RFE - Applicant's birth certificate

[Alchanphel 14]

Hi all,

 

I filed for AOS in September 2021 from K-1 visa. I've today received an RFE for my long-form birth certificate, despite this being included in the original packet AND being part of the files scanned and uploaded to my account by USCIS.

 

Based on other forums and groups that I'm in, lots of September filers are receiving the same RFE.

 

The RFE letter states that "You must either mail the requested information to the address shown below or scan and upload your response using your USCIS online account (if applicable)", and there is an option to respond with evidence via my USCIS online account.

 

Is it really as straightforward as just uploading a PDF of my birth certificate scan to my account? And are there any theories on why so many September filers are getting this RFE?

 

Thanks!

Edited October 28, 2021 by Alchanphel

[K1visaHopeful 2,858]

Did you send the acceptable version of BC for your country? Just because it was accepted at your embassy interview doesn't mean it's the correct one that will be accepted by USCIS

Have you checked the visa reciprocity website to confirm that it's the correct version?

[P055UM 286]

I am in the exact same boat as you - Sept 2021 AoS filing, today got birth certificate RFE. Weird and puzzling. I reached out in the USCIS portal for more information regarding the reason behind the RFE, but as yet have received no reply.

[P055UM 286]

59 minutes ago, AW1704 said:

I am in the exact same boat as you - Sept 2021 AoS filing, today got birth certificate RFE. Weird and puzzling. I reached out in the USCIS portal for more information regarding the reason behind the RFE, but as yet have received no reply.

I was kind of thinking that it was because they wanted an original and was looking into ordering a certified copy from the UK. However I now realise that because they give you the option of online upload, it is unlikely to be that. I figure I will just upload a pdf version and see what they do with it.

[TedsGirl 193]

4 hours ago, Alchanphel said:

Hi all,

 

I filed for AOS in September 2021 from K-1 visa. I've today received an RFE for my long-form birth certificate, despite this being included in the original packet AND being part of the files scanned and uploaded to my account by USCIS.

 

Based on other forums and groups that I'm in, lots of September filers are receiving the same RFE.

 

The RFE letter states that "You must either mail the requested information to the address shown below or scan and upload your response using your USCIS online account (if applicable)", and there is an option to respond with evidence via my USCIS online account.

 

Is it really as straightforward as just uploading a PDF of my birth certificate scan to my account? And are there any theories on why so many September filers are getting this RFE?

 

Thanks!

Hello,

 

Is your BC the short form? If not, then that is odd that they are not content with it.

 

I've attached what is required from the USCIS website:https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/UnitedKingdom.html

 

Birth Certificate

• England and Wales (including Scilly Isles and Isle of Wight): Available. Certificates of births, adoptions, deaths and marriages may be obtained from the General Register Office, Smedley Hydro, Trafalgar Road, Southport, Merseyside PR8 2HH, or from the local registrar's office in the district in which the birth, death or marriage was originally registered. Long-form birth certificates should be requested, as short-form birth certificates do not contain the parents' names.
• Scotland: Available. Certificates of births, deaths, marriages and The Adopted Children's Register may be obtained from the Registrar General, New Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YT, or from the Registrar's Office for the district in which the event occurred. Long-form birth certificates should be obtained as short-form certificates do not contain parents' names.
• Northern Ireland: Available. Certificates of births, adoptions, deaths and marriages may be obtained from the Registrar General's Office, Oxford House, 49-65 Chichester Street, Belfast BT1 4UY or if registered before January 1, 1922, from the Registrar General, Dublin, Eire. Marriage certificates may also be obtained from the local registration office for the district in which the marriage was originally registered. Long-form birth certificates should be obtained as short-form birth certificates do not contain the parents' names.
• Jersey: Available. Apply to: Superintendent Register, States Office, Royal Square, St. Helier, Jersey.
• Guernsey, Sark, and Alderney: Available. Apply to: Registrar General's Office, Greffe, Guernsey.
• Isle of Man: Available. Apply to Registrar General, General Registry Building, Douglas, Isle of Man.

[Alchanphel 14]

Thanks for the replies all - the UK birth certificate I originally submitted is indeed the long-form version that shows both parent names.

 

I've gone ahead and submitted a new scan of the certificate via the USCIS online account - I will update here with how it progresses.

 

Thanks!

[TedsGirl 193]

3 minutes ago, Alchanphel said:

Thanks for the replies all - the UK birth certificate I originally submitted is indeed the long-form version that shows both parent names.

 

I've gone ahead and submitted a new scan of the certificate via the USCIS online account - I will update here with how it progresses.

 

Thanks!

A Brit here, so this is interesting to me also. Looking forward to your update.

 

All the best!

[FlashLG 152]

5 hours ago, Alchanphel said:

Hi all,

 

I filed for AOS in September 2021 from K-1 visa. I've today received an RFE for my long-form birth certificate, despite this being included in the original packet AND being part of the files scanned and uploaded to my account by USCIS.

 

Based on other forums and groups that I'm in, lots of September filers are receiving the same RFE.

 

The RFE letter states that "You must either mail the requested information to the address shown below or scan and upload your response using your USCIS online account (if applicable)", and there is an option to respond with evidence via my USCIS online account.

 

Is it really as straightforward as just uploading a PDF of my birth certificate scan to my account? And are there any theories on why so many September filers are getting this RFE?

 

Thanks!

Same thing happened to me when I went through AOS (completed it in 2018). I submitted the long form version of my birth certificate and received an RFE. I assumed they had lost it so I replied with the same version again. When I was at my interview, the interviewer mentioned there was an RFE but said everything looked fined. When I asked why I'd received the RFE in the first place, and if it was because they had lost the original document I submitted, he said he could see they received the birth certificate with my original AOS pack but the person working my case "Didn't like the document" I'd submitted for some reason. He could see nothing wrong and was as confused as I was, and approved my case anyway.

[Mike E 11,741]

5 hours ago, Alchanphel said:

And are there any theories on why so many September filers are getting this RFE?

Some parts of the UK  have  a draconian definition of a late registration of a birth.
 

https://www.gov.uk/register-birth

 

“births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days of the child being born.”

 

 How many days between your date of birth and date of registration? 
 

Another web site says:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/birth-certificates-and-the-full-birth-certificate-policy/birth-certificates-and-the-full-birth-certificate-policy#late-registration-of-births

 

“Under the provisions of section 17 of the 1965 Act a birth cannot be registered more than three months from the date of birth of the child without the Registrar Generals authority.

 

A birth may be registered more than one year after the event if the Registrar General is satisfied by documentary evidence of the precise date and place of birth.”

 

 

[Chad W 0]

My wife and I received an RFE for her UK birth certificate as well. Does anyone have an example of how the long form looks? We just want to make sure before responding to this RFE

[P055UM 286]

36 minutes ago, Chad W said:

My wife and I received an RFE for her UK birth certificate as well. Does anyone have an example of how the long form looks? We just want to make sure before responding to this RFE

As far as I know it is the A4-sized version which includes the names and details of both of parents. Unfortunately I don't have a scan of mine, so that is a tomorrow task before uploading again.

[Chad W 0]

 

 

Does it look like this:

 

 

[P055UM 286]

2 hours ago, Chad W said:

 

 

Does it look like this:

 

 

Yes, mine is pretty similar to that. Not identical (I guess they change the format from time to time?), but yeah it contains the same information. 

[Mike E 11,741]

4 hours ago, Chad W said:

 

 

Does it look like this:

 

 

Is that year of birth 1984 or 1989?

Edited October 29, 2021 by Mike E

[anon112358 1]

8 hours ago, Chad W said:

Does it look like this:

 

@Chad W Please remove the certificate or re-post the image with details blurred/erased. I typically lurk on the website to look for updates pertaining to my case and don't post/reply much, but felt compelled to login to flag this.

Edited October 29, 2021 by anon112358