RFE Birth Certificate, HELP!

[igomo 0]

Dear Folks,

My wife and I are disgusted with the Dept. of Homeland Security. But at least now I know why a month after filing, still no biometrics. My lawyer got an RFE for proof that my wife is indeed a US citizen.

We sent a copy of her birth certificate which is not a "modern" one. She was born in 1954. She has been a state worker for over 30 years. She has no criminal record. She's paid taxes. Now they are questioning the validity of her citizenship. Aren't they Homeland Security, do they know how to use a phone and call the town where the certificate was issued? No. Because they are into harassing the citizens that fund them.

Anyway, I need a solution. Does anyone know that if the certificates from https://www.uscerts.com/uscerts/index.html are accepted by the Dept of Homeland Security? When I went to the Massachusetts Vital Records dept it said I should order it there.

We can't go to Massachusetts, my wife is partially disabled and has a hard time traveling anywhere. She never had a passport and now it takes a long time to get one (Thanks Dubya!)

Sorry for being snippy, we're both p*ssed off.

[chaplin 0]

Hi. You should be able to call the town office in the town where your wife's birth certificate was registered. They should be able to mail you a certified copy for a nominal fee. (I was born in Massachusetts, so I know of what I speak.

Also, are you sure that it is a birth certificate that you currently have, or a "Souvenir" one from the hospital. I had one of those as well, but they are not legal documents, even though it is signed, dated and vitals are filed in.

I know you are frustrated, but call the town office/city clerk's office, and they will be able to help you without a problem. Do not pay a company to do this for you. You will be out a lot of money for something that you can easily get yourself.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Do not pay $37 for a certificate call the town where she was born and they can arrange for one to be mailed, I am in Boston and I got a copy of my husbands birth cert and it cost me $12.00... if she was born in Boston PM me her name and the names of her parents and place fo birth and the date and I will go get you one and mail it to you... god I cant believe that these web sites charge so much...

Kez

[igomo 0]

Thanks for the help! We'll call Norwood tomorrow and see how it goes...

It's a real certificate. We even have the original envelope from 1954 with a postmark from the town of Norwood. It's just that back then they didn't use the same golden seals but an embossed seal.

She's frustrated because she feels kind of insulted, like if she's not a citizen, give her all her tax money back ! I'm frustrated because I can't work or get a driver's license

[misa 2]

Does she have a U.S. passport? You can also send photocopies of that as well.

[igomo 0]

Another question, I assume that once I resubmit the birth certificate, it's like starting from day 1 right?

[Kez/JWolf 6]

INSTRUCTIONS ON APPLYING FOR A

CERTIFIED

Copy OF A BIRTH, DEATH OR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

Obtain a copy at the Town Clerk's Office, Room 32, Norwood Town Hall

Monday - Friday, 8:00AM to 4:00 PM -

$7.00 Per copy (Personal checks accepted. NO OUT OF STATE CHECKS ACCEPTED)

Request by Mail:

Birth Certificate:

*

**

*

Send a request through the mail - include name, date of birth, parent's names, and a daytime phone #.

Enclose a Self-Addressed Stamped Business Size Envelope.

Enclose $7.00 Cash or Bank CheckIMoney Order made payable to the Town of Norwood.

(NO PERSONAL CHECKS OR OUT OF STATE CHECKS ACCEPTED THROUGH THE MAIL.)

Mail Request to:

Town Clerk's Office

P.O. Box 40

Norwood, MA 02062

Marriage Certificate:

Same as above, include names of both parties and date of marriage.

http://www.ci.norwood.ma.us/townclerk/Appl...ertificates.PDF

Hope this helps

Kez

Another question, I assume that once I resubmit the birth certificate, it's like starting from day 1 right?

No your case will resume from where it was left off... so it will not delay anything for to long...

Kez

[YuAndDan 153]

Send a copy of her passport, all pages including the cover, I would have a notary sign off that it is a true copy, on the biometrics page.

[kitkat1 5]

She never had a passport and now it takes a long time to get one (Thanks Dubya!)

Seems pretty clear he would use a passport if she had one. . . . he's asking about the birth certificate

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Send a copy of her passport, all pages including the cover, I would have a notary sign off that it is a true copy, on the biometrics page.

She never had a passport and now it takes a long time to get one (Thanks Dubya!)

She dont have a passport.....

Kez

[igomo 0]

Thanks Kez!

I talked to Norwood and hopefully by early next week my wife will become a citizen in the eyes of Homeland Security (54 years after birth)! Should we go out to celebrate?

[bszoom42 0]

Thanks Kez!

I talked to Norwood and hopefully by early next week my wife will become a citizen in the eyes of Homeland Security (54 years after birth)! Should we go out to celebrate?

DHS was not questioning her citizenship. They were questioning the validity/authenticity of evidence provided that proves her citizenship. Providing sufficient evidence that the petitioner is a U.S. Citizen is required by the AOS process.

[igomo 0]

Indeed. But you are looking at it from their perspective.

In fact we did send them proof of citizenship. Proof that's been good for over 50 years. From Motor Vehicles to Social Security. They always accepted it. I'm sure that they have seen thousands of birth certificates just like this one.

[bszoom42 0]

Another question, I assume that once I resubmit the birth certificate, it's like starting from day 1 right?

As far as USCIS's policy goes in terms of elapsed time based escallation options open to you, yes. But most of our members here have found that once they have met the RFE requirement they find themselves in possession of a speedy NOA2.

Indeed. But you are looking at it from their perspective.

In fact we did send them proof of citizenship. Proof that's been good for over 50 years. From Motor Vehicles to Social Security. They always accepted it. I'm sure that they have seen thousands of birth certificates just like this one.

Are you certain that the photocopy was clearly readable (sometimes older documents get smudged, torn, etc.), and you submitted a photocopy of the front AND back of the birth certificate? Another possibility is the adjudicator just made a mistake (mistkaes aren't as rare as one would hope) and you just have to jump through some hoops now.

Also, just because a certificate was accepted in the past does not guarantee it will be accepted in the future, especially by a different government agency, and especially since the agencies have been stepping up their security. For example, in NJ, our drivers licenses used to be text only, (picture id was not required.) Now, the old text only drivers license is being phased out. Perhaps something similar happened in Norwood, MA in regards to birth certificates.

Anyway, once you get a new certified copy of the birth certificate, then you should be good to go. I hope you get a speedy NOA2!

[misa 2]

She dont have a passport.....

Kez

Oops! I read too fast sometimes.