[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 22, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 22CFR42.65]

[Page 236-237]
 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 42--VISAS: DOCUMENTATION OF IMMIGRANTS UNDER THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT, AS AMENDED--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart G--Application for Immigrant Visas
 
Sec. 42.65  Supporting documents.

    (a) Authority to require documents. The consular officer is 
authorized to require documents considered necessary to establish the 
alien's eligibility to receive an immigrant visa. All such documents 
submitted and other evidence presented by the alien, including briefs 
submitted by attorneys or other representatives, shall be considered by 
the officer.
    (b) Basic documents required. An alien applying for an immigrant 
visa shall be required to furnish, if obtainable: A copy of a police 
certificate or certificates; a certified copy of any existing prison 
record, military record, and record of birth; and a certified copy of 
all other records or documents which the consular officer considers 
necessary.
    (c) Definitions. (1) Police certificate means a certification by the 
police or other appropriate authorities reporting information entered in 
their records relating to the alien. In the case of the country of an 
alien's nationality and the country of an alien's current residence (as 
of the time of visa application) the term ``appropriate police 
authorities'' means those of a country, area or locality in which the 
alien has resided for at least six months. In the case of all other 
countries, areas, or localities, the term ``appropriate police 
authorities'' means the authorities of any country, area, or locality in 
which the alien has resided for at least one year. A consular officer 
may require a police certificate regardless of length of residence in 
any country if he or she has reason to believe that a police record 
exists in the country, area, or locality concerned.
    (2) Prison record means an official document containing a report of 
the applicant's record of confinement and conduct in a penal or 
correctional institution.
    (3) Military record means an official document containing a complete 
record of the applicant's service and conduct while in military service, 
including any convictions of crime before military tribunals as 
distinguished from other criminal courts. A certificate of discharge 
from the military forces or an enrollment book belonging to the 
applicant shall not be acceptable in lieu of the official military 
record, unless it shows the alien's complete record while in military 
service. The applicant may, however, be required to present for 
inspection such a discharge certificate or enrollment book if deemed 
necessary by the consular officer to establish the applicant's 
eligibility to receive a visa.
    (4) A certified copy of an alien's record of birth means a 
certificate issued by the official custodian of birth records in the 
country of birth showing the date and place of birth and the parentage 
of the alien, based upon the original registration of birth.
    (5) Other records or documents include any records or documents 
establishing the applicant's relationship to a spouse or children, if 
any, and any records or

[[Page 237]]

documents pertinent to a determination of the applicant's identity, 
classification, or any other matter relating to the applicant's visa 
eligibility.
    (d) Unobtainable documents. (1) If the consular officer is 
satisfied, or the catalogue of available documents prepared by the 
Department indicates, that any document or record required under this 
section is unobtainable, the officer may permit the immigrant to submit 
other satisfactory evidence in lieu of such document or record. A 
document or other record shall be considered unobtainable if it cannot 
be procured without causing to the applicant or a family member actual 
hardship as opposed to normal delay and inconvenience.
    (2) If the consular officer determines that a supporting document, 
as described in paragraph (b) of this section, is in fact unobtainable, 
although the catalogue of available documents shows it is available, the 
officer shall affix to the visa application a signed statement 
describing in detail the reasons for considering the record or document 
unobtainable and for accepting the particular secondary evidence 
attached to the visa.
    (e) Authenticity of records and documents. If the consular officer 
has reason to believe that a required record or document submitted by an 
applicant is not authentic or has been altered or tampered with in any 
material manner, the officer shall take such action as may be necessary 
to determine its authenticity or to ascertain the facts to which the 
record or document purports to relate.
    (f) Photographs. Every alien shall furnish color photographs of the 
number and specifications prescribed by the Department, except that, in 
countries where facilities for producing color photographs are 
unavailable as determined by the consular officer, black and white 
photographs may be substituted.

[52 FR 42613, Nov. 5, 1987, as amended at 55 FR 29015, July 17, 1990; 56 
FR 49682, Oct. 1, 1991]