Shredder

I see some discussion on here as whether people have sent a photocopy (notorised) vs. ordering a copy from the register office.

Any conclusion on whether a photocopy is accepted by CIC? Did anyone submit a photocopy themselves?

singingringingtree

A legal copy of your birth certificate will cost you £7, a notarized photocopy will cost you a lot more - if you can find a notary to do it for you, apparently it is not legal to photocopy this document (says our notary).

JAJ

Your notary is wrong - I am not aware of any legal prohibition. As long as you don't try to pass off a copy as the real thing.

singingringingtree

Two notaries and one solicitor gave us the same info.

JAJ

Did they put it in writing with reference to the law? If so, please share with us.

debbiem

We were told the same thing. I think that the consultant letter with our 90 day letter pointed out that copies were not valid even if notarised as it had to be originals with the registry stamp/seal thing? It clearly said 'originals' although i note this is note clear on the London office specific pages. It does say for which others notarised docs are valid though...

bewillow

What sort of application are you discussing?

At least for a sponsored family class application, you are not supposed to send originals: This is from the uk Country Specific Instructions 3901E

glenfiddich

Does it state on a UK birth certificate that it can not be photocopied? Mine is Canadian...Maybe the answer lies in that...I know that my British Columbian birth certificate is invalid if I laminate it...says so on the document. The UK ones may have something about photocopying...

G77

Doesn't say anything about not photocopying on my UK Birth Certificate - but then I doubt photocopiers were very common in 1977

I'm just sending a photocopy.

voyce100

We sent certified copies of our birth certificates. By certified I mean that a solicitor saw the original and made a copy and wrote something like: This is a true and accurate copy of ...... . He then signed it and added his business stamp charged us a £1 per copy. We sent it in and are now post medical waiting for the next step.

JamesM

They accepted my photocopy.

bewillow

Why are people bothering with certifying the photocopies? Why not just do a simple photocopy at the local library and send that?

G77

This is a long contested debate on here - conflicting instructions from CIC/CHC means that some people do it and some people don't. I don't remember seeing anyone saying they had their documents rejected because they didn't though - so it's down to personal choice and whether you want to take the risk, some people just like to go belt and braces!

MarkG

Yeah, I just photocopied it myself and they accepted that with no problems.

terese677

I had mine photocopied and notarized and sent those, as it states not to send originals apart from police checks