I got an RFE!

[Toastburglar 0]

I got an RFE! whoo hoo!

thats all I have to say about that

[SpiritAlight 1]

As per "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" :

DON'T PANIC!

Kidding aside, you really do not need to worry.

So many people get through these RFEs so effortlessly.

Are they requesting thingies that are hard to get??

[Chica Yeyé 41]

what did they ask for?

[Delicia 1]

The answer is 42.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Sorry hon!

Just send back what they request...shouldn't put you behind too much!!!

[trailmix 77]

Well rats! Anyway, really, not to worry, once you fire the info back to them they really do resume the case right away - so overnight it and get it back to them and it will all be approved in no time!

Hang in there!

[Toastburglar 0]

they wanted an original of our marriage certificate. . . apparently a certified copy is not good enough for them

John already made the shortcut cover page and overnighted it (but it was too late to go today, so it will be sent tomorrow. . . they should get it monday I guess)

bah! I was this close to getting a may interview, wasn't I?

anyways, at least we know where we stand (and I know where my towel is too)

[LindaB 0]

they wanted an original of our marriage certificate. . . apparently a certified copy is not good enough for them

John already made the shortcut cover page and overnighted it (but it was too late to go today, so it will be sent tomorrow. . . they should get it monday I guess)

bah! I was this close to getting a may interview, wasn't I?

anyways, at least we know where we stand (and I know where my towel is too)

I am just filling out my DS-230 and it says it can be a certified copy, why would they give you an RFE?

[trailmix 77]

they wanted an original of our marriage certificate. . . apparently a certified copy is not good enough for them

John already made the shortcut cover page and overnighted it (but it was too late to go today, so it will be sent tomorrow. . . they should get it monday I guess)

bah! I was this close to getting a may interview, wasn't I?

anyways, at least we know where we stand (and I know where my towel is too)

I am just filling out my DS-230 and it says it can be a certified copy, why would they give you an RFE?

Hi Linda,

Actually it doesn't say a certified copy (as we know it) is acceptable - it's just poorly worded in the instructions.

When we talk about certified copies we generally take that to mean that you take a photocopy and go to a notary and have it notarized. They say 'certified' but it is the little part at the end of that sentence that changes the meaning:

"The applicant and each family member who will accompany the applicant to the United States will need to submit the following original documents or certified copies of the documents listed in this section from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity)".

So what they are REALLY saying is they want the original that we as Canadians, for instance, get from a registry office. Now really that is just a certified copy as the 'original' is locked up in the Provincial Vault or wherever they put such things. So the one you order from the registry is really the 'certified copy' they refer to.

Edited March 15, 2008 by trailmix

[LindaB 0]

they wanted an original of our marriage certificate. . . apparently a certified copy is not good enough for them

John already made the shortcut cover page and overnighted it (but it was too late to go today, so it will be sent tomorrow. . . they should get it monday I guess)

bah! I was this close to getting a may interview, wasn't I?

anyways, at least we know where we stand (and I know where my towel is too)

I am just filling out my DS-230 and it says it can be a certified copy, why would they give you an RFE?

Hi Linda,

Actually it doesn't say a certified copy (as we know it) is acceptable - it's just poorly worded in the instructions.

When we talk about certified copies we generally take that to mean that you take a photocopy and go to a notary and have it notarized. They say 'certified' but it is the little part at the end of that sentence that changes the meaning:

"The applicant and each family member who will accompany the applicant to the United States will need to submit the following original documents or certified copies of the documents listed in this section from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity)".

So what they are REALLY saying is they want the original that we as Canadians, for instance, get from a registry office. Now really that is just a certified copy as the 'original' is locked up in the Provincial Vault or wherever they put such things. So the one you order from the registry is really the 'certified copy' they refer to.

We went to the courthouse here in Bellingham and got a certified copy from them with their seal on it which is exactly the same thing as the original one we got when we got married. That should work shouldnt it?

[KarenCee 3]

When we went to pick up our marriage certificate, we told the secretary we needed two certified copies. We submitted one with our AOS and kept the other one. Not sure what the cost is for other places, but ours were only $5 each. All that to say, we interpreted the instructions to say they wanted the original certified copy, not a copy of the copy.

[Toastburglar 0]

I have no idea why ours didn't work. . . it was really a copy we ordered directly from the courthouse where we got married. we're not even sure which one is the original. . . John looked at them really closely and one looks like it has the original signatures written in pen, so we sent that one, and we also sent the one we got the first day we went to the courthouse (before the waiting period and the official 'marriage') so hopefully the combination of the two will get us through

I think it's just because for some reason they don't look like official documents, they look like forms someone messily filled out and photocopied. I don't know why that is, maybe we just got married at a sh1tty courthouse. LOL

[trailmix 77]

I have no idea why ours didn't work. . . it was really a copy we ordered directly from the courthouse where we got married. we're not even sure which one is the original. . . John looked at them really closely and one looks like it has the original signatures written in pen, so we sent that one, and we also sent the one we got the first day we went to the courthouse (before the waiting period and the official 'marriage') so hopefully the combination of the two will get us through

I think it's just because for some reason they don't look like official documents, they look like forms someone messily filled out and photocopied. I don't know why that is, maybe we just got married at a sh1tty courthouse. LOL

Yes, it's hard to say sometimes what they REALLY want. When you say Bellingham Linda I assume you mean Wash. State. I had to order my Grandparent's marriage certificate from there, as they were married in Seattle. Did that online and it came from some gov. organization (I could go dig it out of the box, but it's early in the morning haha).

Marriage Certificates - Washington State

Ordering Certified Copies of Vital Records

For recent marriage certificates from the last 4 months: contact the county auditor where the license was filed.

For certificates from January 1, 1968 to four months before the present: order through the Center for Health Statistics

Edited March 16, 2008 by trailmix

[LindaB 0]

I have no idea why ours didn't work. . . it was really a copy we ordered directly from the courthouse where we got married. we're not even sure which one is the original. . . John looked at them really closely and one looks like it has the original signatures written in pen, so we sent that one, and we also sent the one we got the first day we went to the courthouse (before the waiting period and the official 'marriage') so hopefully the combination of the two will get us through

I think it's just because for some reason they don't look like official documents, they look like forms someone messily filled out and photocopied. I don't know why that is, maybe we just got married at a sh1tty courthouse. LOL

Yes, it's hard to say sometimes what they REALLY want. When you say Bellingham Linda I assume you mean Wash. State. I had to order my Grandparent's marriage certificate from there, as they were married in Seattle. Did that online and it came from some gov. organization (I could go dig it out of the box, but it's early in the morning haha).

Marriage Certificates - Washington State

Ordering Certified Copies of Vital Records

For recent marriage certificates from the last 4 months: contact the county auditor where the license was filed.

For certificates from January 1, 1968 to four months before the present: order through the Center for Health Statistics

Thanks Trailmix, we did get our copy from the County Auditor with their official seal on it so hopefully that will be Ok. We mailed the DS-230 and the Affidavit of Support off yesterday, so hopefully every thing will go through OK. Then case complete and the wait for my interview in Montreal....yippee

[trailmix 77]

Thanks Trailmix, we did get our copy from the County Auditor with their official seal on it so hopefully that will be Ok. We mailed the DS-230 and the Affidavit of Support off yesterday, so hopefully every thing will go through OK. Then case complete and the wait for my interview in Montreal....yippee

Here's hoping you both get a zippy 'case complete' from NVC!