132]

23 minutes ago, rbhambha said:

Thank you! That’s a relief. We won’t sweat it.

Thanks so much! We won’t sweat it, then. How about your birth certificate? Did you have your original, did they ask to see it, and do you think I’d get by with just a copy if I bring along my passport as well? 

I did have my original B/C, but I think a copy is fine with your passport. They asked for our passports right away, that was the very first thing they asked for. They also looked at our B/C's....

Our interview was very smooth and easy. I think we appeared to be a very legitimate couple and I think that is what they are really looking at..... as long as the beneficiary has a clean criminal record and health report. Just my opinion....

[rbhambha 4]

On 12/30/2019 at 2:13 PM, E & J 2018 said:

I did have my original B/C, but I think a copy is fine with your passport. They asked for our passports right away, that was the very first thing they asked for. They also looked at our B/C's....

Our interview was very smooth and easy. I think we appeared to be a very legitimate couple and I think that is what they are really looking at..... as long as the beneficiary has a clean criminal record and health report. Just my opinion....

Had our interview today and it also went super smooth! Didn’t even ask to see our BCs, just our marriage certificate. 
 

thanks for your supportive comments!

[E & J 2018 132]

7 hours ago, rbhambha said:

Had our interview today and it also went super smooth! Didn’t even ask to see our BCs, just our marriage certificate. 
 

thanks for your supportive comments!

Very good! Congratulations!