Documents from Russia

[Henykat 16]

My wife is nervous about sending her original birth certificate and our marriage certificate through the post. Have any of you had experience with obtaining certified copies of those at ZAGS? I've read here that the police certificate doesn't need to be translated. Just curious if that is still the case since it is a 3 year old post. Thanks for the help!

[OKflyboy 35]

My wife is nervous about sending her original birth certificate and our marriage certificate through the post. Have any of you had experience with obtaining certified copies of those at ZAGS? I've read here that the police certificate doesn't need to be translated. Just curious if that is still the case since it is a 3 year old post. Thanks for the help!

ZAGS does not issue any copies. Your wife should make photocopies and then take those along with the originals to a notary public.

[Henykat 16]

Strange because NVC thinks they do

"Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Certificates

Available. Certified copies of these documents may be obtained by applying to the Bureau of Acts of Civil Status (ZAGS) of the locality having custody of the records."

[OKflyboy 35]

Strange because NVC thinks they do

"Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Certificates

Available. Certified copies of these documents may be obtained by applying to the Bureau of Acts of Civil Status (ZAGS) of the locality having custody of the records."

She can try. From my personal experience, they don't. My experience is a few years old, though. It also may depend on the local office. You never know what a certain ZAGS thinks they're supposed to do...

[Henykat 16]

Well, she already got a certified copy of our marriage certificate from ZAGS in Moscow and will be getting the birth certificate from another location so the answer is: they are available.

[Terry&Tigger 4]

I've read here that the police certificate doesn't need to be translated.

the police certificate does need to be translated, you might want to read instructions at the US embassy website, www.usembassy.ru.

May I ask, why would she send any documents by mail? I think spouses bring all the documents with them to the interview, just like fiancees...

Edited November 3, 2010 by Terry&Tigger

[Henykat 16]

the police certificate does need to be translated, you might want to read instructions at the US embassy website, www.usembassy.ru.

May I ask, why would she send any documents by mail? I think spouses bring all the documents with them to the interview, just like fiancees...

It was my understanding that these things have to be sent to NVC before an interview is scheduled.

[Rob_Lesya 4]

It was my understanding that these things have to be sent to NVC before an interview is scheduled.

You are correct Henykat.

The process for a CR1 visa is different than that for a K1 visa, especially at the NVC stage. You will send the original documents, along with translations, to the NVC at the same time that you submit your DS-230. Make sure that you also send a set of plain photocopies of these documents to the NVC at the same time. All of this will be placed in your file and sent to the Embassy for the interview. It is usually a good idea for the spouse to also bring copies of the documents with them to the interview -- just in case. Once the interview is completed, if the officer doesn't offer to return the original documents, the interviewee should ask about having them returned. As long as photocopies have been submitted which can remain in the file, then the originals will be returned.

As for the translation of the Police Certificate --- you'll always get conflicting answers on this forum about whether it's really required or not. Frankly. it really doesn't matter what the "correct" answer is --- just think about it simply and logically. If the translation is needed and you don't submit it, you'll receive an RFE and delay your case for weeks, possibly even months. If the translation is not needed and you DO submit it, then there's no harm done. Go ahead and do the translation and submit it.

[visaveteran 1]

My memory is those original documents you send to the NVS are returned in that mysterious sealed envelope, marked DO NOT OPEN, that arrives with the visa via DHL The one you surrender at POE.

We got everything back but I was nervous .

[Henykat 16]

You are correct Henykat.

As for the translation of the Police Certificate --- you'll always get conflicting answers on this forum about whether it's really required or not. Frankly. it really doesn't matter what the "correct" answer is --- just think about it simply and logically. If the translation is needed and you don't submit it, you'll receive an RFE and delay your case for weeks, possibly even months. If the translation is not needed and you DO submit it, then there's no harm done. Go ahead and do the translation and submit it.

Thanks. The only reason I am asking about not translating the police certificate is because it's the only thing we don't have yet. I hope to have it by next weekend. If so, then translation isn't going to delay anything.

[Henykat 16]

My memory is those original documents you send to the NVS are returned in that mysterious sealed envelope, marked DO NOT OPEN, that arrives with the visa via DHL The one you surrender at POE.

We got everything back but I was nervous .

Thanks for the info. I thought you got originals back after the interview. Katya went ballistic when I said she needed to send me her original birth certificate. And I can imagine she'd be a little nervous leaving Russia not knowing it was in the mysterious envelope. We'll be avoiding the stress about her originals since she has the certified copies from ZAGS.

Edited November 6, 2010 by Henykat