Hey guys! I've been participating of the k3 forum because that was my original idea. But now, many people have had both I-130 and I-129F approved together so I started to consider the CR1 IF the same happens to me (hopefully soon).

Now, while reading the guides and forum, I had some doubts about the CR1 process at the NVC. I hope you guys who have been here longer can help me out. I wanna be ready for whatever comes.

1. Do we REALLY have to send the original birth certificate and marriage certificate to NVC?
2. Do they REALLY return the originals at the interview?
3. I read something about certified copies... Do they accept them if they were certified in Brazil?
4. Can we really send the Choice of Agent form by e-mail? That sounds risky for me....
5. Is NVC going to send the packages to Brazil (in my case) with the forms I (the beneficiary) am supposed to fill up after they've received the Choice of Agent stating NO AGENT?

Sorry guys! I'm really confused...

Even if the I-130 and I-129F are approved together (which they should be, I-129F is a dependent petition - although, sometimes, accidentally approved earlier than the I-130) it would take longer to process the I-130 for CR1 at the Consulate than the I-129F. It comes down to how soon you want the person to arrive in the U.S. and start your life together.



Read the instructions, they say "COPY of the original". However, at all interviews you must take the ORIGINAL for verification. If you are worried, get a CERTIFIED COPY.



Sometimes. Otherwise you have to file a special form with a special request for the documents. Again, do not send originals - the instructions explicitly state to NOT send originals unless otherwise stated. For these documents it explicitly states COPY.



Certified copies are always accepted and appreciated. Certified copies from other countries are acceptable. Brazil is acceptable. However, documents will be verified at the Interview against the ORIGINALS that you will BRING to the interview. Do not send the ORIGINALS unless explicitly requested. Send a COPY instead.



You can, but sending a physical copy also is not a bad idea.



You will need to take originals with you to the interview.



So is Immigration.

I'm the beneficiary in Brazil and here's what I did:

to NVC: originals + 1 photocopy
Interview: I'll take another set of originals + 1 photocopy

NVC sends the package with all your originals or certified copies to local Embassy but, just in case to be safe, take another set of originals to the intrview, they can return the originals from NVC to you and keep the copies. Brazil's embassy guide instructions state that the beneficiary should take originals to the inteview.

In Brazil, for marriage and birth certificate you can get a certified copy issued by the issuing entity and it will be consider an "original". Don't get certified copies from public notaries, that won't be acceptable by either NVC or local embassy in Brazil.

Thank you guys!!

I see this is all very relative and people do different things. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

I am worried about this "original documents" thing. I'll try to get a second copy of my marriage certificate with the issuing office ASAP because I don't know how long it could take for them to issue another one (segunda via). However, I can't get a second copy of my birth certificate in the registries office (cartório) where I was registered at birth, since I was born in another city pretty far from where I live now... I guess I'll have to get a certified copy by a "public notary" and pray that they accept it. This way I can have the "real original" (?) for the interview in Brazil.

Anyway, If they approve both my petitions on the same day, I'll continue to pursue both. The CR1 visa has a lot more advantages for me 'cuz I want to go to college and get a job as fast as I can. The problem is the wait... far far away from my husband... So at this point, whatever comes faster!!!!!

thanks again!

YEs!! you can send the choice of agent through email i have done mine last june 8th... and i called them and they already received in on the 17th..... goodluck to u

Can you get a copy from the issuing authority?

"copy" here doesn't mean a photocopy of the original, it means a copy from the issuing authority.

I don't know how it works in your country. In my country, you get a birth certificate when someone register your birth, that's the only original birth certificate one will get, but one can ask for "copies" of the original from the same issuing authority with a small fee. That's the original "copy" that required by NVC for us.

Leah

[/quote]

Can you get a copy from the issuing authority?

"copy" here doesn't mean a photocopy of the original, it means a copy from the issuing authority.

I don't know how it works in your country. In my country, you get a birth certificate when someone register your birth, that's the only original birth certificate one will get, but one can ask for "copies" of the original from the same issuing authority with a small fee. That's the original "copy" that required by NVC for us.

Leah
[/quote]

Yes, the marriage certificate "copy" is easy for me to get because I got married where I'm currently living. But I've decided I'll also try to get a "copy" of my Birth Certificate from the issuing authority instead of sending a certified photocopy. Now I need to make a Power of Attorney letter to a friend that lives in the city where I was born so she can ask for this document at the registries office and mail it to me. Oh Gosh! This is all a lot of work!!! I don't even have an approval yet, but If I wait until I have one, God only knows how long it would take until I gather all the papers NVC asks for!

Try to ask someone to go at this cartorio in Brasil to get you a "second copy" (certified copy from issuing authority = original) and have this person mailing it to you. A second copy of marriage certificate is also acceptable as an original. My marriage and birth certificates were both second copies from issuing authority.

I would not send a copy certified by a public notary. That could result in RFE and delay your process.

Good Luck!

You don't need to translate any original documents.
It would be better the petitioner to be named the agent.