NARA vs Nat Cert.

[gottogetit]

what would the consulate rather have, the docs from NARA(petition/intention) or the certificate from USCIS? or both.

Thanks

Mark

[kontessa]

Some may want both, but the petition, oath and declaration have the most information. I think I read that some consulates used to accept just the certificate, and this may still be the case. Best to see what your particular consulate expects.

[johnnyonthespot]

Fairly recently, NYC was satisfied with county archives certified copies of the petition and the oath of allegiance.

The Miami consulate website insists that an actual certificate is required, however I am 85% certain that this is a mis-translation and that they would be happy with the petition/oath as well. See http://www.consmiami.esteri.it/Consolat ... tadinanza/

Photocopies (and bad, mostly illegible, ones at that) of the original certificate are available only from USCIS and, to my knowledge, they will not even certify that it is an official copy. So, what would be the point of that?

For the ridiculous fee of $345, USCIS will replace a lost/damaged/stolen certificate with a brand spanking new one, however as nearly as I can tell, this service is only available to the citizen him/herself and cannot be requested by a descendant.

One final comment: until you ask, you never know what lurks in the closets and attics of long-forgotten relatives. Only recently did I learn, for example, that the eldest son of my father's eldest brother has a large envelope full of documents which belonged to my paternal grandparents.

[gottogetit]

I just spoke to my father and he ask me,"Are you sure you want to know about our families past". i laughed and he said(with a smile) "I don't" lol

Mark