Question RE Divorce Decree

[homeward bound 0]

Is it true that the British courts do not sign Decree Absolute cartificates. It is issued by the court with their stamp. My solicitor has offered to write a letter stating this is a genuine Decree Absolute and that the courts do not sign them. There must be someone on this visa forum who has come against this surely??

[Ian + Anne 0]

Is it true that the British courts do not sign Decree Absolute cartificates. It is issued by the court with their stamp. My solicitor has offered to write a letter stating this is a genuine Decree Absolute and that the courts do not sign them. There must be someone on this visa forum who has come against this surely??

This is correct, all that happens is that it is typed out and stamped (Red stamp) by the court that issued the decree.

If you want a certified copy of the divorce, visit the court that issued it and ask for one of the clerks there to certify it.

[homeward bound 0]

But they are now asking for a signed decree by a judge or a legal authority by the UK resident. My solicitor is willing to write a letter stating that they don't sign it - will this be enough evidence?

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

I hope so - mine looked so fake that I sent away for another that's franked by the courts seal.

Maybe a letter from my solicitor would be good too.

Although, these guys are used to seeing them they will know the score - especially in the British Consulate one would imagine.

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

Tell me, how exactly do you know they are now asking for a signed decree by a judge or a legal authority by the UK resident? Did you read this somewhere? Is this your solicitor's advice?

[homeward bound 0]

Tell me, how exactly do you know they are now asking for a signed decree by a judge or a legal authority by the UK resident? Did you read this somewhere? Is this your solicitor's advice?

This is an RFE from the USCIS. They are the ones requesting this information even though they already have a copy of the divorce decree. I don't know what else to do?

[English Muffin 59]

You were posting at the same time as me so my reply no longer makes sense.

Edited December 18, 2007 by English Muffin

[homeward bound 0]

But they are now asking for a signed decree by a judge or a legal authority by the UK resident. My solicitor is willing to write a letter stating that they don't sign it - will this be enough evidence?

Who is asking?

See the above reply to Eli. This is what the USCIS is requesting for further evidence.

[homeward bound 0]

Did it have the stamp or was it signed? USCIS states that it has to be signed.

[*julez* 124]

I have heard of this problem with a UK Decree Absolute once before. That person asked the court to draft a letter stating that the Decree Absolute is an official document which does not bear a signature and attached it to an original copy of the decree absolute. It was on letterhead of the court and signed by a court clerk. That did satisfy USCIS.

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

I bet this is the new people processing cases and having never come across these before they don't know what to make of them.

I'd better ring the court house and get that letter ordered for my RFE.

Fun, eh?

R

[Ian + Anne 0]

Seems that the change of hands has started, USCIS under new management = new staff = not trained for the job they are doing, this is what you get when you sub-contract out work to the 'Privite Sector' !! (See posts about USCIS under new Management and Wage cuts).

[*julez* 124]

I bet this is the new people processing cases and having never come across these before they don't know what to make of them.

I'd better ring the court house and get that letter ordered for my RFE.

Fun, eh?

R

When I sent in our petiton, the court had faxed the decree absolute to my fiance's solicitor, who then scanned it and emailed it to me. I printed it off and included it our I-129f packet and was approved just a few weeks ago. We did have an original sent to me in the meantime, just in case of an RFE.

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

Well julezabelle I think that sum up my suspicions - paperwork that was fine a few weeks/months back is now being RFE'd ... maybe!!!

[*julez* 124]

Well julezabelle I think that sum up my suspicions - paperwork that was fine a few weeks/months back is now being RFE'd ... maybe!!!

It has always been thus. I have heard of this RFE a few times before this one. What is good for one adjudicator is not enough for another, but I suspect inexperience with what each country's documents look like plays a big role in the RFE requests.