USCIS: Submit Originals or Copies?
Attorneys:Attorney Jeff Zhengquan Xie,Attorney Jiarui Yin,Attorney Qian Zhao,Attorney Haochun Ling, Xiao Xiang
When filing an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), should you submit original documents or copies? Some people say to keep the originals and submit copies only, while others may suggest submitting originals. What exactly is the difference between originals and copies?
Simply put, original documents are more authentic, whereas copies can be easily altered and are less credible than originals.
Therefore, USCIS adjudicators tend to place greater trust in original documents when reviewing cases. If they have doubts about the authenticity of the application materials or need to verify more facts, the adjudicators will take the initiative to request the applicant to provide original documents. This is what immigration officials refer to as the Best Evidence Rule.
But does this mean that it is best to submit original documents when filing an application?
Documents that commonly cause confusion over whether to submit originals or copies include birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, police clearance certificates, various licenses, academic diplomas, Form I-20, passports, and driver's licenses.
All the above documents share one common characteristic: applicants usually only have one copy in their possession. Once submitted, they will no longer have these documents on hand.
Therefore, do not readily hand over these original documents to anyone else, including USCIS and your representative attorney. The Xie Zhengquan Law Firm never requires clients to submit original documents except in a few special circumstances.
However, when we submit an application package to USCIS, we must include original copies of the following documents: medical examination reports, labor certification approvals, affidavits, etc.
For all other documents, you may submit copies as much as possible, but the copies must be legible and clear.
If USCIS requests original documents, you must provide the required originals within the specified deadline; otherwise, the adjudicator may reject the application on this basis.
If USCIS does not take the initiative to request original documents, do not submit them voluntarily. Otherwise, the originals may be discarded or lost.
After completing the case review, USCIS adjudicators will not take the initiative to return the original documents they have received. All original documents submitted will be retained as part of the applicant’s official USCIS file.
If you need to request the return of your original documents from USCIS, you must complete and submit a Request for the Return of Original Documents (Form G-884).
The above overview is prepared by XIE LAW OFFICES,LLC. to provide legal information to the Chinese community. It is primarily for academic discussion purposes and does not constitute legal advice on specific cases. If you already have legal representation, please consult your own attorney, who is familiar with the details of your case. Clients of Xie & Associates Law Firm, as well as readers who have not yet retained legal counsel, may contact Attorney Xie for specific legal questions. If you wish to reprint this document, please do so in full without any deletions, and clearly indicate the source.
Free Consultation Email: attorney@xielaw.com
Phone: (678) 380-0698
Website:
www.xielaw.com
WeChat ID: xielaw88
WeChat Official Account: U.S. Immigration Insights (xielaw8888)
Address: 1770 Indian Trail Lilburn Road, Suite 450, Norcross (Atlanta), Georgia 30093
1770 Indian Trail Lilburn Rd, Suite 450, Norcross, GA 30093 USA
(678) 380-0698 