Can someone help me, please, with concerns I have about my fiancée’s birth certificate and divorce documents?

[302Z28 0]

We are preparing our K1 (she lives in China) and I’m worried if the birth certificate and divorce documents she sent me are sufficient. She doesn’t seen to have an actual “birth certificate” as such, so what she sent me was a notarized letter called a “Notarial Certificate” (along with the proper translation and certification papers) which states: “This is to certify that (her name), female, was born on (date) at (location). Her father’s name is (name) and her mother’s name is (name).” Then it is signed by the notary and includes a stamp and a seal. Does anyone know for certain if this is sufficient? She says they told her at the notary office this is what she needs.

She also does not seem to have her actual divorce decrees (2), so again she obtained a “Notarial Certificate” (again including properly translated papers and the stamp and seal) for each divorce stating that she is divorced from the ex (with names and dates). Again, is this sufficient?

Also, one of the divorce certificates (from the first marriage) says that she and the ex were “registered” for divorce (followed by the date and location), but it doesn’t actually say the word “divorced”. Does that cover it or not?

Thanks very much for your help,

Tom

[wodengdaini 0]

Yes, that is what the official certificates look like from China.

The birth is fine as you mentioned (it should also have a passport picture of her on the front page glued to it).

For the divorce, she should have her little divorce book. Almost looks like a passport with pages (just about the same size). The notarial will make a zerox copy of that book, and then do the same translation and make it into a white book, page for page (the book will only be 2 inside pages, with 3-4 very short lines of words telling what the terms of the decree are). Just like the birth. She will also need a single certificate if you are K1. This is different from the divorce decree, but again, it is made into a book, just like the birth certificate is, translated and all with the red seal too. The final one will be the police certificate, again, made into the white book, translated and with the red seal.

The single certificate and police will expire in one year from issue, so don't get those until your petition leaves the NVC and heads to Guanghzou (she will have plenty of wait time to P3).

The birth and divorce never expire.

Make sure you get some extra copies made at the same time as you will need them later here in the states. If she gets them made at the same time, the 3d copy is cheap, and if you want more the price goes down even more. The first 2 will be expensive.

You only need 1 each of the police and single, again as they both will expire and are no use later after her interview (unless you/she just want an extra one for a costly souvenir).

[Bunnyqr 0]

I don't know about China, but my fiance sent me his divorce petition with english translation and I got a RFE. They said that the petition is not sufficient and they need the actual final divorce certificate with english translation. Also, the english translation has to state that it is a full translation of the document and that they are competent to translate the document. I hope this helps.