Step 3: Obtaining Your Civil Documents
Obtain the documents listed below and follow these procedures. It is strongly recommended that you begin this process early.
Instructions for Submitting Civil Documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate
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 from an appropriate office (authority, or issuing entity) in your country. You will be required to bring these documents to your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, along with translations required as explained below.
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:
Review these requirements regarding civil documents you will need to obtain before your interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please do not send any civil documents to the Kentucky Consular Center.
The principal diversity visa applicant must have a high school education, or its equivalent, OR two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years.
Education: Submit to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at your interview, a certificate of completion equivalent to a U.S. diploma, school transcripts, or other evidence issued by the person or organization responsible for maintaining records, which specifies the completed course of study. The diversity visa selectee must have completed a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education in the U.S. or a comparable course of study in another country, sufficient in itself to qualify a student to apply for college admission. The following are not acceptable:
Work Experience: Submit documentation to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at your interview demonstrating that you have two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years immediately prior to application. Qualifying work experience must be in an occupation that, by U.S. Department of Labor O*Net Online Database definitions, requires at least two years of training or experience that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating of 7.0 or higher. (See Step 1 for information about using O*Net Online.)
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 applicant, based upon the original registration of birth. Submit to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at your interview. Important Notice: All Immigrant Visa applicants must submit a long form original birth certificate. Short form birth certificates will not be accepted.
The certificate must contain the:
Unobtainable birth certificates
The applicant's birth record may not be obtainable. Some reasons are listed below:
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:
Note: An affidavit must be executed before an official authorized to take oaths or affirmations. 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.
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. Submit to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at your interview. Court records should include:
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 or Immigration Services or from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and follow the instructions included on that form.
Married applicants must obtain an original marriage certificate, or a certified copy, bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority. Submit this to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at your interview.
Note: Marriage certificates from certain countries are unavailable. More specific information is available online on our Reciprocity by Country webpage.
Applicants who have been previously married must obtain evidence of the termination of EACH prior marriage. Evidence submitted to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate 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:
Persons who have served in the military forces of any country must obtain a copy of their military record. Submit documentation to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at your interview.
Note: Military records from certain countries are unavailable. More specific information is available online on our Reciprocity by Country webpage.
Which Applicants Need to Submit a Police Certificate
Each applicant aged 16 years or older must submit police certificates to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at your interview.
What Does the Applicant Submit
The applicant must submit police certificates that meet the following guidelines. The police certificate must:
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).
Note: Police certificates from certain countries are unavailable. More specific information is available online on our Reciprocity by Country webpage.
When the Applicant Needs 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. |
For adopted children, the adoptive parent must provide:
Embassy-Specific Guidelines: There may be information about how to obtain civil documentation from the required issuing office (authority) in your country, as examples, for police certificates, marriage certificates and military records. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate where your interview will occur has information which may assist you. To learn about Embassy or Consulate specific requirements that may apply to you, follow these steps for finding information in the links to the Reciprocity section (link in sections above):