What is 'Certified' copy of Birth Certificate?

[Bhavesh]

I'm appearing for the citizenship interview. In the 'Interview Document Checklist' I received, One of the item is 'Certified Copies of Birth Certificate for all your children in United States'

What do they mean by 'Certified Copies'? I have Birth Certificates for my kids, Do I need to just carry copyof the birth cerificates? How and where do you get the copies certified?

Thank You

 

[Flydog]

Just bring the birth certificates. If they are in another language, get someone who speaks that language to translate them into English and swear that the translation is accurate (in front of a notary).

Well, I think that is what it means.

 

[McMahon]

I understand that a certified copy of a birth record, at least for children born in the United States, is a copy established by the same authority having delivered the original.

For example for a child born in Oklahoma the issuing authority is the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Their website indicates:

Certified copies of Oklahoma birth and death records are available at the Oklahoma State Department of Health Vital Records Service. Application for obtaining a birth or death certificate may be submitted by writing to our office or by visiting one of our office locations.

You should be able to look up and find the issuing authority for the state(s) where your children were born.

It is called certified copy because it will bear the raised seal of the State. It is called certified copy because they can deliver the original only once.