Documents The Applicant Must Submit


Appointment NVC Processing

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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).

Photocopy Requirements
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.

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.

Required Documents
Original documents, photocopies, and translations of the following documents must be submitted to the National Visa Center for the applicant and each family member who will accompany the applicant to the United States.

Birth Certificates

Each applicant will need to obtain an original birth certificate issued by the official custodian of birth records in the country of birth, showing the date and place of birth and the parentage of the alien, based upon the original registration of birth.

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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Marriage Termination Documentation

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.

 Petitioner Documents

Applicants in the following visa categories are required to provide 1) an original or certified copy of their Petitioner’s birth certificate and 2) original or certified copy of their Petitioner’s marriage certificate from the Petitioner’s current and all previous marriages.

  • Parent of a U.S. Citizen who is at least 21 years old (IR-5)
  • Brothers and sisters of United States citizens (F4)

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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

Which Applicants

Each applicant aged 16 years or older must submit police certificates.

What to Send

The applicant must submit police certificates that meet the following guidelines. The police certificate must:

  • Cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that area
  • Be issued by the appropriate police authority
  • Include all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition of each case of which there is a record.

How to obtain a police certificate

  1. Determine from which countries an applicant is required to obtain 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.

  2. Contact the appropriate police authorities. Selecting the appropriate country from the Reciprocity by Country page will provide you with additional information on how to obtain a police certificate.

    IMPORTANT NOTICE - ABOUT POLICE CERTIFICATES: The Reciprocity by Country pages will indicate if a country’s police authorities require the submission of a specific Police Certificate Request form. Some countries may require the submission of specific Police Certificate Request forms in order to properly request and obtain the applicable Police Certificate(s).

    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.

From which countries does an applicant need a police certificate

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.

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 Custody Documentation

In support of the Immigrant Visa Petition for Alien Relative, the adoptive parent and/or petitioner must provide:

  1. A certified copy of the adoption decree;
  2. The legal custody decree; if custody occurred before the adoption;
  3. A statement showing dates and places where child resided with the parents; and
  4. If the child was adopted while aged 16 or 17 years, evidence that the child was adopted together with, or subsequent to the adoption of, a natural sibling under age 16 by the same adoptive parent(s).

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