I-130 Divorce Documentation question

[Fuentes 0]

I was married previously, and divorced. Do, I need to get a Certified Copy from the court? Or could I just use a verification of divorce from the Dept of Vital Statistics. I don't have my original one. So, I will have to obtain one, just want to make sure I get the right one.

[I & G 1]

Original or certified copy of the divorce decree. A certified copy has a original stamp on it and signature from the issuing authority. Usually it's not from the court but the records keeping authority from your jurisdiction. Make sure it is certified.

[Fuentes 0]

Thanks for the reply.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I was married previously, and divorced. Do, I need to get a Certified Copy from the court? Or could I just use a verification of divorce from the Dept of Vital Statistics. I don't have my original one. So, I will have to obtain one, just want to make sure I get the right one.

In most states, the only thing you can get from the state's department of vital statistics (called "vital records" in some states) is a Certificate of Record. Often, this only contains a record that a divorce case was filed in the state. Sometimes it won't even state whether the divorce was finally granted. USCIS won't accept this in lieu of a certified copy of the divorce decree, but it may be useful for getting preliminary information if you don't know the county the divorce was issued or the case number.

Usually, the clerk of courts office in the county where the divorce was granted is responsible for maintaining original divorce decrees, and they can issue certified copies of the decree. The county will usually have a website which provides information on how to contact the county clerk's office for a certified copy of the divorce decree.

[Fuentes 0]

Jim,

I was looking online yesterday at the website for my state-Vital Statstics, and it said online, I could get the verification record. But I think you are right, it is not sufficient information. I was trying to avoid going to the courthouse, because my divorce was granted in another county. However, I want everything to be right and not rejected so I will need to get an official copy.

Thanks for your input.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Jim,

I was looking online yesterday at the website for my state-Vital Statstics, and it said online, I could get the verification record. But I think you are right, it is not sufficient information. I was trying to avoid going to the courthouse, because my divorce was granted in another county. However, I want everything to be right and not rejected so I will need to get an official copy.

Thanks for your input.

Yeah, I can get them in my state, as well. The problem in California is like I stated - they only confirm that a divorce petition was filed, but don't confirm whether the divorce was ever granted. In addition, the state can take up to six months to process a request for a Certificate of Record for a divorce.

Check to see if the county has a website. You can usually handle this by mail. I got a certified copy of a divorce decree from a county in Ohio. All it took was a photocopy of my driver's license, a check for $3, and a letter requesting the copy. All of the instructions were on the county's website.