N-400 based on marriage: lost original certificate!

[vilamp 5]

Hi everyone,

 

I applied for my N400 based on the 3-year rule and have my combo interview this week.

 

Between all the paperwork, I have somehow misplaced our original marriage certificate.

We have 5 certified copies that we had ordered at the same time. I have all of those.

 

We’ve been married for nearly 4 and together over 10 years — so we have a ton of evidence otherwise.

 

Feeling like an idiot and am stressed beyond my mind.

 

Will certified copies from the clerk and recorder’s office suffice? Wet ink and stamp too.

 

Is this likely to cause any big issues?

[Dashinka 25,217]

You will be just fine with the certified copies provided by your local clerk.  Actually, any one of those provides evidence of a valid marriage properly documented by your local clerk.  Even if you rushed back to your local clerk, they will only provide another certified copy like the one’s you have.
 

Good Luck with your interview.

Edited 21 hours ago by Dashinka

[OldUser 8,593]

11 minutes ago, vilamp said:

Hi everyone,

 

I applied for my N400 based on the 3-year rule and have my combo interview this week.

 

Between all the paperwork, I have somehow misplaced our original marriage certificate.

We have 5 certified copies that we had ordered at the same time. I have all of those.

 

We’ve been married for nearly 4 and together over 10 years — so we have a ton of evidence otherwise.

 

Feeling like an idiot and am stressed beyond my mind.

 

Will certified copies from the clerk and recorder’s office suffice? Wet ink and stamp too.

 

Is this likely to cause any big issues?

Certified copy is all you need. County clerk typically has the original. 

[Dashinka 25,217]

7 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Certified copy is all you need. County clerk typically has the original. 

Absolutely, no one actually has the original, only certified copies, or if they do, the clerk messed up.

[OldUser 8,593]

Just now, Dashinka said:

Absolutely, no one actually has the original, only certified copies, or if they do, the clerk messed up.

Maybe OP means ceremonial one? It looked very official to me until I learned it's not an original 😅

[vilamp 5]

Thank you so much for responding!

 

Very reassuring to know that the certified copies will work.

 

We got married in Colorado, where they return the original certificate once it’s been recorded I think. Unless I’m completely misremembering (which could be possible, my brain is mush at this point.😅)

 

But thank you again! Hopefully everything else goes well!