USC spouse doesn't have original BC

[bellalondon]

Hello all -

I am gearing up for my interview on February 1 and compiling all the necessary info:

- bank letters and statements for our joint account
- joint cell phone bill
- vet bills for our dog (in hubby's name only but with our address)
- 5 or 6 emails exchanged between us from the last five years
- past leases
- photos with each other's family members and an album I made from our last vacation together.

My biggest concern is that USC hubby doesn't have his original birth certificate. His mom misplaced it years ago. Mom-in-law managed to obtain a "certified copy" of the birth certificate. Will this suffice? Or do we need to have it notarized?

He doesn't have a passport either. Any advice?

 

[thomas_psu]

He doesn't have a passport either. Any advice?

He needs a govt. issued document that proves his citizenship. Passport or BC. What is a certified copy? you mean notarized? Or was it govt. issued?

 

[bellalondon]

For the copy of his birth certificate we sent in with the application package, it says "certified copy of birth certificate" across the top.

 

[dhlunar]

A certified copy is issued by the authority that issued the original. Usually it has a seal or something that you know it came from that authority.

As a notary in the state of Maryland, we can't notarize official documents, since they have already been certified by the authority that issues them.

 

[Jackolantern]

My biggest concern is that USC hubby doesn't have his original birth certificate. His mom misplaced it years ago. Mom-in-law managed to obtain a "certified copy" of the birth certificate.

If it is certified by the same government office that issued the first one, it would be treated as equivalent to the original.

If at the interview you find out it is not acceptable, he can order a new certificate from the city where he was born.

 

[bellalondon]

Better to be safe than sorry, I guess.

Hubby called the local county where he was born and the dept. of records said they could send a copy of his bc within one to two weeks.

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[Jackolantern]

Hubby called the local county where he was born and the dept. of records said they could send a copy of his bc within one to two weeks.

A certified copy with the official raised seal and all that stuff, I presume?

 

[dhlunar]

Better to be safe than sorry, I guess.

Hubby called the local county where he was born and the dept. of records said they could send a copy of his bc within one to two weeks.

Thanks for your help everyone!

You might be able to order online. I know NYC allows that. Some places will even allow you to pay a higher fee to have it expiated and sent by either FedEx or UPS.