Orginals docs at interview?

[DerekYolande82 4]

Ok I'm getting so many different answers. My fiancé was married twice. First he was divorced and then his last marriage ended when his wife passed away. So ok we have a divorce decree and a death certificate. Must be send orginals of that to me in South Africa? That's beyond risky! Our post office strikes 9 out of 12 months a year. I have packages at customs of over a month ago That's not even sorted yet! What else is a absolute must to have orginals of that will be coming from him to me? Any help plz.

[Limey 550]

Fedex?

[Unidentified 2,930]

Fedex?

Will get stuck in customs if they haven't even sorted mail from a month ago?

[Saffer 27]

Use DHL or Fedex, they take a few days to South Africa, I know from experience. DO NOT USE the SA Postal Service. And yes, get originals.

[DerekYolande82 4]

Oh my! Nightmare if the orginals gets lost!

[Unidentified 2,930]

Oh my! Nightmare if the orginals gets lost!

Yes, but it would also be Nightmare if they don't accept the copies. You can ask the embassy if they will accept them but in general they want original everything.

[Pitaya 2,576]

Present the copy and have the original for comparison, you keep the original, they keep the copy. Your concerns is one of the many reasons I made a point to be in Guangzhou at the time of my wife and stepson's visa interview at the US consulate there. I care not to venture a comment about China Post. I was a document courier and a support coach.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Saffer 27]

Oh my! Nightmare if the orginals gets lost!

The US Consulate in SA uses DHL from the States. The chances of them losing your documents are very slim. It won't be cheap but it's worth using DHL or Fedex and have them delivered to your home/office by a courier. Bypass the SA Postal system at all costs - if you use SA Postal services you will NEVER get your documents.

Edited May 26, 2015 by Saffer

[DerekYolande82 4]

Oh well don't have anything else we can do hey. Thanks everyone

[Confusedtinybird 41]

I had originals of everything. But I don't know if you HAVE too. I think you do but not 100%.

But I just sent something to South Africa via Fedex. It was $85 took 4 days. DHL wanted $125. Yes, it's not cheap, but you are SO close to the finish line that I would look at using Fedex they have great tracking so you can see exactly where your package is!

If you do mail use Fedex or DHL don't even think about the PO. I sent two things and they never made it.

Also go and get them notorized. The UPS store does that it cost $5

Edited May 26, 2015 by Confusedtinybird

[DerekYolande82 4]

The money isn't the main thing. My fiancé is so not into sending anything here anymore. Our kids are yet to get their Xmas presents to be honest. And yes it was via South African post but still I can understand in a way. I really didnt think that that would be such a huge issue seeing that it's not my documents to start with and they accepted copies with the initial application u know! Ah well il phone again tomorrow and see if certified copies will b accepted

[DerekYolande82 4]

Thank u though ? ah man smallest things make things so complicated hey...

[Confusedtinybird 41]

I would e-mail also. Because when you e-mail you can print it out and bring the email to the interview that says that certified copies are acceptable.

I know the feeling sending via SAPO. I sent two Christmas gifts in August last year to family members they never arrived. It's crazy. We really take our postal service for granted.

[Lauren and Kevin 55]

Slightly off-topic in a way - I can't help thinking this is just the start. With your long and happy lives together, you are likely to come across issues with these particular documents again.

I wonder after he has posted the original documents to you (fed/dhl) if he could write to his authorities to obtain new originals.

Then, if all goes wrong in the post, you already have a lead-time on new originals - and if it does not go wrong, you have a second copy for when this happens again in the future?

[Saffer 27]

At some stage you will need originals or certified copies at the very least. I realize your husband doesn't want to send anything but he also needs to realize that you will never get there unless he sends these documents. I'm just being honest because you are looking for ways around the system and USCIS doesn't work that way.