Q. Do I have to send original documents to the NVC?
A. Yes.
This information can be found at the Department of State website:
Appointment NVC Processing Original Document Requirements
The applicant and each family member who will accompany the applicant to the United States will need to submit original documents or certified copies of the documents listed in this section from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity).
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html
Q. Can I just take a photocopy and have it certified by a lawyer or notary?
A. No. The wording can be a bit misleading, however what they are saying is that they want a copy from the issuing entity.
Q. When they say 'certified copy from the issuing entity' what does that really mean.
A. We will use a Birth Certificate as an example.
When someone is born their Mother will fill out a form to register the birth. The Doctor or hospital administrator will fill in other details. The Mother signs the form and submits it to hospital administration.
The form is then sent to the person who registers births in any given country, to be kept on file.
What NVC is asking is for you to go to the Government office, in the country of birth, (for this example) and ask them to give you a certified copy of the birth registry.
Technically the 'certified copy' may be a photocopy - however it is generally government issued and will have a stamp/seal and state that it is a true certified copy of the birth entry.
This is a general answer intended to clarify what NVC is asking for when they make that statement. In all cases you should check the Reprocity by Country page for details on which documents NVC will require for your particular country.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3272.html
Q. It makes me nervous to send an original, what if they lose it or it gets lost in the mail?
A. There is no good answer to this question. You may want to courier the package to NVC with a tracking number or send it certified mail.
Q. What about translations, my documents are not in English, do I have to have them translated?
A. Technically the answer from the Department of State is:
Translation Requirements
All documents not in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations.
The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the:
Translation is accurate, and Translator is competent to translate.
Q. So this means if my Documents are in French for instance and I am interviewing in Canada, I do not have to have them translated?
A. Well technically no, as French and English are both official languages in Canada, however, people interviewing at the Montreal Consulate have been asked to have their documents translated.
You have two options, if you want to avoid any delays, you will have all documents not in English translated, as described above, and attach them to the non-English original, when submitting them to NVC.
Alternately you can contact the consulate where the interview will be held and ask them what they require.
Q. Will the originals I submit be returned to me at the interview?
A. Yes they should be, if they are not given to you at the time of the interview you should ask for them while you are there. The original police certificates are generally not returned.
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NOTE: The above information does not address the specific requirements for any given case and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.