Digitally Certified Marriage Certificate Copy at Interview?

[The White Fiance 22]

Has anyone here used a digitally certified marriage certificate copy at an embassy interview? The NVC's boilerplate says they want the original, but before I risk shipping to a country where things often get lost, I want to know if they really have to have it. I can understand how they would want the originals of certificates from countries where fraud is a problem, but ours is from Utah.

 

I sent an inquiry to the US embassy in Zambia. Hope they respond.

[pushbrk 12,870]

4 hours ago, The White Fiance said:

Has anyone here used a digitally certified marriage certificate copy at an embassy interview? The NVC's boilerplate says they want the original, but before I risk shipping to a country where things often get lost, I want to know if they really have to have it. I can understand how they would want the originals of certificates from countries where fraud is a problem, but ours is from Utah.

 

I sent an inquiry to the US embassy in Zambia. Hope they respond.

"Digitally Certified".  Never heard of that.  If you mean a digital copy of a Certified Copy, yes that's ok.

 

A "Scan, email, and print" is the same as a "photocopy".  If you were married in your foreign spouse's country, they would have the original and would be well advised to carry it to the interview, but that is not your situation.

[Mike E 11,739]

@isis375

 

She has not been on VJ since April and I consider her the foremost expert.

 

Personally, I would ordered additional copies of the marriage certificate. We have 10 from the county where we married.

 

In lieu of Isis saying what her spouse took to interview, I would order more copies of the paper marriage certificate, and send the one you have to your spouse using DHL. 

Edited June 7, 2023 by Mike E

[isis375 105]

Hey y'all. When I went to visit my SO for the "consummation" part of the marriage (i.e., the in person visit after marriage but before filing), I left him two physical certified copies of the marriage certificate. One was for the interview, the other to register the marriage in his country which is optional (and requires apostille). 

 

As mentioned in my original post of how the process went for me, I highly recommend ordering extras immediately after the wedding to be on the safe side. I can't say that they would definitely turn you away with the digital copy, but as with all things immigration, why risk a denial with something so easy to fix.

 

I totally understand the hesitation on the mail part because my SO is from Costa Rica and not only do things often not show up, they don't even have standardized addresses. For example, addresses are more like "100 meters west of the school in so and so town". What I've found helpful for really important things mailing there that may be possible depending on your country is mailing directly to the post office for pickup by the person. 

[The White Fiance 22]

56 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

"Digitally Certified".  Never heard of that.  If you mean a digital copy of a Certified Copy, yes that's ok.

 

A "Scan, email, and print" is the same as a "photocopy".  If you were married in your foreign spouse's country, they would have the original and would be well advised to carry it to the interview, but that is not your situation.

Sounds like this is new to you. Here is some text from the email accompanying the certificate:

 

Quote

Attached to this email is a DIGITAL CERTIFIED COPY of your Marriage Certificate. This digital certified copy has the same legal status as a paper certified copy of your certificate. Its legal status as a certified copy requires it stay a digital document. To maintain its digital identity, do not print it, change the filename, or create a copy the file. The file can be emailed or stored on a mobile device to show to a requesting agency if needed.

 

[The White Fiance 22]

1 minute ago, isis375 said:

I totally understand the hesitation on the mail part because my SO is from Costa Rica and not only do things often not show up, they don't even have standardized addresses. For example, addresses are more like "100 meters west of the school in so and so town".

This is how it works in Zambia. "Off Mutombo Road" and so on.

 

Since posting my question, I have read that others have not always needed originals. Last time I sent a question to the people at the embassy, they responded, so perhaps I'll have a definitive answer tomorrow. In case anyone else ever has this issue, my wife says DHL is considered best for sending mail to Zambia.

[pushbrk 12,870]

2 hours ago, The White Fiance said:

Sounds like this is new to you. Here is some text from the email accompanying the certificate:

 

 

Not new at all.  Certified Digital Copy, is very familiar.  You said Digitally Certified.  Words mean things.

 

The government agency owns the original.  You ask for a "Certified Copy".  You get a "Photocopy" of an original document.  A photocopy is produced by scan and print from the same machine. A "digital copy" is a scan of the original that can be "printed anywhere".  You have a scan, of a "certified copy".  Nothing got "Digitally Certified".

[The White Fiance 22]

11 hours ago, pushbrk said:

 

I said "digitally certified," and the official phrase is "digital certified."

 

It was very obvious that I was talking about the same thing. Sharpshooting doesn't help anyone.

 

Your description of the DIGITAL CERTIFIED copy is totally wrong. These things are authenticated using blockchain technology. It's not "a scan of a certified copy." It's important to be informed.

 

The embassy responded, and they want the paper original. This information should be helpful to others with the same question. A DIGITAL CERTIFIED copy will not be recognized in Zambia.

[Linda2020 2]

20 hours ago, The White Fiance said:

Has anyone here used a digitally certified marriage certificate copy at an embassy interview? The NVC's boilerplate says they want the original, but before I risk shipping to a country where things often get lost, I want to know if they really have to have it. I can understand how they would want the originals of certificates from countries where fraud is a problem, but ours is from Utah.

 

I sent an inquiry to the US embassy in Zambia. Hope they 

As my experience you should bring original documents ( marriage certificate,  birth certificate, civil documents) with photocopies. I got 221g yellow paper because I forgot to bring original birth certificate and English translated marriage certificate original copy ( In srilanka our nation language is sinhala) . So always take original documents to the interview , if u don't have originals with you then take certified copies.