Documents the Applicant Must Submit to the NVC
Original Document Requirements
You and each family member immigrating with you to the United States must submit to the NVC original documents issued by an appropriate authority, or certified copies of those documents listed in this section.
Photocopy Requirements
You and each family member immigrating with you must also submit to the NVC a photocopy of the original documents or certified copies of the documents.
Translation Requirements
All documents not written 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 and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:
- Translation is accurate, and
- Translator is competent to translate.
Required Documents
Original documents, photocopies, and translations (if required, as explained above) of the following documents must be submitted to the NVC for you and each family member immigrating with you to the United States.
- Birth Certificates
- Court and Prison Records
- Deportation Documentation
- Marriage Certificates
- Marriage Termination Documentation
- Military Records
- Petitioner Documents
- Photocopy of Valid Passport Biographic Data Page
- Photographs
- Police Certificates
- Adoption Documentation
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 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:
- 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. More specific information is available from the NVC.
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
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.
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 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
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
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 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.
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.
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.
What should I send to the NVC?
Send a photocopy of your (and any family members’) biographic data page from valid passports. This is the page that shows your name, and your date and place of birth.
Note: Do NOT send passports to the NVC. Send only photocopies of the biographic data pages.
Photographs
You must submit two identical color photographs to the NVC.
If your NVC case number begins with AMM, GZO, MEP, DMS, AKD, or SAA, you are not required to submit your photographs to the NVC. Instead, you must present your photographs at the time of your visa interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate.
Review Photograph Requirements for size specifications and more information.
Police Certificates
Who needs to submit a police certificate?
Each visa applicant aged 16 years or older must submit police certificates.
What should I send?
You must submit police certificates which:
- Cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that area
- Have been issued by the appropriate police authority
- Include all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition of each recorded case.
How do I obtain a police certificate?
- Determine the countries from which a police certificate is required. Refer to the table below.
Note: Present and former residents of the United States need NOT obtain any U.S. police certificates - Contact the appropriate police authorities. Additional information on how to obtain a police certificate can be found on the
Reciprocity by Country page.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - ABOUT POLICE CERTIFICATES: Some countries require a specific Police Certificate Request form to properly request and obtain Police Certificate(s).The Reciprocity by Country page indicates those countries.
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.
An applicant must obtain a police certificate from the local police authority:
|
IF you… |
AND… |
|
have been living in your country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months |
you are 16 years old or older |
|
lived in a different part of your country of nationality for more than 6 months |
you were 16 years or older at that time |
|
lived in a different country for more than 12 months |
you were 16 years or older at that time |
|
were arrested for any reason |
you were any age at the time of the arrest |
Who needs to submit custody documentation?
If the intending immigrant child was adopted and if the child’s application to immigrate is based upon a parent-child relationship, then custody documentation is required.
What do I need to send?
If you are the adoptive parent and/or petitioner, you must provide:
- A certified copy of the adoption decree
- The legal custody decree if custody occurred before the adoption
- A statement showing dates and places where the child resided with the adoptive parents
- If the child was adopted when aged 16 or 17 years old, you must submit evidence that the child was adopted with, or subsequent to, the adoption of, a natural sibling under age 16 by the same adoptive parent(s).
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