PLEASE HELP: I might have lost the original marriage certificate

[kenzie1203]

I have an AOS interview scheduled for next Thursday (Cincinnati, OH), and tonight I was going through all the documents I submitted to prepare for the interview. I vaguely remembered seeing the ORIGINAL marriage certificate and I think I have always had it. I also have three copies of the certified abstract of marriage, but I remember the original one being different since it has our actual signatures on it and the other ones are obviously just photocopies. After sorting everything out I couldn't find that original version anymore and I have literally spent the last 3 hours going through every single document I had trying to find it. At this point I'm beginning to question my own sanity about whether I actually got an original marriage certificate along with those three certified copies.

Q1: Does anyone know that in Ohio whether you receive an actual original marriage certificate or just the certified abstracts?
Q2: Do I need to try to get an original marriage certificate for the interview? The notice of action says that I should bring a certified copy, which I have, but it also requests that I bring the original documents of everything I submitted, which also include the marriage certificate. I don't know if I can get one at this point?

[newacct]

I have an AOS interview scheduled for next Thursday (Cincinnati, OH), and tonight I was going through all the documents I submitted to prepare for the interview. I vaguely remembered seeing the ORIGINAL marriage certificate and I think I have always had it. I also have three copies of the certified abstract of marriage, but I remember the original one being different since it has our actual signatures on it and the other ones are obviously just photocopies. After sorting everything out I couldn't find that original version anymore and I have literally spent the last 3 hours going through every single document I had trying to find it. At this point I'm beginning to question my own sanity about whether I actually got an original marriage certificate along with those three certified copies.

Q1: Does anyone know that in Ohio whether you receive an actual original marriage certificate or just the certified abstracts?
Q2: Do I need to try to get an original marriage certificate for the interview? The notice of action says that I should bring a certified copy, which I have, but it also requests that I bring the original documents of everything I submitted, which also include the marriage certificate. I don't know if I can get one at this point?

I believe that whenever you get a marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc. in the US, it's a certified copy of the record; you can't get an "original". Sometimes they give you a ceremonial certificate at the time of marriage, but that's not actually a legal document.

[maverick12345]

I have an AOS interview scheduled for next Thursday (Cincinnati, OH), and tonight I was going through all the documents I submitted to prepare for the interview. I vaguely remembered seeing the ORIGINAL marriage certificate and I think I have always had it. I also have three copies of the certified abstract of marriage, but I remember the original one being different since it has our actual signatures on it and the other ones are obviously just photocopies. After sorting everything out I couldn't find that original version anymore and I have literally spent the last 3 hours going through every single document I had trying to find it. At this point I'm beginning to question my own sanity about whether I actually got an original marriage certificate along with those three certified copies.

Q1: Does anyone know that in Ohio whether you receive an actual original marriage certificate or just the certified abstracts?
Q2: Do I need to try to get an original marriage certificate for the interview? The notice of action says that I should bring a certified copy, which I have, but it also requests that I bring the original documents of everything I submitted, which also include the marriage certificate. I don't know if I can get one at this point?

Don't panic you'll be fine. My interview officer did not even want to look or touch any of the original documents that I brought, including the marriage certificate (except for passports and IDs, those are important). She said she already has copies of them. I even brought a certified copy and she did not take it either. But still, a certified copy from the city where you got married should be enough in case your officer wants to see it.

My officer also did not take or even look at the stack of past immigration documents, letters, and notices, that they tell you to bring to the interview. She said they have it all in their systems. I don't get the point of asking for them if they already have them; it took me a while trying to collect them all.

Good Luck.

[kenzie1203]

I believe that whenever you get a marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc. in the US, it's a certified copy of the record; you can't get an "original". Sometimes they give you a ceremonial certificate at the time of marriage, but that's not actually a legal document.

I hope that's really the case. I always thought I had an original one and not being able to find it drove me crazy. I think I was more upset that I couldn't figure out whether I actually lost it or just never had it in the first place. Anyway thank you for pointing that out.

- - - Updated - - -

Don't panic you'll be fine. My interview officer did not even want to look or touch any of the original documents that I brought, including the marriage certificate (except for passports and IDs, those are important). She said she already has copies of them. I even brought a certified copy and she did not take it either. But still, a certified copy from the city where you got married should be enough in case your officer wants to see it.

My officer also did not take or even look at the stack of past immigration documents, letters, and notices, that they tell you to bring to the interview. She said they have it all in their systems. I don't get the point of asking for them if they already have them; it took me a while trying to collect them all.

Good Luck.

That is great, thank you for telling me about that!!