Originals vs copies at USEM interview

[xwind 10]

Hi, one thing that I'm having trouble understanding is which documents will we need copies of and how many originals should my fiance have for her K1 interview...

For example, she only has 1 original NSO Birth certificate, 1 original annulment documentation, 1 original NSO CENOMAR. Will USEM return these documents back to us or will they take them? I was thinking of having her request another set of NSO originals just in case, because I want to make sure we have our own originals.

As far as copies, do we need to photocopy EVERYTHING? passports, births, annulment papers, I129F package, NOA1 and 2 orig and copies, chat logs, photos, financial / travel evidence....

If so, that's a lot of paperwork! Should we just have an extra folder for all the copies, and keep the main stuff in a separate folder?

Thanks.

[hellraiser 42]

I am not getting it. You can have one original document. How can you have more than one at the same time?

The embassy may want to look at the originals but will not keep them. Try must return all original documents. So if I were you, I would take the originals with copy. During interview I will submit the originals and ask them back if they don't retuen and ask them keep copies.

Good luck

[Greenbaum 12,260]

xwind, on 28 Jan 2015 - 6:46 PM, said:xwind, on 28 Jan 2015 - 6:46 PM, said:xwind, on 28 Jan 2015 - 6:46 PM, said:

Hi, one thing that I'm having trouble understanding is which documents will we need copies of and how many originals should my fiance have for her K1 interview...

For example, she only has 1 original NSO Birth certificate, 1 original annulment documentation, 1 original NSO CENOMAR. Will USEM return these documents back to us or will they take them? I was thinking of having her request another set of NSO originals just in case, because I want to make sure we have our own originals.

As far as copies, do we need to photocopy EVERYTHING? passports, births, annulment papers, I129F package, NOA1 and 2 orig and copies, chat logs, photos, financial / travel evidence....

If so, that's a lot of paperwork! Should we just have an extra folder for all the copies, and keep the main stuff in a separate folder?

Thanks.

The best place to get your initial questions answered is by visiting Hank's handy dandy K1 guide. http://visaconnection-philippines.com/#

Also, use the information from here: http://manila.usembassy.gov/kvisas.html

and here: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3224.html

Here is an excerpt from USEM

ORIGINAL CIVIL DOCUMENTS

Immigrant Visa applicants are required to bring original civil documents to their scheduled visa interview. The consular section will need the original documents (no photocopies) for evaluation and final case processing. Please take note that this is not applicable to original Affidavit of Support forms which will still be submitted to NVC.

Applicants who appear for an interview without the original documents will be advised to reschedule the interview by visiting the online appointment website at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph or by calling the Embassy’s Visa Information and Appointment Service at (632) 976-8500, (632) 976-8501 or (632) 976-8502.

Please complete your timeline and update your profile as we do not know what visa you are chasing and our answers to your questions will hinge on which visa.

Thanks.

Edited January 29, 2015 by Greenbaum

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi, one thing that I'm having trouble understanding is which documents will we need copies of and how many originals should my fiance have for her K1 interview...

For example, she only has 1 original NSO Birth certificate, 1 original annulment documentation, 1 original NSO CENOMAR. Will USEM return these documents back to us or will they take them? I was thinking of having her request another set of NSO originals just in case, because I want to make sure we have our own originals.

As far as copies, do we need to photocopy EVERYTHING? passports, births, annulment papers, I129F package, NOA1 and 2 orig and copies, chat logs, photos, financial / travel evidence....

If so, that's a lot of paperwork! Should we just have an extra folder for all the copies, and keep the main stuff in a separate folder?

Thanks.

Follow the embassy instructions letter, it states what can be copies. No you do not photo copy everything. You do NOT need copies of the I-129F, NOA1 (or NOA2 for that matter) or originals at all. - total waste of paper.

You DO need copies of your tax return and W2, the I-134 needs to be an original. COPIES of chat logs (just a sampling - don't get crazy), any thing that is evidence of a genuine relationship bring copies. Documents from NSO and NBI.. originals.

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/1178798/29DEC2014/K1%20and%20K2%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20-%20English%20_updated%2029%20DEC%202014_.pdf

I am not getting it. You can have one original document. How can you have more than one at the same time?

The embassy may want to look at the originals but will not keep them. Try must return all original documents. So if I were you, I would take the originals with copy. During interview I will submit the originals and ask them back if they don't retuen and ask them keep copies.

Good luck

That is not true, the embassy will keep copies of all originals, they will not make copies and return the originals.

Edited January 29, 2015 by Hank_

[manilaraf 28]

I am not getting it. You can have one original document. How can you have more than one at the same time?

The embassy may want to look at the originals but will not keep them. Try must return all original documents. So if I were you, I would take the originals with copy. During interview I will submit the originals and ask them back if they don't retuen and ask them keep copies.

Good luck

Hellraiser, things are different here in the Philippines vs over there in Bangladesh. (Which is why I only reply and give advice here and in the DCF forum)

You can request multiple "original" copies of official documents issued by the Central Gov't (the National Statistics Office). I personally have 3 original copies issued by the NSO of my Birth Certificate, Wedding Certificate, Wife's BC, etc.

Copies are photocopies.

To the OP:

Follow the instructions given to you by the Embassy as to what is needed regarding original vs copies.

I went the extra mile to get extra originals of everything because once we're both in the States, it'll be a severe pain in the butt to get official documents here in the Philippines. Just food for thought, before you guys finish things up.

[xwind 10]

We haven't received our instructions from the Embassy yet, I'm just starting to prepare what we need. Ok, so let me get this straight... Obviously we need to bring all our originals to the interview, but as for photocopies, we'll most likely need a photocopy of all the legal documents at least (NSO issued docs) or whatever the instructions end up saying.

I'm still confused about which ones USEM gets to keep. The USEM site that Greenbaum kindly linked says "Consular officers may ask to see originals of documents. The applicant may submit a photocopy of a document along with the visa application, but should bring the original document for the officer’s inspection." and then Hank_ said "the embassy will keep copies of all originals". What I'm trying to avoid is USEM taking our only original of whatever doc. I think my solution is to have my fiance request additional "original" copies from NSO, like what manilaraf did, so we have extras just in case USEM takes our originals.

[luckytwo15 13]

We haven't received our instructions from the Embassy yet, I'm just starting to prepare what we need. Ok, so let me get this straight... Obviously we need to bring all our originals to the interview, but as for photocopies, we'll most likely need a photocopy of all the legal documents at least (NSO issued docs) or whatever the instructions end up saying.

I'm still confused about which ones USEM gets to keep. The USEM site that Greenbaum kindly linked says "Consular officers may ask to see originals of documents. The applicant may submit a photocopy of a document along with the visa application, but should bring the original document for the officers inspection." and then Hank_ said "the embassy will keep copies of all originals". What I'm trying to avoid is USEM taking our only original of whatever doc. I think my solution is to have my fiance request additional "original" copies from NSO, like what manilaraf did, so we have extras just in case USEM takes our originals.

Some here in VJ say they didn't receive their instructions in the mail from the USEM and some say they received theirs. It is mailed from the USEM to the fiancée in the PI. My fiancée seems to be one of the few who received the letter and it was dated one week after our NVC MNL letter.

The USEM letter link Hank provided in this thread has all the same info as the what the USEM mails out.

Edited January 29, 2015 by luckytwo15

[Hank_ 9,174]

We haven't received our instructions from the Embassy yet, I'm just starting to prepare what we need. Ok, so let me get this straight... Obviously we need to bring all our originals to the interview, but as for photocopies, we'll most likely need a photocopy of all the legal documents at least (NSO issued docs) or whatever the instructions end up saying.

I'm still confused about which ones USEM gets to keep. The USEM site that Greenbaum kindly linked says "Consular officers may ask to see originals of documents. The applicant may submit a photocopy of a document along with the visa application, but should bring the original document for the officer’s inspection." and then Hank_ said "the embassy will keep copies of all originals". What I'm trying to avoid is USEM taking our only original of whatever doc. I think my solution is to have my fiance request additional "original" copies from NSO, like what manilaraf did, so we have extras just in case USEM takes our originals.

What originals are you concerned about keeping?

USEM wants the NBI, NSO BC, NSO CENORMAR originals ... you want originals of those order extra while there. I suggest you get a couple extra NSO birth certificates to bring stateside.

Read the instructions letter.

[xwind 10]

What originals are you concerned about keeping?

USEM wants the NBI, NSO BC, NSO CENORMAR originals ... you want originals of those order extra while there. I suggest you get a couple extra NSO birth certificates to bring stateside.

Read the instructions letter.

For her NBI, they might only give her 1 original paper. For her BC, CENOMAR and Annotated Marriage Certificate, we only have 1 of each. So if USEM doesn't return those to us, then we won't have any to bring stateside....you know...just for our own records or just in case we need them later. I'll go with what you said and have her order extras from NSO.

The instructions letter you linked said "We will try to return documents that you submitted and asked us to return, but do not give us anything that cannot be replaced. Make copies of important documents and submit copies along with the originals you want returned to you." makes it sound like we just need to show them the originals and then they'll take the copies. Seems ambiguous to me... especially with all the talk about them keeping originals. Again, we'll get extras anyway. Once we go through the process I'll try to update this thread with exactly which papers did they take from us, for everyone to know.

Thanks for all the replies! It was really helpful!

[Hank_ 9,174]

For her NBI, they might only give her 1 original paper. For her BC, CENOMAR and Annotated Marriage Certificate, we only have 1 of each. So if USEM doesn't return those to us, then we won't have any to bring stateside....you know...just for our own records or just in case we need them later. I'll go with what you said and have her order extras from NSO.

The instructions letter you linked said "We will try to return documents that you submitted and asked us to return, but do not give us anything that cannot be replaced. Make copies of important documents and submit copies along with the originals you want returned to you." makes it sound like we just need to show them the originals and then they'll take the copies. Seems ambiguous to me... especially with all the talk about them keeping originals. Again, we'll get extras anyway. Once we go through the process I'll try to update this thread with exactly which papers did they take from us, for everyone to know.

Thanks for all the replies! It was really helpful!

You can get as many copies of the NBI & NSO documents as you want - just pay the fee.

Will not need the NBI or NSO CENOMAR once in the USA, you will need the NSO birth ceritificate in the states - USEM will not return these, this is well known.

Oh... CFO will want to see the NSO CENOMAR but will only keep a photocopy, so if you do not have two of the CENOMAR your options are to attend CFO before the interview or have two CENOMAR.

Details in my link below.

[Zedayn 486]

For her NBI, they might only give her 1 original paper. For her BC, CENOMAR and Annotated Marriage Certificate, we only have 1 of each. So if USEM doesn't return those to us, then we won't have any to bring stateside....you know...just for our own records or just in case we need them later. I'll go with what you said and have her order extras from NSO.

The instructions letter you linked said "We will try to return documents that you submitted and asked us to return, but do not give us anything that cannot be replaced. Make copies of important documents and submit copies along with the originals you want returned to you." makes it sound like we just need to show them the originals and then they'll take the copies. Seems ambiguous to me... especially with all the talk about them keeping originals. Again, we'll get extras anyway. Once we go through the process I'll try to update this thread with exactly which papers did they take from us, for everyone to know.

Thanks for all the replies! It was really helpful!

You really should get at least one more NSO birth certificate, as that will also be required for the AOS application. In fact I would get a few of them just in case (so you have them for your records).

[Greenbaum 12,260]

During the interview they want to see the original document but they need a copy for their records. So that is why they are asking for a copy and will return the original. So bring both, copy and original expecting to get the original back and they will keep the copy.

I would get extra original copies of your most important documents like NSO BC. As pointed out by another member, it will be cheaper to have too many copies/originals then if you have to try and get them after you arrive in the states.

[manilaraf 28]

The NBI Clearance that they print out and give you is actually two copies (halves) on one form. Duplicate info on the top half and bottom half.

USEM will probably keep one half/copy. Aside from the Embassy, I'm not sure of any use for the NBI Clearance after that step. Anyone?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Nope, no one else wants the NBI, some do use the personal copy half of the NBI as ID for CFO, but that is about it.

[xwind 10]

Excellent info about the NBI clearance halves! Good to know it's not really needed afterwards. I guess all that's really needed for the US are extra birth certificates, everything else is just for personal records and optional. Maybe I'm just going overboard by making sure we have our own copy of everything.