The National Visa Center (NVC) has advised that, as of November 12, 2014, it will no longer require the submission off original civil documents in immigrant visa applications. Instead, only photocopies of supporting documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and police certificates, will be required.
This change has been implemented to help reduce wait times and maintain the integrity of the immigrant visa process. Once NVC reviews the copies that have been submitted, it will send the file to the consular post. The change is expected to increase the number of cases that are documentarily qualified.
Applicants will still need the original documents to take to their interviews. The NVC has also noted that the change does not affect Affidavit of Support forms. Submission of original Affidavit of Support Forms will still be required.