Proof of U.S. Citizenship for Wife's AOS

[kakihara3 0]

Hello all! My wife and I have our appointment this Wednesday in San Francisco for her adjustment of status. We've retained a lawyer who has helped us file all the paperwork up to this point (she'll also be attending the appointment with us). I was reviewing the checklist that the lawyer gave us and I noticed that it said I would need the original or certified copy of my birth certificate. I don't know why but I was sure that I had it somewhere but after an exhaustive search, we've concluded that I indeed do NOT have it, all I have is a photocopy. I don't have a passport either.

Now I'm in crisis mode, what possible options do I have? Monday is a national holiday as well, which might mean places like FedEx/UPS are closed. My wife and I have been waiting and planning for this appointment for a long time and it's been a stressful journey, I can't begin to tell you how bummed I would be if she got denied because I didn't have anything other than a photocopy of my birth certificate to prove my U.S. citizenship. Any advice?

[misa 2]

She won't get denied for lack of your original birth certificate but will get RFE'd for it which (provided everything else is fine) will just delay the approval. They *may* not even ask for it at the interview (they didn't at mine)... but if they do, just be prepared for a slight delay. Try and order one as soon as possible though and good luck on Wednesday.

Edited September 2, 2007 by misa

[archie07 0]

Hello all! My wife and I have our appointment this Wednesday in San Francisco for her adjustment of status. We've retained a lawyer who has helped us file all the paperwork up to this point (she'll also be attending the appointment with us). I was reviewing the checklist that the lawyer gave us and I noticed that it said I would need the original or certified copy of my birth certificate. I don't know why but I was sure that I had it somewhere but after an exhaustive search, we've concluded that I indeed do NOT have it, all I have is a photocopy. I don't have a passport either.

Now I'm in crisis mode, what possible options do I have? Monday is a national holiday as well, which might mean places like FedEx/UPS are closed. My wife and I have been waiting and planning for this appointment for a long time and it's been a stressful journey, I can't begin to tell you how bummed I would be if she got denied because I didn't have anything other than a photocopy of my birth certificate to prove my U.S. citizenship. Any advice?

We went thursday for our AOS interview and all the guy asked me for was my drivers license. I put it on the table and he never touched it. I think he glanced at it to make sure it was me. I did have my birth certificate with me also but he didn't ask. The instructions do say to bring the birth certificate but they also have that in thier file. If you can't get an original in time I would bring the copy and hope for the best. Maybe others have had a problem with this but it was easy sailing for me.

[thetreble 19]

When we filed for our AOS, we had a photo copy of the original as one of the documents. Did you just lose it or something because I don't see how you could have filed with a copy OF a copy.

[rebeccajo 14]

Many of the items on the appointment list are already contained in your file (if your file was prepared properly). It's confusing to many people but remember - much of the correspondence we receive from DOS are generic. They are designed to accomodate a myriad of situations.

[DAN02006 0]

Hello all! My wife and I have our appointment this Wednesday in San Francisco for her adjustment of status. We've retained a lawyer who has helped us file all the paperwork up to this point (she'll also be attending the appointment with us). I was reviewing the checklist that the lawyer gave us and I noticed that it said I would need the original or certified copy of my birth certificate. I don't know why but I was sure that I had it somewhere but after an exhaustive search, we've concluded that I indeed do NOT have it, all I have is a photocopy. I don't have a passport either.

Now I'm in crisis mode, what possible options do I have? Monday is a national holiday as well, which might mean places like FedEx/UPS are closed. My wife and I have been waiting and planning for this appointment for a long time and it's been a stressful journey, I can't begin to tell you how bummed I would be if she got denied because I didn't have anything other than a photocopy of my birth certificate to prove my U.S. citizenship. Any advice?

Hi! In case your wife came on K1 visa.....you would have filed proof of citizenship...that should be fine as even my husband didnt have his birthcertificate but had his US passport and he is a naturalized US citizen. Alll the Best for your interview Do let us know how it goes. Also if its not too stressing post the lawyers checklist for the interview...i am sure it will help a lot of us here

Good Luck!

[spidergirl 0]

Hello all! My wife and I have our appointment this Wednesday in San Francisco for her adjustment of status. We've retained a lawyer who has helped us file all the paperwork up to this point (she'll also be attending the appointment with us). I was reviewing the checklist that the lawyer gave us and I noticed that it said I would need the original or certified copy of my birth certificate. I don't know why but I was sure that I had it somewhere but after an exhaustive search, we've concluded that I indeed do NOT have it, all I have is a photocopy. I don't have a passport either.

Now I'm in crisis mode, what possible options do I have? Monday is a national holiday as well, which might mean places like FedEx/UPS are closed. My wife and I have been waiting and planning for this appointment for a long time and it's been a stressful journey, I can't begin to tell you how bummed I would be if she got denied because I didn't have anything other than a photocopy of my birth certificate to prove my U.S. citizenship. Any advice?

The Immigration officer asked for my husband's original birth certificate and his drivers license on my AOS interview. We brought his passport too but she didnt asked for it.

Edited September 2, 2007 by spidergirl

[Dr_LHA 3]

Many of the items on the appointment list are already contained in your file (if your file was prepared properly). It's confusing to many people but remember - much of the correspondence we receive from DOS are generic. They are designed to accomodate a myriad of situations.

This is true, they may never ask for it in the interview.

That said the one piece of evidence my wife was asked for in our interview was proof her citizenship (we gave them her passport). I don't know how common this is.

[pj1959us 0]

Is it possible the attorney has the original? Are you nearby the clerk's office that you can obtain a certified copy of it before the interview? If not, the worst scenario is that you will be slightly delayed in approval (assuming everything else is in order and no other reason for denial) for you to obtain the original and submit it after the interview; it won't be grounds for a flat-out denial.

Personally, I was not asked for the original (I am the USC) but they can ask for anything they want so ideally it's best to have all originals available. I was only asked for a new and updated I-864 and my current year's tax return.

If you can't find one or get it, no reason to stress about it if there is no way for you to obtain it...it may not even be asked for. If it is, get it afterward and submit it later.

Best of luck to you!

PJ

[kakihara3 0]

Are you nearby the clerk's office that you can obtain a certified copy of it before the interview?

Thanks everyone for the advice/support, I will post the lawyer checklist in a bit. Can I get a certified copy from any clerk's office or does it have to be local to the specific place I was born? I'm from Los Angeles originally but I now live in Northern California.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Are you nearby the clerk's office that you can obtain a certified copy of it before the interview?

Thanks everyone for the advice/support, I will post the lawyer checklist in a bit. Can I get a certified copy from any clerk's office or does it have to be local to the specific place I was born? I'm from Los Angeles originally but I now live in Northern California.

You'll have to get it from the LA county records's office. Check Google for the various ways of doing this. My wife had to do this a few years ago, and it involved her getting a form notarized, and faxed with a credit card payment (done online IIRC), we got the certificate through FedEx a few days later. My wife is from LA as well BTW.