Vancouver Interview 4-7-08 (YAY!!!)

[Aaralyn 0]

After MONTHS of waiting on his long form birth cert from Ontario (looooooong story ugh) We finally have an interview date! Alf's interview is at 1pm on April 7th. I don't think it's quite hit me yet, but I'm really excited. It feels like we've waited forever, and now it's all flying by!

I do have a little concern about the original documents that he needs. I have all the copies of the K1 forms, copies of my birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree etc etc etc..

I also have originals of everything... except my original marriage license! I have *no* idea what could have happened to it, and it will probably turn up on the 7th... *sighs* But.. how crucial is it that he has the original with him? I'm trying not to freak out, but after waiting out this whole process I'm scared to death that my scatter-brained-ness (new word? ) could screw it all up. Any insight?

Thanks!

[Carlawarla 1]

Unless things have changed, Vancouver required the marriage certificate of myself, the beneficiary. My understanding is that Montreal does not require it. Is there anyway you can get it before the interview? I think probably not, in which case, he'll have a copy of it, and since you're not the beneficiary, maybe he won't be required to produce the certified copy. Or do you have a certified copy?

It's really important, at least for Canadians to know that they will never get the "original" for anything. If you request birth certificates, divorce decrees, marriage certificates...you only ever get a certified copy. This will have a raised seal on it. The original is never given to anyone. It's sealed in files that are beyond anyone reach!

Keep looking for the certified copy if you can. At this late date, if you don't have it, you won't have it for the interview. In this case, he would still attend the interview...personally I wouldn't bring it up, that he doesn't have it, unless they ask him. If they ask him for it, and he doesn't have it, then they'll delay issuing the visa until he gets it to them.

I'd try not to worry. That I'm sure will sound silly to you right now...sorry.

Maybe someone else will chime in to help allievate your fears!

Best of luck on the 7th!

[charlene 0]

Christy....let us know how the interview goes...there are several of us right after you....we would love to have all the

details....

Ours is on the 8th and someone else has one on the 10th.....

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Best of luck at the interview!!!!

[SonoranSongbird 3]

You should be get a certified copy of the marriage certificate from a registry office fairly easily. I'm sure this varies by province--maybe even by city--but when my fiance got a certified copy of his first wife's death certificate for the I-129F, he went to the registry office in person and was able to pick it up from them within a few days. That's in Alberta. I see in your time line that you had problems getting the long form birth certificate---I'm not sure what happened, but I would not assume the same screw-up will happen. Go to a registry office today and see how quickly you can get it if you can pick it up in person. If it won't be ready in time, see if you can have it expedited (probably by paying an extra fee).

We are a bit confused as to why it is required at all. If his first marriage was never legally valid, we would still be free to marry. But for whatever reason, they do specifically ask for it. I think that if you do not have it in time for the interview, it will be a matter of sending it in once you get it and then they will issue the visa. That would be inconvenient, but probably I really doubt you would need to go have a whole new interview over this.

Good luck---both with the marriage certificate and with the interview!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Congrats!!

[SonoranSongbird 3]

Okay, for some reason I thought it was the Canadian previous marriage certificate you needed. For the US, again, it will vary by state or county, but you have to go to the office of vital statistics or county clerk or whatever government agency it is directly. Do you live in or near the county you were originally married to your ex in? If so, I would go in person and try doing what I suggested above.

In case you do not know what office it is, here is how i figured out how to get my birth certificate: I googled "birth certificate" and the name of the county I was born in and came up with a link to the Office of Vital Statistics for that county. It gave instructions on how to order it. In person was one option, though it wasn't an option for me since I live nowhere near there anymore. Try "marriage certificate" and the county where you were married.

Again, good luck to you!

[Aaralyn 0]

Thanks for the replies and good luck wishes.

I'm the USC, although I'd like to consider myself an honorary Canadian. Sorry for the confusion, too.. I did mean certified copies, not originals. I'm going to tear the house apart tonight, as I have to mail the package out in the morning (no time to order or obtain a copy at the moment... nothing like waiting until the last minute! ) for it to get to him before the interview. I *had* all my paperwork and copies right here together... so somehow that one wittle paper decided to grow legs and run away. *grumbles*

Part of me really believes they won't even ask for my certified copies, since they did receive everything of mine in the original packet, but that could just be silly wishful thinking, too.

I will definately let everyone know how it goes, or make him post his own review once we stop screaming/crying/celebrating/mourning/whatever.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Check any documents that you have paper-clipped together - I regularly misplaced something that I KNOW I had by doing that exact same thing. Check any other papers you might have filed (ie in a filing cabinet) since you last saw it and see if it got attached to one of them by mistake. Good luck!

[Aaralyn 0]

Check any documents that you have paper-clipped together - I regularly misplaced something that I KNOW I had by doing that exact same thing. Check any other papers you might have filed (ie in a filing cabinet) since you last saw it and see if it got attached to one of them by mistake. Good luck!

Kathryn, you totally saved my life! I went through everything about 15 times, and still couldn't find it. I dropped the frame I keep my Pharmacy Tech certification document in and broke the glass. I was getting all upset and panicky until I picked up the frame and noticed a yellow/gold paper stuck in behind the other document. I felt like Charlie Bucket opening that special Wonka bar! I found the golden ticket!!! *sings and dances*

I feel SO much better now, but I'm still completely nervous. We've had so many things go differently than we planned, and while I feel we're a stronger couple because of the obstacles, it's hard not to think, "what's going to happen now?"

Thanks again for all the help and advice. We'll let you know what happens!