When will the Board accept an affidavit in lieu of original documents?

• A. The Board will accept an affidavit in lieu of original documents only in extraordinary circumstances and only in the Board's discretion
• B. In all cases where the original documents are unavailable
• C. Only if the applicant submits a photocopy
• D. Only for documents that are in a foreign language

Answer: (A)

Affidavits in lieu of original documents are accepted only in extraordinary circumstances and by the Board’s discretion. This means the Board wants the actual original document whenever possible and uses an affidavit as a limited, discretionary substitute when obtaining the original is truly impractical or impossible. The substitute isn’t automatic and requires the Board’s approval, reflecting the emphasis on verifiable authenticity. A photocopy isn’t an acceptable substitute because it doesn’t provide sworn verification of the original, and the language of the document isn’t the deciding factor here— translations or foreign-language issues aren’t the basis for accepting an affidavit in place of the original.