Notarizing docs

[Esperanza001 0]

Hello everyone! I am curious if I’d I need to notarize copies of my passport, visa and so forth before sending my I-485 package in? The website states copies of docs but I’m unsure if it means certified/notarized copies. Thank you for all your help. 

[payxibka 10,047]

16 minutes ago, Esperanza001 said:

Hello everyone! I am curious if I’d I need to notarize copies of my passport, visa and so forth before sending my I-485 package in? The website states copies of docs but I’m unsure if it means certified/notarized copies. Thank you for all your help. 

Instructions are silent on this.  Do not add or subtract from what is written in the instructions.   Nothing requires notarization.   

[HRQX 4,145]

34 minutes ago, Esperanza001 said:

Hello everyone! I am curious if I’d I need to notarize copies of my passport, visa and so forth before sending my I-485 package in?

Not required. Just regular photocopies.

[Babu Frik 1,162]

Notarizing wouldn't make sense in general unless it was a doc you made yourself.

You can't notarize government doc to say it's official, that's what certified copies are for, and there's no such thing as certified copies of passport/visa.

 

If you ever need to bring originals, those should be copies issued directly from whatever govt office.

[payxibka 10,047]

18 minutes ago, Babu Frik said:

 there's no such thing as certified copies of passport/visa.

Be careful,  you can actually have tbe department of state certify a copy of your passport. 

[Babu Frik 1,162]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

Be careful,  you can actually have tbe department of state certify a copy of your passport. 

TIL

 

https://traveltips.usatoday.com/obtain-certified-passport-copy-61269.html

 

[igoyougoduke 1,675]

1 hour ago, Esperanza001 said:

Hello everyone! I am curious if I’d I need to notarize copies of my passport, visa and so forth before sending my I-485 package in? The website states copies of docs but I’m unsure if it means certified/notarized copies. Thank you for all your help. 

copy means photocopy

notarize copy = notarize copy 

 

so whatever the instructions say you do that. Dont add anything new or else you will create additional drama for your case 

[carmel34 3,650]

17 hours ago, Esperanza001 said:

Hello everyone! I am curious if I’d I need to notarize copies of my passport, visa and so forth before sending my I-485 package in? The website states copies of docs but I’m unsure if it means certified/notarized copies. Thank you for all your help. 

All a notary's signature and stamp do is verify that your original signature on a document is yours, signed in his/her presence.  Notarizing does not certify that the document's contents are in fact true, only that your signature is yours.  Normally with US immigration, simple photocopies of originals are all you need to send if copies are requested.  If those originals need to be certified (such as a divorce decree), it will state such on the form instructions, and simple photocopies of the certified documents are all they need.  The officer at the interview will often want to see the original, certified copies of civil documents or original birth and marriage certificates that satisfy their standards to be considered original (official stamp and signature of issuing state or county authority), and will typically compare the photocopies you sent with the originals you bring to the interview, to make sure that they match.  Good luck!