Documents The Applicant Must Submit


Appointment NVC Processing

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Document Requirements

The applicant and each family member who will accompany the applicant to the United States will need to submit the following original documents or certified copies of the documents listed in this section from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity). In addition to sending the original documents or certified copies of the documents to the NVC, the applicant and each accompanying family member must submit a photocopy of the original documents or certified copies of the documents.

All documents that pertain to the applicant’s petition are required, even if they were previously submitted to the CIS with the applicant’s petition.

Translations

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.

Birth Certificates

Each applicant will need to obtain an original birth record (or a certified copy of the original, obtained from the issuing government authority).

The certificate must contain the:

  • Person’s date of birth
  • Person’s place of birth
  • Names of both parents, and
  • Annotation by the appropriate authority indicating that it is an extract from the official records

Unobtainable birth certificates

The applicant’s birth record may not be obtainable. Some reasons are listed below:

  • The applicant’s birth was never officially recorded.
  • The applicant’s birth records have been destroyed.
  • The appropriate government authority will not issue one.

Please obtain a certified statement from the appropriate government authority stating the reason the applicant’s birth record is not available. With the certified statement the applicant must submit secondary evidence. For example:

  • A baptismal certificate that contains the date and place of birth, as well as both parents names (providing the baptism took place shortly after birth)
  • An adoption decree for an adopted child
  • An affidavit from a close relative, preferably the applicant’s mother, stating the date and place of birth, both parents names, and the mother’s maiden name.

Note: An affidavit must be executed before an official authorized to take oaths or affirmations. More specific information is available from the NVC.

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Court and Prison Records

Applicants who have been convicted of a crime must obtain a certified copy of each court record and any prison record, regardless of the fact that he or she may have subsequently benefited from an amnesty, pardon or other act of clemency.

Court records should include:

  • Complete information regarding the circumstance surrounding the crime of which the applicant was convicted
  • The disposition of the case, including sentence or other penalty or fine imposed

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Deportation Documents

Applicants who have previously been deported or removed at government expense from the United States must obtain Form I-212, Permission to Reapply after Deportation, from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, or from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and follow the instructions included on that form.

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Marriage Certificate

Married applicants must obtain an original marriage certificate, or a certified copy, bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority.

Note: Marriage certificates from certain countries are unavailable. More specific information is available from NVC, the nearest United States immigrant visa processing post, or online at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3272.html

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Termination of Prior Marriages

Applicants who have been previously married must obtain evidence of the termination of EACH prior marriage. Evidence must be in the form of original documents issued by a competent authority, or certified copies bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority, such as:

  • FINAL divorce decree
  • Death certificate
  • Annulment papers

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Military Records

Persons who have served in the military forces of any country must obtain a copy of their military record.

Note: Military records from certain countries are unavailable. More specific information is available from NVC, the nearest United States immigrant visa processing post, or online at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3272.html.

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Photocopy of Valid Passport Biographic Data Page

Which Applicants

The applicant and each applicant that is traveling together with the applicant must submit a photocopy of the biographic data page from the respective valid passport.

What to send

Submit a photocopy of the biographic data page of the applicant’s and the applicant’s individual family members’ valid passports. This is the page that shows the applicant’s name and date and place of birth.

Note:  Do NOT send the applicant’s passport(s) to the NVC, just the photocopy of the biographic data page.

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Police Certificates

Each applicant aged 16 years or older must submit police certificates. The table below will assist in determining from where an applicant must obtain police certificates.

Note: Present and former residents of the United States should NOT obtain any police certificates covering their residence in the U.S.

IF the applicant… AND… THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from…
is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months is 16 years old or older the police authorities of that locality.
lived in a different part of their country of nationality for more than 6 months was 16 years or older at that time the police authorities of that locality.
lived in a different country for more than 12 months was 16 years or older at that time the police authorities of that locality.
was arrested for any reason, regardless of how long they lived there was any age at that time the police authorities of that locality.

The police certificate must:

  • Cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that area, and
  • State what the appropriate police authorities records show concerning each applicant, including all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition of each case of which there is a record.

Note: Police certificates from certain countries are unavailable. More specific information is available from NVC, the nearest United States immigrant visa processing post, or online at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3272.html.

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