Hello, I'd like to introduce myself...

[arwen 8]

My name is Arwen and I've been lurking around in the background for quite some time now, mainly gathering useful information that I'm going to need very shortly ( I hope)

First of all, a great big thankyou to all you people who make this site what it is. You all are such a huge help to all those thousands of anxious, paranoid people out there who are sweating out the visa process. You are all very much appreciated

I am a British citizen who has been living in Italy for the past 19 years and finally after 4 years of doing the long distance thing my partner I have decided to take the plunge. Now, we are right at the beginning of our visa journey and to be honest I'm starting to feel very daunted by it all already. It all just seems soooooo overwhelming! We filed 19th of August and they received the packet and cashed the cheque. We are now just waiting..... In the meantime I have been preparing the documentation that I will need to take to my interview (when it happens) I have already obtained police certificates and I have an appointment for my vaccinations very soon. I was vaccinated as child, but the records got lost along the way, so I had an antibodies blood test done. I will take all this evidence with me to the medical examination and hopefully I will not need any further vaccinations.

Please allow me to ask a question, stupid as it may seem, but can someone please clarify the meaning of 'copies' of documents, ie police certificates/bith certificates/ Italian residency certificate. Does this mean photocopies or some kind of certified copy? I'm kicking myself now because when I sent off for my police certificates, I only asked for one copy, Duh! As for my birth certificate I have the orginals, both long and short with the beautiful cursive handwriting they used long ago. When you hand over these orginals, do they give them back when they are done with them? I'm a bit nervous of parting with orginal documents... I don't care about the police certificates, but I obviously do about my birth certificate....

So, will they accept photocopies? I will show them the originals at the interview.

Many thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read and answer my post.

Arwen

[Canadiandggal 49]

photocopies

Unless it says CERTIFIED than just use a scan or a photocopy machine make a copy for yourself as well

Edited November 23, 2010 by Canadiandggal

[pushbrk 12,894]

My name is Arwen and I've been lurking around in the background for quite some time now, mainly gathering useful information that I'm going to need very shortly ( I hope)

First of all, a great big thankyou to all you people who make this site what it is. You all are such a huge help to all those thousands of anxious, paranoid people out there who are sweating out the visa process. You are all very much appreciated

I am a British citizen who has been living in Italy for the past 19 years and finally after 4 years of doing the long distance thing my partner I have decided to take the plunge. Now, we are right at the beginning of our visa journey and to be honest I'm starting to feel very daunted by it all already. It all just seems soooooo overwhelming! We filed 19th of August and they received the packet and cashed the cheque. We are now just waiting..... In the meantime I have been preparing the documentation that I will need to take to my interview (when it happens) I have already obtained police certificates and I have an appointment for my vaccinations very soon. I was vaccinated as child, but the records got lost along the way, so I had an antibodies blood test done. I will take all this evidence with me to the medical examination and hopefully I will not need any further vaccinations.

Please allow me to ask a question, stupid as it may seem, but can someone please clarify the meaning of 'copies' of documents, ie police certificates/bith certificates/ Italian residency certificate. Does this mean photocopies or some kind of certified copy? I'm kicking myself now because when I sent off for my police certificates, I only asked for one copy, Duh! As for my birth certificate I have the orginals, both long and short with the beautiful cursive handwriting they used long ago. When you hand over these orginals, do they give them back when they are done with them? I'm a bit nervous of parting with orginal documents... I don't care about the police certificates, but I obviously do about my birth certificate....

So, will they accept photocopies? I will show them the originals at the interview.

Many thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read and answer my post.

Arwen

Unless a "certified copy" is specifically requested, you send a "photocopy" sometimes a photocopy of a certified copy. Your question indicates you have not yet carefully studied the I-129F instructions. Doing so is critical to your ultimate success.

[SunDrop 59]

Welcome to the madness!

Question about copies already well answered, but just wanted to point out that depending on your age and location as a child, it's quite possible that you've never been immunised for MMR. Also, if you've not been anywhere exotic or had any accidents in the past 10 years, the likelihood is that your TDaP is out of date.

Most UK or EU residents find that they need an MMR and TDap. Dunno how they charge for jabs in Italy, but usually if you wait 'til the Panel Physician decides if it's needed or not, you'll be paying private fees for them.

Search the forum for immunisation requirements and you should get a link to the current list posted on the relevant website.

[Sarah-JAX 0]

for the poilice certificate they will keep the original and for the birth certificate they wanna see the original but only keep a copy

[arwen 8]

Unless a "certified copy" is specifically requested, you send a "photocopy" sometimes a photocopy of a certified copy. Your question indicates you have not yet carefully studied the I-129F instructions. Doing so is critical to your ultimate success.

Hello there, to be honest I hadn't looked at the I-129F instuctions because I wasn't aware that I had to do anything. My partner sorted all that out because he is the US citizen and it was down to him to file for the visa. I'm sure he did an excellent job as he followed visajourney's step by step instructions! He made a complete copy of the packet for me which I have here in Italy.

[arwen 8]

Welcome to the madness!

Question about copies already well answered, but just wanted to point out that depending on your age and location as a child, it's quite possible that you've never been immunised for MMR. Also, if you've not been anywhere exotic or had any accidents in the past 10 years, the likelihood is that your TDaP is out of date.

Most UK or EU residents find that they need an MMR and TDap. Dunno how they charge for jabs in Italy, but usually if you wait 'til the Panel Physician decides if it's needed or not, you'll be paying private fees for them.

Search the forum for immunisation requirements and you should get a link to the current list posted on the relevant website.

Thankyou for prompt reply and extra information. My antibodies test resulted in me being immune to everything except Mumps. I've been told already that if there isn't a vaccine just for mumps I'll have to have the MMR. As for the TDAP...yep, that's a must! Last time I had one of those i was about 10! Hehehe

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hello there, to be honest I hadn't looked at the I-129F instuctions because I wasn't aware that I had to do anything. My partner sorted all that out because he is the US citizen and it was down to him to file for the visa. I'm sure he did an excellent job as he followed visajourney's step by step instructions! He made a complete copy of the packet for me which I have here in Italy.

You don't need to read the I-129F instructions if you aren't the one filing the petition. Don't worry about.. him... he gets his jollies off trying to make people feel stupid.

Your part is coming up though so you DO need to study the packet 3 stuff, the stuff for the visa (the petition you are right is the USC's part). There is a link above called "embassy info". Scroll to your embassy and hopefully it has listed what to expect once you receive NOA2 and eventually packet 3 (here is the french one for example: http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=France&cty=Paris ). Have a look at your consulates website as well to see if they have anything there (I had a quick look and couldn't find anything really). Also post in the regional forum (here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/95-europe-eurasia-except-the-uk-and-russia/ )

Good luck!

**Edit - post edited to make me look less stupid :S The OP is in Italy, not france as I posted :S

Edited November 23, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[arwen 8]

You don't need to read the I-129F instructions if you aren't the one filing the petition. Don't worry about.. him... he gets his jollies off trying to make people feel stupid.

Your part is coming up though so you DO need to study the packet 3 stuff, the stuff for the visa (the petition you are right is the USC's part). There is a link above called "embassy info". Scroll to your embassy and hopefully it has listed what to expect once you receive NOA2 and eventually packet 3 (here: http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=France&cty=Paris ). Have a look at your consulates website as well to see if they have anything there (I had a quick look and couldn't find anything really). Also post in the France consulate forum (here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/95-europe-eurasia-except-the-uk-and-russia/ ) this thread would be helpful for you too: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/45156-franceamerica-couples/

Good luck!

Thanks very much, that was very kind of you! I've already found the link to the Naples (Italy) consulate. I think I'll find some handy information there!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks very much, that was very kind of you! I've already found the link to the Naples (Italy) consulate. I think I'll find some handy information there!

DAng.. sorry i didn't check the flag properly.. ugh. i'm an idiot. Oh well. You still found it

[arwen 8]

DAng.. sorry i didn't check the flag properly.. ugh. i'm an idiot. Oh well. You still found it

Absolutely not! You were being helpful....and that's nice!