So who is the applicant anyway?

[US math guy 0]

I am helping my beneficiary wife prepare for her CR-1 Ciudad Juarez consular interview. We both have been previously divorced. The way that I read this interview prep web page

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/in...ges_termination

she will not need to bring an official copy of MY divorce decree, just hers. After all, she is the one applying for the visa, not me. I am already a U.S. citizen.

Agreed?

[Anh map 2,098]

She would want to bring a complete copy of your I-130 submission with her and that would include your divorce decree.

It's safest to bring original/certified copies of documents submitted for a CO to review if they ask.

[US math guy 0]

Anh map, do you have a source? I do have a copy a second copy of the I-130 that I can send her, but I woud rather first know what the basis is for your suggestion. Thanks for your prompt reply.

[Anh map 2,098]

It's based on Murphy's Law. You should bring everything to the interview so that if there is a question, it can be answered. Why risk an RFE if you can have it with you?

Don't rely on every bit of your file to make it to the CO's desk. Things have been known to get lost in the transfer of documents. That's why it's recommended in all of the guides to bring an exact copy along.

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

It's based on Murphy's Law. You should bring everything to the interview so that if there is a question, it can be answered. Why risk an RFE if you can have it with you?

Don't rely on every bit of your file to make it to the CO's desk. Things have been known to get lost in the transfer of documents. That's why it's recommended in all of the guides to bring an exact copy along.

AGREED!

We actually EACH have a copy of EVERYTHING that has been sent and we will BOTH be at the interview EACH with our packet of EVERYTHING.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am helping my beneficiary wife prepare for her CR-1 Ciudad Juarez consular interview. We both have been previously divorced. The way that I read this interview prep web page

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/in...ges_termination

she will not need to bring an official copy of MY divorce decree, just hers. After all, she is the one applying for the visa, not me. I am already a U.S. citizen.

Agreed?

No. I do not agree.

You will risk a chance at a 221 delay because what? You don't want to spend 30 seconds to make a copy of something and spend the extra 5 cents in postage it might cost? Silly reasoning. You spent more time and effort to ask the question. Just send it. I never went to an interview without a copy of everything I ever sent to the USCIS or the consulate. If it is not needed she can just take it right back out with her, if she needs it and doesn't have it, you will feel very foolish.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Anh map, do you have a source? I do have a copy a second copy of the I-130 that I can send her, but I woud rather first know what the basis is for your suggestion. Thanks for your prompt reply.

the basis for my suggestion is repeated bad information from USCIS and consulates. We were told, in writing, in a direct answer to a direct question, submitted in writing, that our son did not need a police certificate from Russia where he is a student. SURPRISE! We DO need one. If I hadn't double checked everything, we would go to that interview un-prepared and he would not get a visa and it would be delayed many weeks!

What if some part of your package does not make it there? Do you realize how many people have had their medical exams lost and had to get new ones? It is an ongoing thread here and even recently generated polls on this site to try and track it to certian POEs, it is that a big a problem. You have to understand, if THEY make a mistake, it is YOUR problem. Do not risk this for the effort of making a copy and sending it.

[US math guy 0]

Thanks all for your comments. I work a lot with computers so I should be more respectful of Murphy's law. Obviously I see your point. Redoing an interview because of possible RFE could be a real pain.

At the same time, I work a lot with IRS regs, so I tend to lean towards actually finding out sources for what people say. I suppose immigration is a very different kind of animal than IRS--we are talking about people's lives, families, etc., after all. And of course most of us are not attorneys.

I must confess what prompted the original question was not so much my personal situation but a comment from another VJ'er wondering if it really it was necessary to get the original divorce decree from the very first marriage of her husband as part of her interview prep. This is his third marriage with her--I think he has the second one. Evidently her husband no longer has a copy and the I-130 sailed through without any problem. I would assume the copy can be had somehow (evidenty the first marriage was in the U.S.A.), but sometimes going after every last document can be a lot more work than just a 5-cent stamp. Especially if you are short on time.

Edited June 15, 2009 by US math guy