original birth certificate question

[Tina and Johan 206]

When my fiance went to his interview in Dublin, they kept both his and his son's original birth certificates and told him that he'd need to get new ones for his own records. Is that normal?! Living in Ireland, no problem. He had another for his son that very same day. But his is from South Africa, and is a nightmare to get! Does he have any options for getting his original back? His date of entry to the US is July 25. Can he take his packet back and ask for them to give his back and take a copy of it for their records? Can he ask for it back at POE when he gives them the envelop? Can he possibly get it back during his AOS interview? I see that the AOS application merely asks for a copy of his birth cert. Is there another time in the process that he'll need an original? If not, we can get him one when we go visit South Africa next year. But if he needs it sooner rather that later, we'd like to know!

Thanks in advance!

[Mrs O. 29]

Same thing happened to me. My original documents were not returned to me at the time of my interview at the embassy. They were sealed in the "Do-Not-Open" envelope. I didn't ask for it at POE. After I arrived in the US I filed a Form G-884 to have the documents returned and I got them all back. Instructions are in the link.

[Tina and Johan 206]

You rock!! thank you so much!