Original or photocopies of documents?

[NaCl 2]

Apologies in advance if this question has been answered several times before, but after reading ds-230 guides, NVC section on USCIS website and other forum posts I'm still not 100% clear on the issue.

What needs to be sent with DS-230? Just original copies, original copies and photocopies, just photocopies, nothing at all???? Also, if copies are sent do they have to be certified or are photocopies sufficient as they will be inspecting the originals at the interview?

Applying for IR1/CR1 and our consulate will be AMS The Netherlands and the beneficiary is German. The documents are all currently in the Netherlands with the beneficiary. She will be bringing 1. Marriage cert 2. Birth cert 3. Police records 4. Copy of my IRS transmittal 5. Her passport (duh).

Thanks in advance for the help!

[art646 3]

Apologies in advance if this question has been answered several times before, but after reading ds-230 guides, NVC section on USCIS website and other forum posts I'm still not 100% clear on the issue.

What needs to be sent with DS-230? Just original copies, original copies and photocopies, just photocopies, nothing at all???? Also, if copies are sent do they have to be certified or are photocopies sufficient as they will be inspecting the originals at the interview?

Applying for IR1/CR1 and our consulate will be AMS The Netherlands and the beneficiary is German. The documents are all currently in the Netherlands with the beneficiary. She will be bringing 1. Marriage cert 2. Birth cert 3. Police records 4. Copy of my IRS transmittal 5. Her passport (duh).

Thanks in advance for the help!

Only originals or certified. NVC sends originals to the embassy.

Edited February 12, 2011 by art646

[NaCl 2]

I don't know where I got the idea that you brought the originals with you to the interview... I swear that I read it some place. For some reason I thought I read too on one of the guides that around the time you get you're NOA2 you should apply for PCC...

I hope I haven't screwed us over too bad with this mistake.

Second question: Does anybody know if the visa applicant can provide an English translation of their own PCC provided that it has the magic words on it?

[misterbigtoe 45]

I don't know where I got the idea that you brought the originals with you to the interview... I swear that I read it some place. For some reason I thought I read too on one of the guides that around the time you get you're NOA2 you should apply for PCC...

I hope I haven't screwed us over too bad with this mistake.

Second question: Does anybody know if the visa applicant can provide an English translation of their own PCC provided that it has the magic words on it?

The reason for getting your police certificate at NOA2 time is so that it is "fresh" when it is sent to the NVC as most PCC have an expiration date some as short as 3 months. All documents submitted to the NVC must be originals or copies of the originals that have certified by the issuing agency. Uncertified photocopies will not be acceptable and will result in a RFE.

There are a few lines of thought on translations. Some say that the translation is not required if in the language of the country where the interview takes place, others hold that foreign language documents must always be translated. The DOS instructions are somewhat vague in their wording and use the verbage

"All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:

• Translation is accurate, and
• Translator is competent to translate."

So what it boils down to is, where is the application being made?

In our case and using an abundance of caution, translations of all civil documents were provided. Most were translated using an official translation bureau and had the registered stamp and signature, but no statement of certification yet they were accepted by USCIS and apparently by NVC. Only the PCC was translated by my wife and in that case she signed the certification language. DOS does not explicitly limit who may perform the translation only that they must sign the certification.

Hope my rambling is helpful

[NaCl 2]

No, very helpful. Thank you. My wife is German, but living in NL so the official local language is Dutch and her PCC is in German. Obviously she is able to understand English and German and write both as well. We just weren't sure if they would have problems with the applicant themselves furnishing translations as they could potentially knowingly mistranslate lines to hide or change information.

All our other documents are in English.

We just got our txt/email NOA2 notification and requested the PCC, but were told it could take 3-4 weeks. I know a 1-2 week hold up is pretty minor, but as I'm sure you can sympathize with, all I can think of is that every day that we are holding the process up is another day prolonging our reunion. So here's hoping they are on their A game and mail it to us sooner.

Thanks again!

[Darnell 8,478]

originals AND photocopy.

please read DS-230 - http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3190.html page 4, again.

[calibob 73]

I didn't think NVC was needing photographs or photocopies, just original documents with the exception of the photocopied biographical page from the beneficiary's passport. A little help here someone??

Thanks.....

Bob

[Darnell 8,478]

Hi Bob - did you read page 4, at all ?

[calibob 73]

Yes Darnell, I did. If you look to the top of the section in the middle of the page it states "Interview Preparation" and the previous page was "documents the applicant must submit" Kind of confusing for this simpleton. I had to re-read the page 1 and it said ALL MUST SUBMIT 2 PHOTOs. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!!

Bob

[Gosha.Bee 1]

Page 3 is the one, I think.

It does say "bring original documents to the interview". I think I'll just obtain two of each when I get them for the NVC. 2 birth certs and PCCs. This way I'll make sure I don't run into problems. It's not that expensive, at least in Poland.

Worth a try.

[calibob 73]

Darn Darnell.........I'm wrong again......THANKS!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully we'll avoid a RFE. We'll submit BOTH the original and photocopies of all documents requested. How many copies???

Bob

[Darnell 8,478]

ya know, that link is in my notes, and the 'bits' covered in page 4 were always about civil documents to submit into nvc

however - if'n yer not seeing mondo cool stuff on page 4 pertaining to civil documents, then it's time for me to reread the entire thing, I'll even hazard a guess that the entire content has changed (again).

grrr..

watch this space.

ok la - it's page 3 -

here's the page 3 link - http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html

[calibob 73]

It has I think......been trying to get myself as agent using the shortcut template listed here. Called NVC just now and they want it on the form they send to the beneficiary. You can print it, fill it out , scan and email it back. Otherwise I think they're ignoring all emailed formats. Hope this helps someone!!

Bob

[Darnell 8,478]

nah - you get a different answer each time, CaliBob -

you probably thought you had a nice, pointed question to ask, of that NVC TeleOperator -

but - it doesn't matter - just use the DS-3032 EMAIL TEMPLATE at http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Email_DS-3032_form and follow the instructions EXACTLY, paying particular attention where the word 'beneficiary' is used.

[calibob 73]

Darnell,

We used the EXACT template and got a response back asking us to follow the directions. The form has a barcode on it (for easier tracking I'd presume). That was the form he requested sent back, not in any other form. Hope I'm wrong though. The first time we sent it, it had the petitioners name first, we got no response......second time ,no response......third time I read the directions on the website and it had beneficiary's name / info first and that's what I put and they sent the last response. I then called and got that answer. Hope I'm wrong and nothing has changed but maybe it has. Don't know but we're sending in the info as requested in the format requested.

Bob