All green card applicants are required to submit documentation establishing their parentage, date and place of birth, either through a birth certificate or supplementary documentation. Copies of birth certificates are sufficient; we do not need originals.
BIRTH CERTIFICATES
Birth certificates must meet the requirements specified for your country at the U.S. Department of State’s website: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country.html
AFFIDAVITS
If you have a birth certificate but it does not meet all of the requirements OR you do not have a birth certificate at all, you will need to obtain two signed affidavits of birth that list your name, date and place of your birth and the names of both parents. Typically, this is signed by a parent or a close relative. A sample affidavit is provided at the end of this document.
TRANSLATIONS
All birth certificates, supplementary evidence, or affidavits must be translated if the original document is not in English. It is advisable to have this completed by a certified translator. Sample translator’s certificate is attached to this document.
AFFIDAVIT TEMPLATE
Note: DO NOT fill in the blanks on this form by hand. Please edit and modify the content in order to ensure that accurate information is provided. Please also remove these instructions and prompts in parentheses. Our office is happy to review drafts of affidavits before they are signed to ensure they are sufficient.
Affidavit of Birth
I, (full name), do hereby certify and affirm:
I am a citizen of ______________ (country of citizenship) and I presently reside at ______________ (Address). I was born on ______________ (date) in ______________ (city, country).
I am the ______________ (relation to you) of ______________ (your full name).
I personally know that he/she was born on ______________ (date) in ______________ (city, country), as ______________ (how knowledge of the event was acquired – for example: I visited him in the hospital after he was born).
His/Her father is ______________ (father’s full name), born on ______________ (Date) in (city, country).
His/Her mother is ______________ (full name), born on ______________ (date) in ______________ (city, country). Her maiden name was ______________ (full maiden name).
I have provided this information because the birth certificate is missing information and/or not available.
I further affirm that all of the above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Signed and sworn this day __of ____ 202 .
(Signature)
(Name Printed)
Notarized and Sealed