Long Form Birth Certificate

[carly+anton 1]

Hello! Hoping for some extra tips and advice here. We submitted my husband's packet for AOS late November 2020. We got our receipts and our fees were taken 12/3/20. We hadn't heard anything since until we got a letter over the weekend for his I-485 case that additional evidence was needed. They are requesting his proper long form birth certificate from South Africa that includes his parents information, I didn't know this existed as we had his original birth certificate and that is what we submitted. At some point, South Africa started issuing a different version and if you were born before then, you can request this long form version from the Dept of Home Affairs. However - the turnaround is estimated at 6-8 weeks and we were given a deadline of June 21 to get our additional evidence submitted. Here are my questions -

 

1) Does anyone know the best way to submit the request since my husband is here in the US and not in SA? He has a brother that could assist but there are also online services that say they do these requests efficiently? Can the embassy in the US be of any assistance or not really?

2) If the BC is delayed, it also says we can submit other forms of evidence showing his parents relationship to him. His father passed away last month so we have his will which states the father/son relationship between him and my husband, would that be worth trying to include?

3) If we cannot get sufficient evidence in time, it says the case will be denied. Would that mean once we get the correct BC we could re-file his I-485? If so, is it possible his EAC would still come in or will everything from his packet go on hold or get denied?

4) LASTLY - Since we submitted our paperwork, we found out in early January of this year that we are expecting a baby, I am almost 5 months along. I feel like this could help our case since it validates how serious our relationship is but haven't been sure how to provide this update. When we submit our response back on this BC issue, should we include in the letter the additional information about the baby news? I have several medical appointment documents proving the pregnancy that I could include. Just thought it might be a good chance to get that added in for consideration even though I know it has nothing to do with the BC request.

 

I am trying to be positive, this was the only request for additional evidence so I am hoping that means the rest of our paperwork was in order but I did have a full out panic over this when we first got the note. I know our marriage is real and he is my best friend and partner and I can't stand the thought of losing him due to paperwork issues. Especially now being pregnant, I just felt so scared...We just want to get all of the paperwork taken care of correctly so that he gets to stay with me and our son.

[KAP2019 187]

2 hours ago, carly+anton said:

However - the turnaround is estimated at 6-8 weeks and we were given a deadline of June 21 to get our additional evidence submitted. Here are my questions -

 

1) Does anyone know the best way to submit the request since my husband is here in the US and not in SA? He has a brother that could assist but there are also online services that say they do these requests efficiently? Can the embassy in the US be of any assistance or not really?

 

I would get your brother-in-law to start working on the birth certificate or order through whatever online service is available. You still have time! Sometimes you can order them and then call to expedite that process (for a fee). He could scan and upload it to you so that you have a copy to mail. And then get the original shipped to you with registered or certified mail. Good luck!

[pnw12 8]

I'm from the UK, and had the same rfe. I ordered a long form birth certificate online, and had it shipped to my parents house. They then sent a copy of that to me, which I sent to USCIS. It sounds as though your brother-in-law could do that for you as well. 

 

In regard to your pregnancy - congratulations! You will also have the opportunity to bring this up during the aos interview.