If an intending immigrant child was adopted and if the child’s application to immigrate is based upon a parent-child relationship, then you must collect custody documentation.

If you are the adoptive parent and/or petitioner, you 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 the child resided with the adoptive parents.
4. 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).

• You must send photocopies of the custody documentation to the NVC.
• You must submit the original custody documentation (or certified copies) and photocopies to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of your interview.

For country-specific guidelines on how to obtain correct adoption documentation, review the Country Documents section at Reciprocity by Country.

Unobtainable adoption certificates

If adoption documentation is unavailable per the country-specific guidelines above, you do not need to submit them to the NVC. If you cannot obtain an adoption certificate for another reason, please submit a written explanation when you submit your other documents.

You and each family member accompanying you must obtain an original (or certified copy) of your birth certificate(s).

• You must submit a photocopy of each birth certificate to the NVC.
• You must submit the original birth certificate(s) (or a certified copy) and a photocopy of each birth certificate to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of the interview.

For country-specific guidelines on how to obtain your birth certificate, review the Country Documents section at Reciprocity by Country.

Unobtainable birth certificates

If a birth certificate is unavailable per the country-specific guidelines above, you do not need to submit a copy of one to the NVC. If you cannot obtain a birth certificate for another reason, please submit a written explanation when you submit your other documents.

If you were convicted of a crime, you must obtain a certified copy of each court and prison record, regardless of the fact that you may have been granted amnesty, a pardon, or other act of clemency.

• You must submit a photocopy of each court and prison record to the NVC.
• You must submit a certified copy and one photocopy of each court and prison record to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of your interview.

For country-specific guidelines on how to obtain court and prison records, review the Country Documents section at Reciprocity by Country.

Unobtainable court and prison records

If your court and prison records are unavailable per the country-specific guidelines above, you do not need to submit them to the NVC. If you cannot obtain court and prison records for another reason, please submit a written explanation when you submit your other documents.

If you are married, you must obtain an original (or certified copy) of your marriage certificate.

• You must submit a photocopy of your marriage certificate to the NVC.
• You must submit an original (or certified copy) and a photocopy of your marriage certificate to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of your interview.

Exception: If you are the Petitioner for your parent (IR-5, Parent of a U.S. Citizen), you do not have to submit your marriage certificate.

For country-specific guidelines on how to obtain your marriage certificate, review the Country Documents section at Reciprocity by Country.

Unobtainable marriage certificates

If your marriage certificate is unavailable per the country-specific guidelines above, you do not need to submit a copy of one to the NVC. If you cannot obtain a marriage certificate for another reason, please submit a written explanation when you submit your other documents.

If you were previously married, you must obtain evidence of the termination of EACH prior marriage. Your evidence must be an original or certified copy of one of the following documents:  FINAL divorce decree, Death certificate, or Annulment papers.

• You must send photocopies of your marriage termination documentation to the NVC.
• You must submit the original (or certified copy) and a photocopy of your marriage termination documentation to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of your interview.

For country-specific guidelines on how to obtain your marriage termination document, review the Country Documents section at Reciprocity by Country.

Unobtainable marriage termination document

If a marriage termination document is unavailable per the country-specific guidelines above, you do not need to submit a copy of one to the NVC. If you cannot obtain a marriage termination document for another reason, please submit a written explanation when you submit your other documents.

If you served in the military of any country, you must obtain a photocopy of your military record.

• You must send a photocopy of your military record(s) to the NVC.
• You must submit a photocopy of your military record(s) to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of your interview.

For country-specific guidelines on how to obtain your military records, review the Country Documents section at Reciprocity by Country.

Unobtainable military records

If your military records are unavailable per the country-specific guidelines above, you do not need to submit them to the NVC. If you cannot obtain military records for another reason, please submit a written explanation when you submit your other documents.

If you are applying for an IR5 (parent of a U.S. citizen) or F4 (brother or sister of a U.S. citizen) visa you must obtain an original (or certified copy) of your petitioner’s birth certificate. 

• You must send a photocopy of your petitioner's birth certificate to the NVC.
• You must submit the original (or certified copy) and a photocopy of your petitioner's birth certificate to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of your interview.

You and each family member immigrating with you must submit a photocopy of the biographic data page of your valid passport. The biographic data page is the page of your passport with your photograph, name, date, and place of birth.

• You must send a photocopy of your biographic data page to the NVC.
• You must submit a photocopy of your biographic data page to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of your interview.

Important: Do not send your original passport to the NVC. You need this document to travel.

For country-specific guidelines on how to obtain a valid passport, review the Country Documents section at Reciprocity by Country.

Unobtainable passports

If you cannot obtain a passport, please submit a written explanation when you submit your other documents.

If you are 16 years of age or older, you must submit a photocopy of a police certificate from the following locations:

• You must send a photocopy of your police certificate(s) to the NVC.
• You must submit a photocopy of your police certificate(s) to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of your interview.

Note: Present and former residents of the United States do NOT need to submit any U.S. police certificates.

Important: Police certificates expire after one year, unless the certificate was issued from your country of previous residence and you have not returned there since the police certificate was issued. If at the time of your interview the following three items are all true, you must bring a new police certificate to your visa interview:

• You are more than 16 years old;
• The police certificate submitted to NVC was obtained more than one year ago; and
• You still live in the country that issued the certificate.

For country-specific guidelines on how to obtain a police certificate, review the Country Documents section at Reciprocity by Country.

Unobtainable police certificates

If your police certificate is unavailable per the country-specific guidelines above, you do not need to submit one to the NVC. If you cannot obtain a police certificate for another reason, please submit a written explanation when you submit your other documents.