Divorce Decree Not Embossed But Certificate Is [merged threads]

[Phil413 14]

My fiancee and I have a visa interview scheduled this month in Bogota, Colombia.  I have been making sure I have everything I need to take with me to support the interview process.  I have 2 divorce decree original documents.  However, I am confused by the instructions sent by the embassy.  Can anyone tell me what "authenticated photocopies" means?  Below is the original Spanish along with an English translation as well.

 

TERMINACION DE MATRIMONIOS ANTERIORES: Fotocopias autenticadas de sentencias finales de divorcio, anulaciones o certificados de defunción son necesarios para todos los solicitantes y peticionarios. Para probar que un divorcio Colombiano fue registrado ante las autoridades civiles, usted debe traer su registro de nacimiento o registro de matrimonio con nota marginal junto con los certificados originales de divorcio.

 

TERMINATION OF PREVIOUS MARRIAGES: Authenticated photocopies of final divorce decrees, Annulments or death certificates are required for all applicants and petitioners. To prove that a Colombian divorce was registered before the civil authorities, you must bring your birth certificate or Marriage record with marginal note along with original divorce certificates.

 

Thanks!

[Ray87 0]

It means you take a copy of the original document, take it to a Notaria and ask for an Autenticacion. They will seal it and sign it after you pay the fee that's it. If you are in Bogota already, here is a list of Notarias.

 

Quick question, when did you get your LOA 2 (USCIS Approval)? 

[Phil413 14]

2 hours ago, Ray87 said:

It means you take a copy of the original document, take it to a Notaria and ask for an Autenticacion. They will seal it and sign it after you pay the fee that's it. If you are in Bogota already, here is a list of Notarias.

 

Quick question, when did you get your LOA 2 (USCIS Approval)? 

Thanks for the information.  We received NOA 2 on 2021-11-22.

[Phil413 14]

I am preparing to attend a visa interview with my fiancée in Bogota.  I have a divorce decree that was mailed to me years ago but it is not embossed.  However, I also have a divorce certificate (1 page) that is embossed.  Do you think this will be acceptable (both together) at the interview or does the divorce decree itself need to be embossed?

 

Thanks!

[TBoneTX 43,064]

Write Bogota and ask.  But first, read the consulate's instructions of precisely what they want.

I'm not a lawyer, but isn't a divorce DECREE the court-ordered agreement, or the summary thereof?

The certificate, conversely, if embossed, is acceptable to signify an official, final divorce.

[Phil413 14]

6 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Write Bogota and ask.  But first, read the consulate's instructions of precisely what they want.

I'm not a lawyer, but isn't a divorce DECREE the court-ordered agreement, or the summary thereof?

The certificate, conversely, if embossed, is acceptable to signify an official, final divorce.

I emailed the embassy but no answer yet.

 

The instructions say the following "TERMINATION OF PREVIOUS MARRIAGES:  Authenticated photocopies of final divorce decrees, annulments or death certificates are required for all applicants and petitioners. To prove that a Colombian divorce was registered with the civil authorities, you must bring your birth record or marriage record with marginal note along with the original divorce certificates."

 

I still don't know what "authenticated photocopies" means either. I asked that question in another post but it's confusing. Does it mean certified copy? I don't know.

Edited February 8, 2022 by Phil413

[TBoneTX 43,064]

Bogota is certainly quite busy.

 

If it's your (U.S.) divorce decree, see if you can contact the issuing County (or District) Clerk to get an authenticated photocopy, or a cover-letter on their letterhead that simply says, "The attached is an authenticated photocopy of the divorce decree issued on [date] at [location]."

 

County and District clerks are notorious for not wanting to provide even simple assistance like that, so perhaps call your state (not U.S.) representative to stick a pin into the court.  Elections might be coming up, so your politicians should be eager to help.

 

If Bogota replies that what you have is sufficient, great.  If they fail to reply or give a nebulous answer, I recommend that you go to the effort suggested above.  It's better to show up at the consulate with "too much" and not need it than it is to not have what you want, and it sounds as if you realize this.  

[TBoneTX 43,064]

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