Authentic Signatures on Documents

[BrandonZA 0]

Hi all,

 

My fiancé and I are putting together all the documents and forms suggested in the guides to the K1 visa, and we have seen many situations that the beneficiary of the petition needs to sign. Is it required that the beneficiary sign and then mail those documents from South Africa, or can we use PDF signature technology, whereby he signs using his electronically recorded signature? 

 

If the former is required, is it possible to use the electronic signature and then get all the documents notarized? 

 

The reasoning behind this is 1) Postal service in South Africa is sketchy at best and theres a chance the documents are lost 2) Obviously it would take a number of weeks to have those documents shipped across the world, and we'd prefer to not have to wait so long to begin the petition. 

 

I recall seeing a post by a member of the forums here that they had a friendly dinner with an official who adjudicates on many of these petitions and one of the questions they asked concerned this very subject. The person said that they in particular couldn't care whether the signature is electronic or not, but that some ran their hand over the signature looking for authenticity. Is this basically a gamble?

[JennaL 151]

8 hours ago, BrandonZA said:

Hi all,

 

My fiancé and I are putting together all the documents and forms suggested in the guides to the K1 visa, and we have seen many situations that the beneficiary of the petition needs to sign. Is it required that the beneficiary sign and then mail those documents from South Africa, or can we use PDF signature technology, whereby he signs using his electronically recorded signature? 

 

If the former is required, is it possible to use the electronic signature and then get all the documents notarized? 

 

The reasoning behind this is 1) Postal service in South Africa is sketchy at best and theres a chance the documents are lost 2) Obviously it would take a number of weeks to have those documents shipped across the world, and we'd prefer to not have to wait so long to begin the petition. 

 

I recall seeing a post by a member of the forums here that they had a friendly dinner with an official who adjudicates on many of these petitions and one of the questions they asked concerned this very subject. The person said that they in particular couldn't care whether the signature is electronic or not, but that some ran their hand over the signature looking for authenticity. Is this basically a gamble?

I asked the same question on another site and got a mix of different answers. Some people sent in copied/scanned signatures and some had their fiancé actually sign in ink and mail back to them. Personally, I just had my fiancé sign the Letter of Intent and then scan/email to me. We only filed a couple of months ago, but no issues yet. I've also heard it just depends on the person reviewing your file and what their preference is, so it's pretty much a gamble like you mentioned. At worst, we would probably just get an RFE requesting any documents be re-signed in ink and sent back to them.

[LuFlolady 881]

We are looking at the AOS (affidavit of Support) and I was thinking the same thing I was going to send mine by mail...but have lately heard the SA mail service is very sketchy. So i looked into DHL or FEDEx and the price is ridiculous to send the papers. So I am thinking sign and scan but not really sure yet. We still have some time to make up our minds. As far as the beginning documents we actually signed them when i was in SA visiting.

[HOORAY7 165]

Alcon,

 

I would sent via DHL if you mail anything or if possible deliver in person if you intend to visit your fiancé, never send it regular mail, very unsafe and takes too long.  If I remember correctly, my lawyer stated my signature, petitioner, had to be original and not the electronic signature.  ALWAYS keep a copy of whatever you send, always.

DHL is expensive, roughly $200, to spend your I-134 package to your fiancé, but worth the security. I got lucky and was able to handcarry that portion of my package to my fiancé. But I researched it before I did.

[JoelThai 313]

On 3/8/2018 at 3:00 AM, BrandonZA said:

My fiancé and I are putting together all the documents and forms suggested in the guides to the K1 visa, and we have seen many situations that the beneficiary of the petition needs to sign. Is it required that the beneficiary sign and then mail those documents from South Africa, or can we use PDF signature technology, whereby he signs using his electronically recorded signature? 

I learned today from @geowrian that the USCIS recently released a memo on signature requirements.   

 

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-finalizes-guidance-signature-requirements

 

"A signature is valid even if the original signature is later photocopied, scanned, faxed, or similarly reproduced. Regardless of how it is transmitted to USCIS, the copy must be of an original document containing a handwritten, ink signature, unless regulations or the form instructions state otherwise. USCIS will not accept signatures created by a typewriter, word processor, stamp, auto-pen, or similar device."

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/2018/2018-02-16-PM-602-0134.1-Signatures-on-Paper-Applications-Petitions-Requests-and-Other-Documents.pdf

 

My interpretation is that a scanned copy of an original signed document could be transmitted to your finance (via email, dropbox, google drive, etc), so sending signed documents via standard post (USPS, DHL, etc) is not strictly necessary.   But mechanically and/or electronically generated signatures are not generally accepted, unless specifically permitted.  The DS-160 form is one example where an electronic signature is allowed/required.

Edited March 19, 2018 by JoelThai

[LuFlolady 881]

17 hours ago, HOORAY7 said:

Alcon,

 

I would sent via DHL if you mail anything or if possible deliver in person if you intend to visit your fiancé, never send it regular mail, very unsafe and takes too long.  If I remember correctly, my lawyer stated my signature, petitioner, had to be original and not the electronic signature.  ALWAYS keep a copy of whatever you send, always.

DHL is expensive, roughly $200, to spend your I-134 package to your fiancé, but worth the security. I got lucky and was able to handcarry that portion of my package to my fiancé. But I researched it before I did.

im hoping to hand carry my I-134 but if not DHL it is I am glad I saw this because I was going to send regular mail

[Nevad@ 26]

I signed my papers and mailed them with FedEx, they got to US in 4 days. But I am sure you can also use printed copies. There is no requirement on the instructions that signatures have to be original. 

[LuFlolady 881]

10 hours ago, Nevad@ said:

I signed my papers and mailed them with FedEx, they got to US in 4 days. But I am sure you can also use printed copies. There is no requirement on the instructions that signatures have to be original. 

thanks for sharing