Is it illegal to copy the certificate of Naturalization

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The certificate itself says that it is punishable by US law to copy, print or photograph the certificate without lawful authority". Many Police stations advise their recruits not to make copies of the natz cert.

Does anyone have any advice on how to make copies, let's say for passport purposes?

Thanks
 
When I visited the post office yesterday, the passport lady said eventhough it is written on the bottom of the cert. that you can't copy it, its OK to copy it since rules has been changed. You may will be informed about this during your Naturalization process.
And also when I was getting paperworks ready to sponsor my husband, they have asked me to attach a copy of the naturalization cert. So that is absolutely fine to copy it.
 
amishah said:
When I visited the post office yesterday, the passport lady said eventhough it is written on the bottom of the cert. that you can't copy it, its OK to copy it since rules has been changed. You may will be informed about this during your Naturalization process.
And also when I was getting paperworks ready to sponsor my husband, they have asked me to attach a copy of the naturalization cert. So that is absolutely fine to copy it.
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Thank you amishah for the quick reply. So which copy did you send with your passport application: The original certificate or the xerox copy?
 
I will be naturalized at the end of this month. For passport you HAVE TO send the original one. To sponsor some one you should use the xreox.
 
amishah said:
I will be naturalized at the end of this month. For passport you HAVE TO send the original one. To sponsor some one you should use the xreox.
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Congratulations for your oath ceremony. What's your timeline?
 
PD April 19, 2004
FP Sept 28, 2004
Interview Jan 5, 2005
Oath March 25, 2005
DO Memphis, TN
 
amishah said:
When I visited the post office yesterday, the passport lady said eventhough it is written on the bottom of the cert. that you can't copy it, its OK to copy it since rules has been changed. You may will be informed about this during your Naturalization process.
And also when I was getting paperworks ready to sponsor my husband, they have asked me to attach a copy of the naturalization cert. So that is absolutely fine to copy it.
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amishah:
I asked this question to an Immigration Officer at the time of oath. He said that even though it is illegal to make a photocopy of the Certificate but you can make ONE copy for your record OR if USCIS ask you to send one for official purposes.
I think you can also attach a copy of the US passport to sponsor someone.
 
It is illegal to make a photocopy of the Cert of Natz - even for a personal record. Period. Only exception to the rule is when an authorized Govt agency wants proof of such and asks you for a copy

eg. when sponsoring a spouse u enclose photo copy.
 
Rahul Kumar said:
It is illegal to make a photocopy of the Cert of Natz - even for a personal record. Period. Only exception to the rule is when an authorized Govt agency wants proof of such and asks you for a copy

eg. when sponsoring a spouse u enclose photo copy.
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The immigration officer (ON DUTY) told me that you can make a personal copy (just one). So who is right? your interpretation or his?
 
I think you can hang on to the Natz certificate

amishah said:
For passport you HAVE TO send the original one.
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I believe that you can apply for a passport at your local county courthouse. They will look at the original documents and sign for them (that they have seen them), then they will seal the application in an evelope (along with the paper that they signed) and give it to you to mail. This is how it was done for my daughters passport. We didn't have to send any original documents - only show them to the passport clerk who checked them off on a form and signed that she had seen them.

It may be differenent with natz certificate. This was only a U.S birth certificate.

-Ocelot
 
I wouldn't copy it.

I'm a USC (by birth). But if I had an official US goverment document and it said "Do not copy, under penalty of law", I would not copy it - no matter what somebody told me. The officer who told you it was OK could be mistaken, and when they arrest you (which they won't), you will say "He told me it was OK" - and they will answer "who told you that?" The officer will deny it.

But then again, I'm a cautious guy. Sometimes I even drive below the speed limit. :D

-Ocelot
 
Ocelot said:
But then again, I'm a cautious guy. Sometimes I even drive below the speed limit. :D

-Ocelot
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Interesting. :)
I always use copy of my passport which is acceptable in most of the time. Legally you are absolutely right. I am also very cautious about legal matters but believe me I asked two different officers at two different times and they said the same thing that you can make one copy for your record. I am not advising anyone to make copy of the certificate.

Thanks.
 
hm11,

Since when was it OK to start taking the INS's word directly ? Technically and by law you cannot make a personal copy.

Case in point -> take your Cert of Natz or your Green card to your local kinkos and ask them to take a color copy of the same. They will outright refuse saying that its illegal.

Its just like the requirement that u must have ur gc with u at all times....
The law (INA 264 aka 8 USC 1305) requires you to carry it around. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor and is punishable by fine up to $100 and jail time up to one month.

But here is what.. these laws were put in place to prevent fraud. even though its illegal to have a personal photo copy of the document , i doubt if they will come after you as long as you are keeping it to yourself and dont use it for any questionable activity!
 
hm11 said:
I always use copy of my passport which is acceptable in most of the time. [/U]
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You can make copies of your passport. There is not law prohibiting this! But remember strictly passport is just a travel document that also serves as proof of US CZ. A Cert of Natz on the other hand is the apex of proof of your CZ.

A Cert of Natz does not look secrue (no hologram or watermark) and for a criminal it might not make it hard to try to forge it. Thats why commercial agencies like Kinkos will never let you photocopy it . A US Passport on the other hand, is far more secure. Maybe the difference is USCIS vs DOS
 
Rahul Kumar said:
hm11,

Case in point -> take your Cert of Natz or your Green card to your local kinkos and ask them to take a color copy of the same. They will outright refuse saying that its illegal.
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I did not suggest anything and I dont want to add any hypothetical scenarios to this discussion. Its true that you can not make copy of the cert. I wrote what I got from USCIS officer (not one but two officers). Lets wrap up this discussion and focus on other issues. Thanks.
 
hm11,

I have learnt thru personal experience that you just cannot take what INS says at face value!

In fact there was a survey done by the GAO (accounting arm of congress) on people calling into the IRS with tax questions. Guess what ? Over 50% of the IRS's responses were WRONG!...

In any way, i dont think that CIS will breathe down your throat if you have a personal copy for yourself.. Its still illegal IMO but I think if you can show reasonable cause then you *may* be ok...
 
hm11 said:
The immigration officer (ON DUTY) told me that you can make a personal copy (just one). So who is right? your interpretation or his?
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Well USCIS Officers have proved to be ignorant about immigration laws. You never know if this administration will start stripping people's citizenship on the bases of making illegal certificate photocopies. When it comes to immigration laws, nothing surprises me.
 
Rahul Kumar said:
hm11,

I have learnt thru personal experience that you just cannot take what INS says at face value!

In fact there was a survey done by the GAO (accounting arm of congress) on people calling into the IRS with tax questions. Guess what ? Over 50% of the IRS's responses were WRONG!...

In any way, i dont think that CIS will breathe down your throat if you have a personal copy for yourself.. Its still illegal IMO but I think if you can show reasonable cause then you *may* be ok...
Click to expand...

Rahul, have you applied for a US passport yet?
 
Rahul Kumar said:
hm11,

I have learnt thru personal experience that you just cannot take what INS says at face value!

In fact there was a survey done by the GAO (accounting arm of congress) on people calling into the IRS with tax questions. Guess what ? Over 50% of the IRS's responses were WRONG!...

In any way, i dont think that CIS will breathe down your throat if you have a personal copy for yourself.. Its still illegal IMO but I think if you can show reasonable cause then you *may* be ok...
Click to expand...

Yes thats true. Persoanlly, I did not make (and not in favor of ) the copy of the cert. but I wrote down the Cert # for my record. In case you loose the cert. you can always replace it.
 
Of course buddy. Got my passport in 3 days, it had my name spelt wrong, sent it in and got it back in 2 days. Then got my Indian visitor visa in 5 days, went and DCF'ed my wife's Green Card and that came in 2 months! The immigration God's (and the knowledge i accumilated in these forums) turned out in my favour. Only challenge was my long namecheck!
 
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