Please Help ASAP! USCIS Not accepting original divorce decree

[David-Francinie 2]

I just received RFE on September 27 but received hard copy in the mail Oct 2nd. I leave tomorrow OCT3rd at 5am to see my fiance in Costa Rica. The timing is hard to believe but at least I can try to get what they want. They are not accepting the original papers I received from civil registry regarding my fiances previous divorce. This is not a copy but an original document with the notarize from this government office. the RFE states as follows:

MARRIAGE TERMINATION: Submit a legible copy of the final divorce decree signed by a judge or magistrate that shows proof of filing that terminated the prior marriage between "Beneficiary Name" and :beneficiary ex husband name".

The petitioner submitted a certificate showing that the beneficiary is not currently married and was divorced for her prior spouse. However, it is required that the petitioner submit the actual divorce decree providing the details of the divorce.

Please help if anyone can understand what they are asking from me. I never heard something so technical being requested. This is the paper given to my fiance when requesting from the civil registry pertaining to proof of her divorce. Thankfully I received thos in time before my departure in the morning tomorrow, but I don't have any idea of what they want me to get as addition proof. I need someones help and advice asap please. I attached photos of the original divorce decree I sent in and a photo of the RFE I received today.

[Mariana M. 18]

Did you send a translation as well? And a certificate of the translator?

[David-Francinie 2]

I did send translation from a certified translator, A certificate is not required to be sent with translation, just name address and statement disclosing they are competent in both languages and verify the accuracy of the document.

I feel my case is being descriminated for some reason. I called USCIS customer service and they are saying I need to get an attorney. This seems excessive to me.

Did you send a translation as well? And a certificate of the translator?

[David-Francinie 2]

The USCIS rep told me that this is merely a certificate and not an actual divorce decree. Can anyone familiar with these documents confirm this is true with the documents I provided?

[baron555 934]

The decree is usually a multi-page document that outlines all the terms and conditions of the divorce settlement.

That must be what they want.

[David-Francinie 2]

That I know is how divorce decree is here in the states but is this used in counties like Costa Rica, does this same document exist and is used there? I was assuming the document I submitted was the only certified divorce paper they issue.

[cocolucho 35]

I just received RFE on September 27 but received hard copy in the mail Oct 2nd. I leave tomorrow OCT3rd at 5am to see my fiance in Costa Rica. The timing is hard to believe but at least I can try to get what they want. They are not accepting the original papers I received from civil registry regarding my fiances previous divorce. This is not a copy but an original document with the notarize from this government office. the RFE states as follows:

MARRIAGE TERMINATION: Submit a legible copy of the final divorce decree signed by a judge or magistrate that shows proof of filing that terminated the prior marriage between "Beneficiary Name" and :beneficiary ex husband name".

The petitioner submitted a certificate showing that the beneficiary is not currently married and was divorced for her prior spouse. However, it is required that the petitioner submit the actual divorce decree providing the details of the divorce.

Please help if anyone can understand what they are asking from me. I never heard something so technical being requested. This is the paper given to my fiance when requesting from the civil registry pertaining to proof of her divorce. Thankfully I received thos in time before my departure in the morning tomorrow, but I don't have any idea of what they want me to get as addition proof. I need someones help and advice asap please. I attached photos of the original divorce decree I sent in and a photo of the RFE I received today.

They want two things:

1) A divorce decree "SENTENCIA DE DIVORCIO" is a document, most likely of many pages that the court gives you outlining the terms and conditions of the divorce, if any settlement happened, properties, and if there were any children in the marriage and

2) They also need a full translation of the divorce decree, meaning "word by word" translation of the document in English.

What you provided USCIS was just a simple certificate showing that the beneficiary is no longer married and USCIS needs a copy of the divorce decree instead.

[David-Francinie 2]

They want two things:

1) A divorce decree "SENTENCIA DE DIVORCIO" is a document, most likely of many pages that the court gives you outlining the terms and conditions of the divorce, if any settlement happened, properties, and if there were any children in the marriage and

2) They also need a full translation of the divorce decree, meaning "word by word" translation of the document in English.

What you provided USCIS was just a simple certificate showing that the beneficiary is no longer married and USCIS needs a copy of the divorce decree instead.

Thank you, your help is greatly appreciated. I do not understand much of spanish so when I told my fiance about this document you mentioned she was somewhat familiar. Do you know where would be the best place to get this document?

[cocolucho 35]

Thank you, your help is greatly appreciated. I do not understand much of spanish so when I told my fiance about this document you mentioned she was somewhat familiar. Do you know where would be the best place to get this document?

You are welcome! I believe you can get that document at the family court "Juzgado de familia" where she filed the divorce or where the divorce was filed.

I wish you good luck :-)

[UnaMexicana 153]

She should have gotten it in court... I can not believe she did not provide this for you to file. WHen she divorced, she must have gotten a SENTENCIA DE DIVORCIO... ask her about it and if she has her copy. If not, she needs to go to family court in her city and request a certified copy of the decree (sentencia).

Hope this helps

UnaMexicana

[David-Francinie 2]

Thank you everyone, She just arrived home with the divorce decree that is required. Thankfully I will be arriving tomorrow to see her and can bring this home with me to send in. It is just as much my fault as I did not know exactly what document this was. We thought the first one we received was the right one. Everything should be good, I hope. thanks everyone

[sigudep81 4]

I just received RFE on September 27 but received hard copy in the mail Oct 2nd. I leave tomorrow OCT3rd at 5am to see my fiance in Costa Rica. The timing is hard to believe but at least I can try to get what they want. They are not accepting the original papers I received from civil registry regarding my fiances previous divorce. This is not a copy but an original document with the notarize from this government office. the RFE states as follows:

MARRIAGE TERMINATION: Submit a legible copy of the final divorce decree signed by a judge or magistrate that shows proof of filing that terminated the prior marriage between "Beneficiary Name" and :beneficiary ex husband name".

The petitioner submitted a certificate showing that the beneficiary is not currently married and was divorced for her prior spouse. However, it is required that the petitioner submit the actual divorce decree providing the details of the divorce.

Please help if anyone can understand what they are asking from me. I never heard something so technical being requested. This is the paper given to my fiance when requesting from the civil registry pertaining to proof of her divorce. Thankfully I received thos in time before my departure in the morning tomorrow, but I don't have any idea of what they want me to get as addition proof. I need someones help and advice asap please. I attached photos of the original divorce decree I sent in and a photo of the RFE I received today.

Every country is different, based on the picture it seems you submit a certificate of the legal status of the beneficiary. the final divorce decree is a multi page document that states all the agreement made during the divorce such as, alimony, custody, assets and liabilities. although USCIS does not care about under which conditions you get divorced, that document clearly indicates that the marriages and its obligation have ended.

[jerod_gavel 16]

I did send translation from a certified translator, A certificate is not required to be sent with translation, just name address and statement disclosing they are competent in both languages and verify the accuracy of the document.

I feel my case is being descriminated for some reason. I called USCIS customer service and they are saying I need to get an attorney. This seems excessive to me.

These words need to be added to the translated copy.

• Translation is accurate, and
• Translator is competent to translate.

[Ian H. 207]

It's possible that they didn't accept this document because it is very generic and not in the typical format of a divorce certificate.

There are divorce certificates and divorce decrees or judgments. The divorce decree or judgment, is the court's or judge's order outlining the facts, findings, and settlements of the divorce. These include, equitable distribution of property, custody, child support and visitation if minor children are involved, among other things.

The divorce certificate is just an abstract of the whole thing stating the names of both parties, the date the divorce was final and other things that can vary by jurisdiction.

This document you submitted seems more like a certificate of single status than a certificate of divorce. That said, they require either a divorce decree or a certificate.

My cousin for example only submitted her divorce certificate, not the actual judgment and was never asked to produce the actual judgment, so this isn't a requirement since a divorce certificate has the same value.

My guess is that they felt this was more of a certificate of single status than a divorce certificate, which you can tell it is by how it's worded. It says that a record of matrimony doesn't exist for that person as of such date rather. Also the wording says that this was searched for in their records, meaning that it isn't an actual divorce certificate.

Unless Costa Rica does it different, but it should say on the top "certificado de divorcio" or "acta de divorcio" or "registro de divorcio" also it should outline not only the names of the spouses but the dob's, where the divorce was filed and things of that nature. The issue is not that it's in abstract form, but rather that it's really generic and doesn't contain much info on the spouses.

Now as for the actual judgment sometimes these are a lot of pages, so if you are paying an agency or someone to do your translating, it may run you a few bucks. Are you sure that Costa Rica doesn't give an actual divorce certificate?

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

So, I'm confused...if your fiance has idea of this why he/she doesn't go after this himself/herself? You're asking here about a divorce decree that is out of the United States....chances are small you'll get a super precise answer as not every second person is from Costa Rica. Your fiance should deal with that back at home...unless I am not understanding your situation...likely...

Thank you, your help is greatly appreciated. I do not understand much of spanish so when I told my fiance about this document you mentioned she was somewhat familiar. Do you know where would be the best place to get this document?