K-1 Visa Interview Preparation Question - China

[garou 0]

Hello Everyone!

First, I would like to thank the entire Visa Journey community, because this whole process would have been considerably harder if I had not been able to access the wealth of information and knowledge found here. Thank you very much!

This is actually my first post on this site from this whole process. So without further ado, let me get to it...

My fiance, who is in China, is on the last step of the K-1 visa process, trying to gather together all the documents before her interview. She has not scheduled the interview or medical check yet, as she is trying to figure how long it will take for her to get the documents prepared before scheduling them. One of the documents required is a notarized birth certificate - which she is extremely worried about. It states in the electronic instruction packet that the birth certificate needs to state her parent's names, and if deceased, it should state as such. She is worried and afraid of this because her birth certificate was issued in the 80's, which does not list her father's name. In addition, her father passed away when she was about 4 years old, and neither her nor her mom still have any information that would relate her father to herself. Also, her mother does not still have a copy of the death certificate. When I ask her if she can get any of that information, such as a copy of her father's death certificate, or her parent's wedding certificate, she states she does not believe she will be able to. Of course, her fear and worry is that she will not be able to get her birth certificate notarized because it does not list her father's information, nor does it list that he has passed away, and in turn, that she will be denied at the interview if she cannot get the birth certificate notarized.

Sorry for the long explanation above, but my questions are really the following:

1) Is it so hard to get the information she is needing for the notarization of her birth certificate?

2) If she cannot get the birth certificate notarized, could she provide a letter of explanation at the consulate? If any of you have had experience with this sort of thing, would that mean an automatic denial no matter what if she cannot provide a notarized birth certificate?

3) What should she do or how can she go about getting the information she needs to get her birth certificate notarized?

4) Is there any other advice that any of you may have for me or her at this point in the process?

Thank you very much for reading my post! I would MUCH appreciate any help or advice that any of you could give me! Thank you again!

[Darnell 8,479]

she can get a new birth certificate in her hukuo city,

then get a notarial translation into English, common referred to as a 'white book'.

Check out the China forum, the pinned topic, for what's what. [that covers q 1-4 from yer list]

[garou 0]

she can get a new birth certificate in her hukuo city,

then get a notarial translation into English, common referred to as a 'white book'.

Check out the China forum, the pinned topic, for what's what. [that covers q 1-4 from yer list]

Many thanks, I will check that out. She actually has her birth certificate though, it just doesn't have her father's information on it.

[TBoneTX 47,957]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the China regional subforum for country-specific relevance. ***

[Darnell 8,479]

ok - ask her what's in her hukuo book.

[RandyW 149]

Yes - the NEW birth certificate is generated from the information in the hukou book. Let the Chinese authorities decide what goes on it, in a format for use overseas. The Consulate's job is to RECOGNIZE (and verify) what they issue, not to place additional demands on the format or content.

DO NOT submit the one she already has.

[RandyW 149]

Chinese Notarial Documents - see DOS China Reciprocity Schedule

Most of the documents needed can be obtained from one of China's Notarial Offices (Gong Zheng Chu). All Chinese documentation to be used abroad is processed through the notary offices and issued in the form of notarial certificates. Notarial offices are located in all major Chinese cities and in rural county seats

The documents required are the GongZhengShu 公证书

Sample application for documents (your province or hukou may vary):

http://www.bnpo.gov....72115331419.doc

http://www.bnpo.gov....ide/detail1.asp

A discussion of the huji (or hukou 户口) system can be found at Hukou System. Chinese residents should go to their hukou for all notarial documents (birth, divorce, and/or single certificate, and police records). For the police record, one obtained at the hukou will cover all of China.

A notarial document will be in the standard white notarial booklet, have an official red seal, an English translation, and an attestation to the true translation.

[Pitaya 2,580]

Darnell and RandyW are spot-on. The US consulate in Guangzhou is quite familiar with Notarial Certificates of Birth - AKA "White Book," and, as RandyW alluded to, they are not likely to accept the document your fiancée currently possesses.

From our personal visa journey experience, we submitted numerous Notarial Certificates for Birth Certs of my wife and stepson, my wife's Divorce Decree, a letter from stepson's father authorizing son's immigration to USA. We have successfully provided these "White Book" documents to US authorities on both sides of the pond. Consider getting extra copies prepared at the same time, it is far easier to get extras prepared now rather than later.

As Darnell previously mentioned, please review the pinned thread at the top of the China Regional Forum page, it contains a lot of very useful information.

Good luck.

[garou 0]

Thank you very much for all the responses and information! I will let my fiancee know and will keep tuned into that forum if any other questions arise from her. Thanks again everyone!