divorce papers

[Sunshine Times 7]

i.m sorry if i have already posted this question somewhere but i've forgotton, so many things to do and getting a little stressed but

Do I need the original copy or a photocopy of the petitioners divorce certificate for my (benificiary) interview in london?

[Sunny123 44]

Both. Bring the original in case the Embassy wants to see original but make a good copy for the emabassy to keep for their files.

[Brad and Vika 129]

A certified copy should do. You can always get another certified from the court that issued the decree. In fact, i am pretty sure that I provided a copy of the certified copy. No problem. See item 12 in the K-1 guide here,

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Do I need the original copy or a photocopy of the petitioners divorce certificate for my (benificiary) interview in london?

No. The visa application and interview documents are all about you, the beneficiary, except for the petitioner's financial information and I-134.

LONDON gives you a list of what to bring (your documents, not the petitioner's)

London interview documents.

Edited May 8, 2011 by Nich-Nick

[Darnell 8,478]

at the interview, it must be EITHER a certified copy (showing the seal of the issuing authority)

or

the original.

the petitioner should have sent off a photocopy of the divorce decree with the original I-129F submittal, but that divorce decree PHOTOCOPY

should have been a PHOTOCOPY

of

either

the ORIGINAL (showing the stamps and seals)

or

a certified COPY (seals and stamps from the issuing authority)

and 'the thing' is shown on interview day.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

at the interview, it must be EITHER a certified copy (showing the seal of the issuing authority)

or

the original.

the petitioner should have sent off a photocopy of the divorce decree with the original I-129F submittal, but that divorce decree PHOTOCOPY

should have been a PHOTOCOPY

of

either

the ORIGINAL (showing the stamps and seals)

or

a certified COPY (seals and stamps from the issuing authority)

and 'the thing' is shown on interview day.

I don't know where you live, but where I live it's impossible to get the "original". The court keeps that. The only thing you can get is a certified copy - the court clerk pulls the original from their files, photocopies it, and then stamps the photocopy to certify that it's a genuine copy of the original document. You can send a photocopy of that certified copy with the petition, but you should bring the certified copy to the interview just in case the CO wants to inspect it.

[Aztec&Taino 144]

i.m sorry if i have already posted this question somewhere but i've forgotton, so many things to do and getting a little stressed but

Do I need the original copy or a photocopy of the petitioners divorce certificate for my (benificiary) interview in london?

I went to my local courthouse and obtained certified copies of both my marriage certificate and divorce decree and took with me to my fiance's interview. We were not asked for any paper, whatsoever, yet it is recommended that you take with you originals of any document that was submitted with your original petition.

Best wishes!

[payxibka 10,045]

i.m sorry if i have already posted this question somewhere but i've forgotton, so many things to do and getting a little stressed but

Do I need the original copy or a photocopy of the petitioners divorce certificate for my (benificiary) interview in london?

most likely NEITHER

moving thread to

US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

This is the place to post your experiences or questions related to this last step before moving to the US. Topics relating to I-134's, packets sent from consulate and medical & police certificates should be posted here.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

I don't know where you live, but where I live it's impossible to get the "original". The court keeps that. The only thing you can get is a certified copy - the court clerk pulls the original from their files, photocopies it, and then stamps the photocopy to certify that it's a genuine copy of the original document. You can send a photocopy of that certified copy with the petition, but you should bring the certified copy to the interview just in case the CO wants to inspect it.

That's very true in the US and is good information for USC petitioners.

It may not necessarily be true abroad though, and that is where the OP's question lies.

In Great Britain, the Decree Absolute is required. Decree Absolute is issued by the Court after Decree Nisi has been issued and the waiting period is passed. If you don't have your original Decree Absolute, you can get a copy of your divorce papers from the court where the divorce or civil partnership dissolution was processed. Alternatively you can contact the Central Index of Decrees Absolute.

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.direct.gov.uk/en/Hl1/Help/YourQuestions/DG_10013295

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

That's very true in the US and is good information for USC petitioners.

It may not necessarily be true abroad though, and that is where the OP's question lies.

In Great Britain, the Decree Absolute is required. Decree Absolute is issued by the Court after Decree Nisi has been issued and the waiting period is passed. If you don't have your original Decree Absolute, you can get a copy of your divorce papers from the court where the divorce or civil partnership dissolution was processed. Alternatively you can contact the Central Index of Decrees Absolute.

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.direct.gov.uk/en/Hl1/Help/YourQuestions/DG_10013295

OP asked about the petitioner's divorce decree.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

OP asked about the petitioner's divorce decree.

Ah you are right. My bad.

[dogspot 90]

I have a certified copy and a photo copy of the certified copy and I couldn't tell which was which. I don't think it matters.

[Casprd 167]

The certified copy should have a raised seal on it and yes you should bring the certified copy to the interview. Our interview letter doesn't ask for it, but god forbid you need it and not have it.

[ADMIRE 3]

No. The visa application and interview documents are all about you, the beneficiary, except for the petitioner's financial information and I-134.

LONDON gives you a list of what to bring (your documents, not the petitioner's)

London interview documents.

Am sorry I disagree with the above poster. YES, the petitioner's DIVORCE PAPERS are needed if he/she had ever had one before. I know because that was what kept me going back and forth at the embassy level - Petitioner's divorce, not mine, but his. However, usually you must have submitted ur original documents at some point and so u can only have copies to take along for the interview, at which ur original documents wld be rtned to u.

All the best.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Am sorry I disagree with the above poster. YES, the petitioner's DIVORCE PAPERS are needed if he/she had ever had one before. I know because that was what kept me going back and forth at the embassy level - Petitioner's divorce, not mine, but his. However, usually you must have submitted ur original documents at some point and so u can only have copies to take along for the interview, at which ur original documents wld be rtned to u.

All the best.

There used to be a school of thought that divorce paperwork should always be "originals" (meaning THE certified copy with whatever seal used by the entity issuing the document). When we processed (6 years ago) this was the only document in the K1 packet where folks would send in an original. And carry another original to the interview.

I don't know what the current trends are at USCIS level about this document. I don't see any whoo-haa about it anymore so I presume petitions are being approved with copies of the certified copy.

We went to our interview with every original document we could obtain, including my certified divorce decree. The only documents requested that day were his birth certificate and police report.

My suspicion is this, like many other things, remains a consular specific issue.