Decree Absolute and Divorce Decree. Are they the same?

[godsrule 7]

Hello Everyone. I am abit lost here. I am filling for K1 visa and I want to know if the document Decree Absolute is just one page document cos that's what the Higher court in Nigeria gave my fiancée. I read somewhere someone saying he got four pages of the divorce decree. Are they two different documents and is d Decree absolute just one piece of paper? Secondly the one that was sent with the I129F was just a photocopy is that ok or are we suppose to certify it before sending to USCIS ?

[ErinO 9]

I had jus 1 page of decree absolute and 1 page of decree Nisi. Oh yes it needs to be certified with the foreign affairs. I did mine in Abuja and it wasn't an easy task but hey I finally got there. Also the court where it was divorced also need to make sure it's signed and certified on their part as foreign affairs would send it back to them for the authenticity. Goodluck

[godsrule 7]

ErinO thank you for the response. I will like to explain much better to you what I have with me maybe you can help me understand this better. My fiancée is the USC and she is d divorcee too. The marriage and the divorce both took place. In Edo state. The document she sent to me to take with me to d interview when the time comes is called the DECREE ABSOLUTE. Which was sign by a judge and also have the seal of the high court embossed on it. So I don't have Decree Nisi but just this piece of paper stating that the marriage is dissolved that Decree is made final and absolute. My question is that do I still need to certify this because like I said earlier it was signed and stamped with d seal of the High court. My fiancée only made a photocopy of the original that she sent with the I129F package is that a problem? Please if anyone out there is familiar with this situation can you add your advice on what to do? This is really confusing right now. I wait to hear from you guys.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

In regards to the photocopy it is ok to just send the copy to USCIS with your initial package. Bring the original to the interview.

[ErinO 9]

Hi Godsrule I would love to help as much as I can..we have each others bk on here. Ok here is what I have: DECREE NISI DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE, CERTIFICATE OF DECREE NISI HAVING BECOME ABSOLUTE AND CERTIFICATE OF JUDGMENT. Note that evryones case is different. My husband is the USC when he started the whole filing process I gave him the 3documents(all original,signed and stamped by the judge in Abuja) only for USCIS to reject them stating it has to have a "seal" honestly at this point we kept wondering what seal again as its been signed and stamped in court by d judge. My husband sent the 3documwnrs back to me via Dhl to tke it back to the court to have it stamped and signed again which I did by paying afresh to have that done..the court didn't understand what else I wanted as I didn't need all that hassle but I insisted. I then sent it back to my husband via Dhl and he sent it to USCIS and guess what ..it was rejected again saying its not the original "seal" stamp! We went crazy and frustrated cos they won't tell u exactly what seal. He spoke to them and they said it has to bear the original seal. We lost several months becos of this, if u go thru my timeline u would see this is what delayed our process. So finally I went to meet the lawyer who did my divorce case..he kinda got confused too cos he was looking at original court stamp and signature of the judge..luckily a second lawyer walked in(his colleague) heard the conversation and then said what they mean is the seal from FOREIGN AFFAIRS! Apparently any document leaving Nigeria e.g school results etc need to be authenticated by the the foreign affairs b4 it can be authentic abroad. Mehnnnn it was a nightmare but finally I took it to foreign affairs and it took about 3days(heard it tkes longer) cos i knw someone who works there to have it all sealed&signed! And I sent it back to my husband and guess what...they accepted it and gave us an interview date! This is what delayed our process for months. So il advice anyone out there to do this homework well unless its not applicable to u. GOODLUCK and hope this helps.

[godsrule 7]

Thank you Erin0 for taking your time to explain in detail. Like you said I think its different cases for different folks. I think u did the spouse visa and we are doing the fiancé visa. Since d original is required at the embassy here in Nigeria then I don't think they need the seal from the foreign affairs. In your case you have to send the originals abroad while we sent a photocopy instead. Perhaps I have to go to the foreign affairs to get this seal if it comes to that can u give me d address in Abuja and did you pay any amount of moey to get this done? Will it be ok to ask your contact there if S/he can help to make it faster. Can I do it on behalf of my fiancée? I really appreciate the time and effort you have put into this for me. Regards.

[godsrule 7]

@Ebunoluwa. Thanks for your input to this topic. Do you know about this Divorce document for K1 visa? It seems Erin is filing for Spouse Visa and maybe the method is different for a K1 visa in terms of the certificate etc. What can you say about that?

[ErinO 9]

Like u sed ur document is required in Nigeria and not in the U.S so it could be different. I really don't knw about the K1 as mine was a spousal visa and I'm d divorcee not my husband. I married in Lagos and divorced in Abuja where I lived at the time. The foreign affairs is in d central area of Abuja FCT (any cab Wud tke u there) it's a popular place in the central area of Abuja but the security is quite tight there and be prepared to wait a while if u don't knw anyone there also beware of touts who would wanna skim u off in d name of getting u in. Mine was pretty straight fwd as I knw someone but if u dont and wanna do it d fast way ul be looking at 15-20k but if u go in thru the normal process it's less(u knw our naija pple).

Honestly u might not have to go thru this route cos urs iz k1 ..I wish someone who's gone thru this as a k1 Wud help out. As for me this is my journey, this is what I went thru to hv dat divorce document authenticated. Also u mentioned its not urs but ur fiancée's..I honestly don't knw if u can do it on her behalf. U knw wht..I think u Wud be fine cos I knw the k1 visa usually bring their documents along to the interview so if they need to verify anything they can do it there and then. So u shud be fine ok. Goodluck!

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

@Ebunoluwa. Thanks for your input to this topic. Do you know about this Divorce document for K1 visa? It seems Erin is filing for Spouse Visa and maybe the method is different for a K1 visa in terms of the certificate etc. What can you say about that?

I was thinking the same thing when I read it .....that the difference is you are filing for a K1. I hope you have someone comment who actually went though your same situation to confirm. The question is what copy of what seal/stamp etc is needed even if a copy is accepted for USCIS.

I am not familiar with the details to a Nigerian divorce decree.

[godsrule 7]

Thanks to you Erin0 and Ebunoluwa. I sincerely appreciate your responses. I guess I will leave the document the way it is till am asked otherwise. I wish you guys good luck in your journey. Thanks.

[bukaldrinio 4]

I had my interview a and was approved but my passport was sent back the next day....they said they want to verify my divorce decree from high Court and that I should not send back my passport while sending back what the need I should obtain from the court........ I hope the process won't be long.......anyone in the house that have experienced this??

[Ujay 0]

On Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 5:45 PM, bukaldrinio said:

I had my interview a and was approved but my passport was sent back the next day....they said they want to verify my divorce decree from high Court and that I should not send back my passport while sending back what the need I should obtain from the court........ I hope the process won't be long.......anyone in the house that have experienced this??

Can you mail me on Dmoses843@gmail.com

[bukaldrinio 4]

13 hours ago, Ujay said:

Can you mail me on Dmoses843@gmail.com

Send me message

[Zaynab Fatai 127]

On 12/13/2017 at 5:45 PM, bukaldrinio said:

I had my interview a and was approved but my passport was sent back the next day....they said they want to verify my divorce decree from high Court and that I should not send back my passport while sending back what the need I should obtain from the court........ I hope the process won't be long.......anyone in the house that have experienced this??

Hello, concerning the divorce decree. Was it sorted out afterwards and have you received your visa? I am in same situation. Had my interview in May, 2018. Picked up my visa packets days after. And after 2 weeks I was told to return the packets as they need to verify my husband’s divorce certificate which was obtained in Ikeja high court. My status on ceac still states “Ready” since then and nothing has been heard. Kindly share your feedback 

[bukaldrinio 4]

36 minutes ago, Zaynab Fatai said:

Hello, concerning the divorce decree. Was it sorted out afterwards and have you received your visa? I am in same situation. Had my interview in May, 2018. Picked up my visa packets days after. And after 2 weeks I was told to return the packets as they need to verify my husband’s divorce certificate which was obtained in Ikeja high court. My status on ceac still states “Ready” since then and nothing has been heard. Kindly share your feedback 

I'm still in AP......they ask for for my business ducuments after I sent them the divorce verifications......they said that they are consulting with Washington DC and waiting for clearance