Zadan

Can I ask why she did not bring the original with her when she came here?

Kez

She had a certified copy+translation as part of her K1 Visa to come here. Unfortunately I didn't realize it would be confiscated by immigration at the POE.

From everything I've read, you need a certified copy for the application. Just a photocopy of a certified copy will do, if you have one of those. You will need an original certified copy for the interview though. So I would think if you have any sort of copy and either have a copy of a certified translation, or if you can obtain a certified translation locally, you could file using that and meanwhile start the wheels turning on getting a certified copy to bring to your interview. Make sure you don't send the original of your certified translation either, just a photocopy.

Check the instructions and you'll see it mentions that the only originals required to be sent are the forms themselves. Everything else can be copies.

Ok, I think what we'll do then is have her mom obtain a certified copy and translation, scan+email it to us so we can send the I-485--and have her send the originals via snail-mail. By the time the actual interview occurs, we should have the originals on hand.

how long can it take? In moldova, the neighboring country it can be done in 1 day! and if her mom sends it through DHL or something you can have it in 2 days!

Her mom lives in a very small town about 45mins from a nearby city where it could be done and works odd hours, so it's not so straightforward. Otherwise, it could be done in a day there too.

They asked for originals of it at our AOS interview, so better be safe and have it

Ok. Did you just send a copy with your I-485 though?

Does she not have her original birth certificate??? if she does not have this you will need to get one.... you will need it..

Kez

She has her original one but it's back in Ukraine! So it will take awhile to get another certified copy and translation.

They did asked to see my wife's birth certificate at our AOS interview. It was the second that was asked for after the marriage certificate.

You didn't really send in the only copy you had, right? You sent in a photo copy and kept the original or copy you had, right? If not, time to start getting that birth certificate and translation again.

We haven't yet sent in the AoS application, that's why I'm asking. I didn't see it mentioned anywhere.

Hi,

I'm the U.S.C. and married my wife last Nov 24th. She has a SS# now and we've changed her last name (awaiting new card now). She came in on a K1 and went through immigration just fine--but they took her package of documents that had her BC + translation. She does have her own int'l passport.

In the I-485 document I only see that it states: "Attach a copy of the fiancé(e) petition approval notice and the marriage certificate" for K1s (our case).

We are getting ready to send in her AoS application, and the guides here say we need her birth certificate (and English translation). Is that actually true? To get a certified copy at this point would be particularly difficult and would have to be done by her mom back home.

The Embassy will NOT schedule an interview until they have the hard copy of the petition in their system. Once you have the KEV number from NVC get the medical out of the way, and make certain your other needed documents are sent soon.

The lead times for interviews have dropped a bit since this past summer. I think 8 weeks is a stretch, more like 35-45 days right now. I looked through timelines from last fall, and they seem to drop around this time of year, and as some of the announced interview dates have come in over the past several weeks, I think you can expect them to be closer to the range I quoted above.

As you pointed out the mailrooms are bogged down and NVC will see your petition in about a month. Start calling NVC in a couple of weeks to see if they have received it and when they have get the KEV number over the phone.

The NVC rep told me as soon as I had a KEV# I could contact the embassy in Kiev. I did as soon as I got one and it worked.

I recall an official wait-time being listed somewhere on the State Dept. website somwhere for the embassies. Anyone remember where it is?

Hi everyone!

Just got our NOA2 after 153 days of waiting. I know that waiting will continue with recent situation on sending documents from CSC to NVC. Just wanted to ask those of you who recently scheduled interview in Kiev, how long it takes to wait for appointment from the time you call ? Hoping to reunite before Christmas

Thanks in advance

8 weeks. So if you know now that you will have everything by then, get your KEV# handy and call NOW to schedule your interview.

Please help!!!!!

Copy of which passport do you send to NVC Internal or Travel???

By "Travel" I assume you mean whats referred to as your "international" passport? It would be your international passport then, as that is what would be recognized outside of Ukraine.

I tried to make everything as fool-proof as possible and easy. She has never flown before, let alone on a 10hr international flight, been through customs or changed planes etc. So she's going direct to JFK and I'll meet here there. (My original plan was for me to go to Kiev first and accompany her back, but the powers that be thought it would be a waste of money. )

I found that AeroSvit has direct flights from Kiev->JFK several times a week (schedules are listed on their website). Added +10 business days from her interview date, and then found the next direct flight (Oct 19th, 8 days to go!!). She checked the local office prices for a ticket and it was something over $600. If you book online via their website (www.aerosvit.com) it's cheaper ($475) so I did that. Then I got a one-way ticket for her departing from JFK back home for another $220.

Additionally, via orbitz I added trip/ticket insurance for my RT ticket and her one-way from JFK. I believe it was an extra $20-30 or so. Before her interview, I figured the worst case scenario was that I'd have to call and get the flights rescheduled (less a fee, or insurance cost). I've had to change times on AeroSvit tickets before and never had any problem, it was only a matter of going to an AeroSvit rep, and the cost to do so was quite small.

Now, as long as she doesn't get sick before she has to get on the plane, or comes down with ExpensiveProcedureItus once here before we get married. Which brings me to another question: Anyone ever looked into getting temporary health insurance for your fiancee in the interim before you're married and she can be added to your health plan?

My fiancee just had her interview in Kiev and was approved!!! I was a bit worried because she sent me an SMS at 9:40am and said she there was about 200+ people outside. Her appointment was at 9:30am. Searching through VJ, I found reports of others, and told her to try and go in or ask a guard for directions. Previously she had taken a train ride in from Eastern UA and gotten sick on the ride over, making it more of an ordeal. They only asked her one question: "What is the name and family name of your future husband?"

I'd like to thank everyone here, especially in this thread, it's been invaluable! Now I can sleep, or try to.

Bcartr, thanks for the reference.. I just opened it but in the right top corner it says : Expires 07/31/2007... I am not sure if i can use it for NVC..

If you look here:

http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/forms/

They have links to all the 'official' forms right from the state department, which you would think are authoritative, but:

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/81807.pdf

Also has an expiration date of 7/31/2007, so the Kiev website has the same file, and it should be fine to use.

As to your DS-230 question, maybe these threads will be helpful for you:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28708

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1988

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41201

Sounds to me like part II is for the interview, at the bottom it says: "DO NOT SIGN this form until instructed to do so by the consular officer".

If still in doubt, call or email the embassy at KyivIV@state.gov and ask. Hope that helps.

Also see:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/...ing_out_i94.xml

You could even print it out, and fill it out in advance to show her how you would do it.

Agent means the person who will be receiving my correspondence (forms and stuff) from NVC?

Guys, is it a normal situation that our petition was approved August, 7th and we haven't received a hard copy of it (NOA2)from USCIS yet. Hubby called USCIS they said "file i-824 for a duplicate if you want ".. but i-824 is $ 340

maybe we should just wait longer?

Mariya, our I-129F and I-130 were both approved on August 8, 2007 and we still haven't received either of our hard copy NOA2 forms either. USCIS tells me their computer says they mailed them (we know the computer can't be wrong, right? haha). Also as proof that they mailed them, the operator pointed out that they never came back as undeliverable...I tried to explain that to me this seemed like further proof they were probably never sent. In any case, they also told me I can file an I-824 form. Either they are just wanting extra money or are just really really bad.

Anyway, I'm curious...did you ever received your NOA2?

When I got my NOA2, it was about 1-month after the date the NOA2 said it was actually approved. The same goes for my NOA1 too. Go figure. Also, I never received notice from the NVC and the USCIS website says our case is "pending". This despite the fact they did approve it, sent it to the embassy in Kiev, and her interview was scheduled just fine (it's next week, Sep 27th). I've talked to a few folks who had this happen and sailed through just fine and are married now, so I just chalked it up to government incompetence.

I wouldn't bother paying $340 for that I-840 and just be sure to get the info from USCIS and move on. If they say you were approved, you can call the NVC too and get info from them as well (KEV#).

Before I filed for my K1, I asked someone who is an immigration attorney and he told me that the K1 stuff is designed for laymen to be able to do it.

I'd also speculate that having a lawyer sign off as the preparer for all your paperwork might just put your application under more scrutiny than it otherwise would.

It is REALLY easy to look at the example docs on this site, and fill out your name/DOB/parental info, blah blah blah. I wouldn't bother.

My fiancee has her interview in Kiev Sept 27th. I sent her 2 copies of my pay stubs for the last 6 months, 2 copies of my W2s for the past two years, 2 copies of my bank statement, 2 copies of employer statement, and the original notarized I-134. She pointed out to me the other day that one of the documents in packet 3, titled "INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT/K VISA APPLICANTS" (filename "KIEV_INSTRUCTIONS_IMMIGRANT.rtf") has a table on page 5, instruction #12.

The table looks kind of like the KEV checklist. Item No. 3 says "Evidence of support from American fiancee (original or copy)" with two columns checked--one for "copy" and one for "original". She's worried that I did not send her a copy of the I-134 stuff, but everything I read elsewhere seems to suggest it won't be needed. Thoughts?

Like others here I had planned to meet her in Kiev and fly back together but she thought it would be a waste of money, so now I will be meeting her at JFK with my flight arriving domestically 1-hour before her. Apparently all the publicly viewable detailed maps of JFK have been taken down online for security reasons. I'm wondering--where is a good place to meet? I'll arrive in terminal 3 and she in terminal 4. I'm not certain, but when I arrive won't I be in the same "secure zone", and be able to just go over to terminal 4 and wait for her on the other side?

IF you are the beneficiary (the non-US person hoping to get the Visa), then yes, you will need a copy of your birth certificate when you finally interview at the embassy. Aren't you the petitioner though? For the petitioner, the I-129F states that you can substitute copies of your passport for proof of citizenship in your application.

I am (going to be) the beneficiary and for 16 years now I have used a national passport as the main ID like any other citizen of my country. WHY would I need to restore an outdated piece of paper that does not even have my photo on it? Weird.

I don't know, but there are a lot of bureaucratic things still required that are not very useful these days. In another thread I wrote about the g-325a, and found reference to a forum online where a lawyer stated in effect that it was pretty much useless these days and typically ignored. Go figure.

Hopefully it is not too much of a hassle for you to get a new copy from whatever local government office would have such a thing in your country.

I just noticed this example document on another site:

http://www.***removed***/forms/g-325a-sampl...information.pdf

What struck me is that it didn't have the full address of his employers. What annoys me is that there isn't actually enough space to type it, and it'd be nice if it isn't really necessary. I then found this link which poses that quesiton, and has a reply from someone who appears to be a lawyer and suggests its not necessary:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=213151

Specifically, he writes:

My practice is to ensure that the G-325A is accuarate. I am not as concerned that it be complete. For example, on the employment history, I do NOT put in the employer's street address -- I just put the city, eg. "Toyota, Fremont, CA".

Can anyone confirm that? Or comment as to whether they left out the full address and had their application processed just fine. I was going to print it out and stick labels on the document that have a small font so it will fit, re-scan that, print it, and sign it again so it looks all nice and neat. If it's not necessary that will be even better.

Eventually the beneficiary will be asked to submit one for the interview.

Asked to submit BC, even if the passport is submitted as the main ID? Is that really so?

Welcome to dealing with the US Government

Is that a yes?

This sucks! I let my BC perish around the time I got my passport (some 16 yrs ago), since nothing suggested I would need two IDs at any point in my life!

IF you are the beneficiary (the non-US person hoping to get the Visa), then yes, you will need a copy of your birth certificate when you finally interview at the embassy. Aren't you the petitioner though? For the petitioner, the I-129F states that you can substitute copies of your passport for proof of citizenship in your application.

Now see, to me this inconsistency with what they want is what is freaking out so many people, including me. While the actual USCIS site doesn't even request half the things specifically mentioned on this site, there are sporadic cases where they request it. The beneficiary's BC, no photocopied signatures, long form BC...the list goes on and on.

That's exactly what I think too. These forms are supposed to be designed for the layman to be able to easily fill out, submit and process--but they lack clarity and information. The I-129F form itself has places where the wording is ambiguous at the least and misleading at the worst. For example, the first page, section E says:

Copies. If these instructions state a copy of a document may be filed with this petition, you may submit a copy rather than an original. If you choose to send the original, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may keep that original for our records. If USCIS requires the original, we willrequest it.

It then goes on to mention documents that you can get copies of (passport, birth certificate, etc) yet nowhere does it say you can or can't send a copy of the I-129F itself. It mentions that "original statements" of intent are required, but doesn't mention that they need to have original signatures and dates. When I first read that, I thought "oh of course I'll have originals..I'll type one and she can type one, and then I'll send them copies." But that doesn't fly. I suppose you could deduce that without original signatures, there would be no way to determine if they were "original" but there shouldn't be any guess work!

...

I did a mix of both the site and what is actually requested and while i will probably get a few RFEs, i will try to remain optimistic and not freak out with worry. Don't get me wrong, VP is a great site and i'm so glad it exsists. I'm just frustrated with the halfhearted job the USCIS is doing. It's like they are doing everything they can to get in the way of legal immigration. My apologies for the rant, and i hope i haven't hijacked the thread too much.

We try to create forms and instructions that are accurate, can be easily understood and that impose the least possible burden on you to provide us with information. Often this is difficult because some immigration laws are very complex.

The estimated average time to gather the requested information, complete the form and include it with the appropriate application or petition for filing purposes is 15 minutes. If you have any comments regarding the accuracy of this estimate or suggestions for making this form simpler, write to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20529; OMB No. 1615-0008. Do not send your form to this Washington, D.C. address.

IMHO they have failed at making it easy to understand and on imposing the least possible burden on us. Also, 15 minutes is hard for me to believe. The g-325a form doesn't have enough room in the employment section--only one line to fill in the full name and address of each employer. Additionally, I bet there is the same complaint process available for the I-129F form. All they would need to do would be to add/clarify some instructions on the I-129F, and make the employer section of the g-325a have multi-line input.. How hard can it be? Anyway, I think I'll be sending off letters to the above mentioned address to suggest improvements for the I-129F and g-325a tomorrow. Anyone want to join in?

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Bullet point two at the bottom of that page: "Applicants and Petitioners: Applicants and petitioners must sign their respective applications and petitions. The signature must be an original signature."

A photocopy of a signed form wouldn't be an original signature.

Thankyou! That's exactly what I was looking for.

Photocopies can be used for supporting documents, not the documents (I 129f or G325a) themselves.

I suspected as much, but the I-129f doesn't state that. Know of a definitive reference?

There has been some who applied for the I -129- F and received an RFE requesting the beneficiary's BC. Although it is not required , some people send it in anyway, as it is better to be safe than sorry. Then there are some who simply do not send in the beneficiary's BC and are never asked for it while their petition is being processed and are approved . Eventually the beneficiary will be asked to submit one for the interview. It's up to you , but I would think cover your backside and play it safe.

OK, well I have to say that is really lame. If they want it, they should ask for it.

Anyway, this now reminds me of another inconsistency: in the I-129F form it says that you can send photocopies of everything, however, posts from here and elsewhere indicate that you need original signatures on all of your documents. The amount of space they allow for e.g. full name and address of employers is way too damn small too. The whole form in general seems like it was created by someone who doesn't know what they're doing. ("Look ma, I made my first PDF" ... etc)

Hi,

I am currently in the process of gathering everything together to send off my I-129F package to get the K1 VISA. I am the USC and petitioner and I have a copy of my own birth certificate for proof of citizenship, however, I see no mention that I need a copy of her (beneficiary) birth certificate at this stage. Yet, some posts in these forums seem to indicate that it may be necessary. Can someone clarify?