Sent Original Divorce Records With I-129F

[Lena and Igor 5]

I'm a December filer and am waiting patiently for NOA-2. Been browsing the Ukrainian portal for a month now. Currently being proactive and trying to obtain my fiance's police clearance from Cape Verde, Africa - what a cumbersome process. No one there seems to want to help so there I'd no other choice but to hire a local English speaking attorney to procure the document for the interview in Kyiv (need approval first). Anyway, my intended question is: since I sent original divorce records with my K-1 app, will photocopies suffice when my fiance appears for the US Embassy Interview (again, pending approval of our app). I was fortunate to hAve spent the better part of October with her in Kharkov and again for a glorious New Year and Orthodox Christmas. Thanks all for reading and God speed!

[Lena and Igor 5]

Clarification: my fiance lived in Cape Verde for 3 yrs in the later 90s.

[jaz00mine 8]

you should have sent the copies and retained the original.....best of luck

[Inky 1,111]

The original is ment to be brought to the interview, copys were to be included in the I-129F.

At the interview the original divorce decree was to be shown and they would keep a copy of it.

See if she can ask for the original back at the interview, you will need it later on for ROC etc.

[Lena and Igor 5]

Yup...that's what I thought. Thanks.

[waitwaitwait 3]

Not sure my advise will help but are you sure UA will require that far back. Did you check with the embassy in UA? I actually skipped the K-1 and found it more interesting to get married in UA so my wife will only need copies. Does you fiancee have residency estabilished in UA she can get a policy report there that should cover the required time and satify the Embassy. i have e mailed them with questions several times and gotten good replys.

[Anh map 2,098]

As a back up plan why not get some certified copies from the court that issued the divorce decree? That way you are prepared in case the originals are not returned or are lost somehow.

[Lena and Igor 5]

Thank you both for your reply. In the meantime I have emailed the Embassy in Kyiv for a clarification on the matter and whether Lena requires the police clearance from her time spent in Africa (over 12 yrs ago) and informing the consular section of the difficulty of acquiring the report. Have not heard back yet (can take up to 10 days for an email reply). Also, Lena has found an old Russian acquaintance who has agreed to file a request for the clearance (happy day). Also also, I have requested an expedited replacement divorce record from the State of Michigan and should receive it within two weeks. Such a learning experience! Good luck with your journey.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Yup...that's what I thought. Thanks.

We did not bring ANY copies or originals of our divorce papers to the interview. They are not required for the interview.

You included them with your I-129f filing. The entire I-129f file will be sent to Kiev prior to your interview. I brought a COPY of everything I had sent to USCIS with the I-129f but was never asked for it and it is not listed as an item needed for the interview.

You can get certified copies opf your divorce papers from the clerk of the court that handled the divorce usually for a small fee.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thank you both for your reply. In the meantime I have emailed the Embassy in Kyiv for a clarification on the matter and whether Lena requires the police clearance from her time spent in Africa (over 12 yrs ago) and informing the consular section of the difficulty of acquiring the report. Have not heard back yet (can take up to 10 days for an email reply). Also, Lena has found an old Russian acquaintance who has agreed to file a request for the clearance (happy day). Also also, I have requested an expedited replacement divorce record from the State of Michigan and should receive it within two weeks. Such a learning experience! Good luck with your journey.

Unless they grant a waiver due to unavailablity, she will need the police record if she lived there for MORE THAN 6 months after age 16. They will sometimes grant that the record not be required. There is actually a list of some of them here somewhere on this site.

[Lena and Igor 5]

Thanks Gary! Been following your input these last few weeks, not stalking but only have learned a lot. Ochen Spasiba!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

We did not bring ANY copies or originals of our divorce papers to the interview. They are not required for the interview.

You included them with your I-129f filing. The entire I-129f file will be sent to Kiev prior to your interview. I brought a COPY of everything I had sent to USCIS with the I-129f but was never asked for it and it is not listed as an item needed for the interview.

You can get certified copies opf your divorce papers from the clerk of the court that handled the divorce usually for a small fee.

I will make a correction to my own post. The instructions in P3 state divorce papers are required and I had a copy of ours from our I-129f filing and was never asked for it. We DID have to present Alla's (not mine) marriage certificate to show a name change (if any) which she never changed her name, but we showed it anyway.

Edited February 8, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[Lena and Igor 5]

Clarification: spasiba bolshoye!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks Gary! Been following your input these last few weeks, not stalking but only have learned a lot. Ochen Spasiba!

Pazhalsta!

Clarification: spasiba bolshoye!