General List of Commonly Required Documents
Birth Certificates
You
(and any family members immigrating with you to the United States) must
obtain an original birth certificate issued by
the official custodian of birth records in your
country of birth, showing your date of birth, place of birth, and
parentage.
The certificate must contain the:
- Your date of birth
- Your place of birth
- Names of both parents
- Indication by the appropriate authority that it is an extract from the official records
Unobtainable birth certificates
If your birth record is not obtainable for any reason, a certified statement must be obtained from the appropriate government
authority explaining why your birth record is unavailable. You
must also submit secondary evidence such as:
- 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 your mother, stating the date and place of birth, both parents names, and your
mother’s maiden name.
Note:
An affidavit executed before an official authorized to take oaths or
affirmations must also be provided.
SAMPLE AFFIDAVIT
AFFIDAVIT BY Mr. xxxxxx (FATHER NAME) & Mrs.xxxxxxx (MOTHER NAME)
Re: [YOUR FULL NAME]
I, Mr. [FATHER FULL NAME] & Mrs. [MOTHER FULL NAME], here by depose and say:
1. Our full and complete address is xxxxxxxxxxx
2. That I, FATHER'S FULL NAME Age XXX, was born on MM/DD/YYY in the town/city of xxxxxxxx
3. That I, MOTHER'S FULL NAME Age XXX, was born on MM/DD?/YYY in the town/city of xxxxxxxx
4. We got married on MM/DDYYY in the city of XXXXXX, COUNTRY.
5. We, FATHER'S & MOTHER'S FULL NAME are parents of the following children:
a. YOUR FULL NAME born on MM/DD/YY; and
b. YOUR SIBLINGS NAME born on MM/DD/YYYY
6. [YOUR FULL NAME] was born in CITY, STATE, COUNTRY
7. This affidavit
is being submitted because official full name of [YOUR FULL NAME] was
not [mentioned] OR [registered] OR [OTHER REASON] in the birth certificate at the time of birth. [His/Her] Full Name
is [YOUR FULL NAME] /OR/ [YOUR FULL NAME] birth was not registered because [reason].
I declare under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is a true and correct statement.
_________________________
FATHER NAME and signature
_________________________
MOTHER NAME and signature
More specific information for each country can be seen after selecting your country above.
Marriage Certificates
Who needs to submit marriage certificates?
If you are married, you 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 for each country can be seen after selecting your country above.
If you were convicted of a crime, you must obtain a certified copy of each court record and prison record, regardless of the
fact that you may have subsequently been granted amnesty, a pardon or other act of clemency.
Court records should include:
- Complete information about the circumstances of the crime
- The disposition of the case, including sentence, fines or other penalties imposed
Marriage Termination Documentation
Who needs to submit marriage termination documentation?
If you were previously married, you must obtain evidence of the termination of
EACH prior marriage. Evidence must be in the form of original documents issued by an official authority, or certified copies bearing
the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority, such as:
- FINAL divorce decree
- Death certificate
- Annulment papers
Deportation Documentation
Who needs to submit deportation documents?
If you have been previously deported or removed from the United States at government expense, you 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 on that form.
Military Records
Who needs to submit military records?
If you served in the military forces of any country, you must obtain a copy of your military record.
Note: Military records from certain countries are unavailable.
More specific information for each country can be seen after selecting your country above.
Who needs to submit petitioner documents?
If you are applying for an IR5 (Parent of a U.S. Citizen) visa, you are required to provide:
- Original or certified copy of your Petitioner’s birth certificate
- Original or certified copy of your Petitioner’s marriage certificate from the Petitioner’s current and all previous marriages.
If you are applying for a F4 (Brother or Sister of a U.S. Citizen) visa you are required to provide:
-
Original or certified copy of your Petitioners birth certificate.
Photocopy of Valid Passport Biographic Data Page
Who needs to submit a photocopy of their passport?
The applicant and each family member accompanying the applicant must submit a photocopy of the biographic data page from their
respective valid passport.
More specific information for each country can be seen after selecting your country above.
Photographs
You must submit
two identical color photographs. Review
Photograph Requirements for size specifications and more information.
