WASHINGTON—Under an executive order signed by the Governor of Puerto Rico, certified copies of Puerto Rico birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, will now be valid through Oct. 30, 2010. The validity of those certificates had previously been set to expire on Sept. 30, 2010.
In determining eligibility for immigration benefits, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will accept certified copies of Puerto Rico birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, as long as they are received or postmarked by Oct. 30, 2010. If received or postmarked after Oct. 30, 2010, a certified copy issued on or after July 1, 2010 is required.
When verifying employment eligibility using Form I-9, employers may continue to accept Puerto Rico birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, as valid list C documents through Oct. 30, 2010. Beginning Oct. 31, 2010, employers may accept Puerto Rico birth certificates only if issued on or after July 1, 2010. The USCIS website contains detailed information about the effects of invalid Puerto Rico birth certificates on the Form I-9 process.
USCIS’s interim policy memorandum regarding the validity of Puerto Rico birth certificates is available for comment on the USCIS website. The interim memorandum will be revised to reflect the extension through Oct. 30, 2010, and will be re-published at a later date.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov.
Last updated:09/30/2010
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