ATTENTION JULY FILERS!

[Jeraly 4]

Which date? There's the received date and the notice date... I can't remember if we even have both on the spreadsheet!!! AAhh!! Time for X Factor!!!

[Bill y Bella 0]

But I don't understand what notaries do and what we would need them for...

RE: Notary

This is just the way I understand it.....

The notary is an official witness, they witness that it IS the signature of yourself or "MR. Who Ever" on a legal document, they are not concerned with the contents of the document itself.

When you go to a notary take official identification, (a passport is probably ideal but I'd suggest having a couple other forms of ID as well, just in case) they need to know who you are, they need to confirm who is signing the document. When they notarize a document they make an entry/log, usually in a book, they will note down the ID taken (D.L. number, passport number), the date etc....and they might take a sample of your signature in their book as well, (it has been a few years since I have done this...so not sure....things may be different now....all on computer). Being that they are witnessing the signature, you should sign the document in from of them as well. By having something notarized; if you are ever taken to court you can not deny having signed the document.

With the I-134 you, the petitioner and the co-sponcer(s) are entering into a legal agreement with the U.S. Government saying that you agree to take financial responsibility/support the beneficiary for a specific period of time and if you fail to do that they can come after you in court for compensation, should the beneficiary require public assistance. If it ever came down to that, by requiring the notarized signature they are just making sure that their case is cinched up.

The notary procedures you describe are still the current procedures. Everyone should remember not to sign the document until they are in front of the notary. Also as mentioned, the bank is the best place to go in the US. In my experience the service is usually free at a bank for their customers and maybe for non customers also. If someone needs to pay, I think that anything over $10 would be unreasonable.

I am not sure that the I-134 info in the post is technically correct although it seems logical. I have read several times on VJ that the I-134 is not really binding on the guarantor but the I-864 is. Here is a link to some posts on the topic.

[Rob & Jin 0]

pretty dismal week for approvals

[chris4gretchen 1]

$12.00 is the most legally that you can be charged by a notary public. i just spoke with one a few weeks ago. if you are charged more than that something is wrong.

Chris

[Bforbarree 4]

But I don't understand what notaries do and what we would need them for...

RE: Notary

This is just the way I understand it.....

The notary is an official witness, they witness that it IS the signature of yourself or "MR. Who Ever" on a legal document, they are not concerned with the contents of the document itself.

When you go to a notary take official identification, (a passport is probably ideal but I'd suggest having a couple other forms of ID as well, just in case) they need to know who you are, they need to confirm who is signing the document. When they notarize a document they make an entry/log, usually in a book, they will note down the ID taken (D.L. number, passport number), the date etc....and they might take a sample of your signature in their book as well, (it has been a few years since I have done this...so not sure....things may be different now....all on computer). Being that they are witnessing the signature, you should sign the document in from of them as well. By having something notarized; if you are ever taken to court you can not deny having signed the document.

With the I-134 you, the petitioner and the co-sponcer(s) are entering into a legal agreement with the U.S. Government saying that you agree to take financial responsibility/support the beneficiary for a specific period of time and if you fail to do that they can come after you in court for compensation, should the beneficiary require public assistance. If it ever came down to that, by requiring the notarized signature they are just making sure that their case is cinched up.

The notary procedures you describe are still the current procedures. Everyone should remember not to sign the document until they are in front of the notary. Also as mentioned, the bank is the best place to go in the US. In my experience the service is usually free at a bank for their customers and maybe for non customers also. If someone needs to pay, I think that anything over $10 would be unreasonable.

I am not sure that the I-134 info in the post is technically correct although it seems logical. I have read several times on VJ that the I-134 is not really binding on the guarantor but the I-864 is. Here is a link to some posts on the topic.

Yes, I had been looking into the document requirements on the US Embassy London web site, I ran across info on the I-864 which was contrary to what I understood to be what I would need, initially I found it very confusing but I found an answer....see direct quote below and link if you'd like to see the whole page.

"What about the fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen who is applying for a fiancé(e) visa?

An I-864 is NOT required when applying for a fiancé(e) visa. An I-864 will be required at the time the fiancé(e) visa holder applies to adjust his or her status from nonimmigrant to conditional resident with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS)."

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/i864.html

I have not read the threads on the I-864 here on VJ but from what I read on the above page, direct from the Embassy, the I-864 is for immigrant visas only and the K-1 and the K-3 ARE non-immigrant visas. I assume this is because the K-1 (I have not looked further into the K-3 as it is irrelevant to my situation) is only valid for 90 days and the person holding the visa is not actually eligible for any sort of immigration until they wed. So, because of this it seems you need the I-134 at your Embassy interview to satisfy their requirements to grant you the K visa to enter the US to wed, then later you will need the I-864 for the AOS after you are in the US and married. You'd think one document would be enough....but they are different government agencies........red tape.....WHAT A PAIN!!

[Bforbarree 4]

Thanks for the info - that is really helpful - hopefully we will get our NOA2 soon so we can get it all sorted!! Are there any other documents/forms/red tape that need to be sorted for the next stage of the process?

Below is a link to the US Embassy London Document Checklist

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/docs169.html

One possible snag that we luckily came across: the UK "short form" birth certificate is not acceptable at the Embassy interview....that was exactly what my S.O. had so we ordered a certified "long form" from the council where he was born. We did this over the internet on a Thursday night (cost £7.00) and it arrived the following Monday....really fast.

For anyone that is unsure the UK "short form" B.C. only states your NAME, SEX, DATE OF BIRTH AND PLACE OF BIRTH.

It does not have the names of your parents etc...

[Abby-Ron 8]

$12.00 is the most legally that you can be charged by a notary public. i just spoke with one a few weeks ago. if you are charged more than that something is wrong.

Chris

Well not necessary true.. For the signature, $10 per signature is the most the notary public can charge in the State of California for common notaries such as aknowledgements and jurats. But if the notary agent goes to you (called a mobile notary agent) and you meet them for them to sign the document and have it notarized, then they can charge a service fee for them going to you, usually $50.00 on top of the signature fee. I know coz Im a Mobile Notary Public Signing Agent commissioned in the State of California. Too bad I can't notarized my own I-134 haha..

Edited November 17, 2007 by rlpolo78

[Jeraly 4]

It all sounds so complicated...

[Bill y Bella 0]

I doubt seriously if there are national notary regulations so the maximum permitted fee will probably vary by state.

In any case, at least in my experieince this is a very simple process. Whenever I need something notarized, I run down to the local bank branch and they do it for me in a few minutes at zero cost.

Too bad they don't issue visas also.

[KGSodie 0]

I doubt seriously if there are national notary regulations so the maximum permitted fee will probably vary by state.

In any case, at least in my experieince this is a very simple process. Whenever I need something notarized, I run down to the local bank branch and they do it for me in a few minutes at zero cost.

Too bad they don't issue visas also.

"Too bad they don't issue visas also. " You got that right! Wouldn't it be amazingly wonderful if getting the visa was as easy as getting married is (in most places, anyway)? Sign a few forms, perhaps a quick test or two, and viola - here's your visa!

[fiance visa 0]

On November 16, 2007, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

[rae_and_scott 1]

YAY!! Congratulations!!

[fiance visa 0]

Thankyou!! Wishing Fast approvals to all

[Ursa Tripudio 2]

pretty dismal week for approvals

Cheer up friend!!! You are SOOOO close.

And... We're not far behind you.

[Jeraly 4]

Gratzies on the approval!!! Good to see more mid-July filers getting approved... means I might be getting a bit closer anyway.... At least I hope....

*worries*