N400 Interview - Original Documents

[.yana 597]

Hi everyone,

 

I searched this forum but didn't find a definitive answer to my question so decided to try my luck and create my own topic.

 

I received an interview appointment notice today that lists the documents I should bring with me to the interview: the usual GC, passport, appointment notice as well as (since I'm filing as USC' spouse) marriage certificate, proof of prior marriage termination, and USC's birth certificate (my husband was born in the US). Later it states to bring the originals if the copies were submitted for the initial filing. 

 

Unfortunately the only original document I have is my divorce decree from previous marriage. It seems that the rest of the documents are currently in storage in California (why did I not think to bring those originals with me before moving - is a whole other story 🤦‍♀️). 

On the notice it also says that it's important to show up at the interview even if I don't have all of the documents.

 

I was thinking about bringing the copies of my husband's birth certificate and our marriage certificate, and his passport. Do you think this will be sufficient? I read others' stories about their interviews, and it seems that IOs rarely ask for all of the documents listed on the appointment notice and usually just ask for GC and foreign passport....

 

Thank you!

 

[Mike E 11,739]

33 minutes ago, .yana said:

Hi everyone,

 

I searched this forum but didn't find a definitive answer to my question so decided to try my luck and create my own topic.

 

I received an interview appointment notice today that lists the documents I should bring with me to the interview: the usual GC, passport, appointment notice as well as (since I'm filing as USC' spouse) marriage certificate, proof of prior marriage termination, and USC's birth certificate (my husband was born in the US). Later it states to bring the originals if the copies were submitted for the initial filing. 

 

Unfortunately the only original document I have is my divorce decree from previous marriage. It seems that the rest of the documents are currently in storage in California (why did I not think to bring those originals with me before moving - is a whole other story 🤦‍♀️). 

On the notice it also says that it's important to show up at the interview even if I don't have all of the documents.

 

I was thinking about bringing the copies of my husband's birth certificate and our marriage certificate, and his passport. Do you think this will be sufficient? I read others' stories about their interviews, and it seems that IOs rarely ask for all of the documents listed on the appointment notice and usually just ask for GC and foreign passport....

 

Thank you!

 

It is possible you won't be asked for originals at interview. It is also possible you will be asked and the result will be an RFE. This will delay your oath ceremony. And note USCIS field offices will do same day oath ceremonies.

 

There is a long weekend coming up. It is very much worth your time and money to fly to California Friday night to get the documents.

[millefleur 5,046]

1 hour ago, .yana said:

Unfortunately the only original document I have is my divorce decree from previous marriage. It seems that the rest of the documents are currently in storage in California (why did I not think to bring those originals with me before moving - is a whole other story 🤦‍♀️). 

Do you have any trusted friends or family who can retrieve them for you and ship them? With the USC husband's birth certificate, a copy of can probably be ordered online and shipped directly to you.

[ThaOne 101]

1 hour ago, .yana said:

Hi everyone,

 

I searched this forum but didn't find a definitive answer to my question so decided to try my luck and create my own topic.

 

I received an interview appointment notice today that lists the documents I should bring with me to the interview: the usual GC, passport, appointment notice as well as (since I'm filing as USC' spouse) marriage certificate, proof of prior marriage termination, and USC's birth certificate (my husband was born in the US). Later it states to bring the originals if the copies were submitted for the initial filing. 

 

Unfortunately the only original document I have is my divorce decree from previous marriage. It seems that the rest of the documents are currently in storage in California (why did I not think to bring those originals with me before moving - is a whole other story 🤦‍♀️). 

On the notice it also says that it's important to show up at the interview even if I don't have all of the documents.

 

I was thinking about bringing the copies of my husband's birth certificate and our marriage certificate, and his passport. Do you think this will be sufficient? I read others' stories about their interviews, and it seems that IOs rarely ask for all of the documents listed on the appointment notice and usually just ask for GC and foreign passport....

 

Thank you!

 

As was said by others, maybe they won't ask for any documents. At my interview he asked for nothing but my old passport and my green card (which had expired a few months prior during the lockdown actually). Aside from that he asked for nothing. So my answer personally would be NOT to try and cancel/reschedule the interview. In the meantime as Millefleures said try and ask someone trusted to get them for you or if you can get any originals. Go to your interview with the copies of everything. Pass the interview and all. If the interviewer asks you and isn't satisfied with the copies, then at least you would have completed the test and the interview, and if worse comes to worse will give you a notice saying "cannot make a decision at this time" which would be pending the RFE which will state what he wants. Then in that case you would have no choice but fly to California to get them. The price of the plane ticket would be worth it.

If he doesn't ask or is okay with the copies then you don't have to go get the originals. But one thing you definitely do not want to do is just not show up for the interview. Don't miss it.

Finally, when you get to the interview if you have just the copies or anything, DO NOT walk in and start handing documents or mention that you only have copies. Let him/her ask you for a document first, then hand that document. Chances are he/she won't ask for anything and won't notice anything unless you volunteer that information they won't know. Even if the officer asks just explain where the originals are. USCIS interviews and applications depend a lot on the officer you get. Some won't care about certain things. Others will. Go to the interview regardless.

[.yana 597]

3 hours ago, Mike E said:

It is possible you won't be asked for originals at interview. It is also possible you will be asked and the result will be an RFE. This will delay your oath ceremony. And note USCIS field offices will do same day oath ceremonies.

 

There is a long weekend coming up. It is very much worth your time and money to fly to California Friday night to get the documents.

It's not as simple as to fly out and get them in which case I would have done it right away. But yes, there are ways for us to get them before the interview if absolutely needed.

 

2 hours ago, millefleur said:

Do you have any trusted friends or family who can retrieve them for you and ship them? With the USC husband's birth certificate, a copy of can probably be ordered online and shipped directly to you.

Not really... The storage company would have to retrieve them and potentially ship them but there are a lot of very sensitive documents in there, and I just don't know whether I should rely on them.

 

NJ civic records office turnaround time is 8-12 weeks which won't be in time for my interview (3/16).

But I'll try to at least get our marriage certificate from City Clerk.

 

2 hours ago, ThaOne said:

As was said by others, maybe they won't ask for any documents. At my interview he asked for nothing but my old passport and my green card (which had expired a few months prior during the lockdown actually). Aside from that he asked for nothing. So my answer personally would be NOT to try and cancel/reschedule the interview. In the meantime as Millefleures said try and ask someone trusted to get them for you or if you can get any originals. Go to your interview with the copies of everything. Pass the interview and all. If the interviewer asks you and isn't satisfied with the copies, then at least you would have completed the test and the interview, and if worse comes to worse will give you a notice saying "cannot make a decision at this time" which would be pending the RFE which will state what he wants. Then in that case you would have no choice but fly to California to get them. The price of the plane ticket would be worth it.

If he doesn't ask or is okay with the copies then you don't have to go get the originals. But one thing you definitely do not want to do is just not show up for the interview. Don't miss it.

Finally, when you get to the interview if you have just the copies or anything, DO NOT walk in and start handing documents or mention that you only have copies. Let him/her ask you for a document first, then hand that document. Chances are he/she won't ask for anything and won't notice anything unless you volunteer that information they won't know. Even if the officer asks just explain where the originals are. USCIS interviews and applications depend a lot on the officer you get. Some won't care about certain things. Others will. Go to the interview regardless.

Thank you! I definitely was not planning on canceling or rescheduling the interview. 

 

 

[Fr8dog 312]

I would change it myself (as a matter of fact that is what I did).

I had most of them with me apart from the wife's passport, birth certificate, divorce decree and some more things. I had copies of those though but was never asked about any of them.

I would not reschedule. (but you weren't planning on that anyway)

Edited February 9, 2021 by Fr8dog