absolute divorce decree

[Stu4Lee 66]

In England, decree nisi is no evidence or proof that a marriage is/has been dissolved and that either party is free to remarry. It does not end the marriage and is a provisional decree only.

A decree absolute is the legal document that ends your marriage. Once you have a decree absolute, you are divorced, no longer married and free to marry again if you wish.

[L+T 71]

In England, decree nisi is no evidence or proof that a marriage is/has been dissolved and that either party is free to remarry. It does not end the marriage and is a provisional decree only.

A decree absolute is the legal document that ends your marriage. Once you have a decree absolute, you are divorced, no longer married and free to marry again if you wish.

Yes, this is same in USA, divorce must be absolute before you can re-marry. In the case of the OP, it appears they already sent an un-certified Absolute copy, so therefore the USCIS has requested the nisi as further evidence. Otherwise, USCIS would have asked for certified decree absolute as opposed to divorce decree signed by Judge.

[Nigel&Meggie 40]

Thomas70 clearly has not been divorced in the UK. I have. None of the documents - decree nisi, decree absolute, or otherwise - carry a judge's signature. The decree absolute has a red court seal. I received the same RFE as the OP. I returned a copy of the decree absolute with an explanation that these are not signed by a judge in the UK. USCIS accepted this and I got my NOA-2.

I did speak to a solicitor in the UK after receiving the RFE to see what to do. The solicitor told me the same thing- judges don't sign divorce decrees in the UK. The only way to get a signed copy is to write a letter to the court asking for a copy signed by a judge. They charge a fee and you have to wait a week or two. The official divorce decree does not have a judge's signature, but if you want to pay the court, they will sell you a signature. Another option that is cheaper and quicker is to have a solicitor certify that it is a geniune legal document. Again, this is not required by USCIS.

[Sherri+Dave 0]

Thanks to everyone that helped with our question...we're sending in the new paperwork Monday. Fingers crossed!

Good luck to all!

S

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I wanted to post a follow up to this discussion. Sherri posted in another forum:

Hello the divorce decree with the note worked! Thank you so much for your help! We've received our NOA2 this week, hardcopy, and are anxiously anticipating hearing more news (good news!).

She got her NOA2 about a week after posting off a note saying UK divorce decrees do not have a signature and another copy of the decree....maybe with the highlighting suggested??

[Richard Turnbull 0]

I have exactly the same situation!!

A letter arrived yesterday asking for signed copies, does anyone have any advice for me (as a UK citizen).

Could it be that they need both the Decree Absolute AND the Decree Nisi??

Many Thanks

Richard

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to UK Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is country-specific~

[mlh 93]

I have exactly the same situation!!

A letter arrived yesterday asking for signed copies, does anyone have any advice for me (as a UK citizen).

Could it be that they need both the Decree Absolute AND the Decree Nisi??

Many Thanks

Richard

See my post (and others) in the thread below. Nothing to do with the the Nisi...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/577989-rfe-for-final-uk-divorce-degree/

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I have exactly the same situation!!

A letter arrived yesterday asking for signed copies, does anyone have any advice for me (as a UK citizen).

Could it be that they need both the Decree Absolute AND the Decree Nisi??

Many Thanks

Richard

No they don't want the Nisi. My advice is the same as always and has resolved the problem for many people

• A color copy so the red seal shows up. (Later ones have blacks stamps)
• Yellow highlighter over the sentence from "it is hereby certified that said decree...." and continuing to "...marriage was thereby dissolved."
• Highlight DATED:xxxxxxxx
• Yellow highlighter on the teeny, tiny print in the footer that says "Decree of Absolute (divorce)"

I would repond with a letter saying something like, I believe the request for evidence to be in error because divorce decrees in the United Kingdom are not signed by a judge, but rather stamped with the seal of the court. I am again submitting a copy of my [husband's/wife's] United Kingdom Decree Absolute which is stamped in red by the [name of court however it's written on the seal]. Then send a copy with the highlighting to point it all out to them.

[AMZJ 61]

You can get a copy signed by a judge it costs £50 for the judge signature and £10 for the copy. If I get an RFE this is what I am doing. Along side a highlighted copy of the decree of absolute.

[DJ6372 111]

This whole problem is becoming tiresome, there are many threads about it

The UK absolute is not signed and has always been acceptable

Something wrong is going on at the NVC/USCIS because all of a sudden RFE's for this are becoming common

We had an identical problem that was resolved by my wife speaking to a supervisor at NVC and going through the absolute word by word

Even that doesn't seem to working now

Its stupid situation to be in, what is the answer? Getting an official document signed is ridiculous, but seems to be the only answer to this stupid situation!

Hang in guys n girls, you WILL get to the US!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

This whole problem is becoming tiresome, there are many threads about it

The UK absolute is not signed and has always been acceptable

Something wrong is going on at the NVC/USCIS because all of a sudden RFE's for this are becoming common

We had an identical problem that was resolved by my wife speaking to a supervisor at NVC and going through the absolute word by word

Even that doesn't seem to working now

Its stupid situation to be in, what is the answer? Getting an official document signed is ridiculous, but seems to be the only answer to this stupid situation!

Hang in guys n girls, you WILL get to the US!

I agree. I wouldn't spend money to go get something special signed. That just reinforces the person who gets the response into thinking the signed document is the proper decree. It isn't. I hate when people waste money out of nervousness, when it is the person checking your documents who is uninformed.

[AMZJ 61]

I agree. I wouldn't spend money to go get something special signed. That just reinforces the person who gets the response into thinking the signed document is the proper decree. It isn't. I hate when people waste money out of nervousness, when it is the person checking your documents who is uninformed.

I am hoping that this doesn't become an issue for me too. I sent in a photocopy of my decree absolute, if I end up getting an RFE for it it'll be un-needed added stress. They deal with so many cases from the UK, surely they should know by now. This has been going on years you'd think they'd tell them. I guess we could get a cover note from the court as well as highlighting the paperwork if it came down to it. It just adds un-needed stress to the process when there is so much more to be worrying about.

[JFH 12,190]

I am hoping that this doesn't become an issue for me too. I sent in a photocopy of my decree absolute, if I end up getting an RFE for it it'll be un-needed added stress. They deal with so many cases from the UK, surely they should know by now. This has been going on years you'd think they'd tell them. I guess we could get a cover note from the court as well as highlighting the paperwork if it came down to it. It just adds un-needed stress to the process when there is so much more to be worrying about.

I have made a very clear colour photocopy of mine (so that the red stamp shows) and highlighted the appropriate words. I agree with you, they must see dozens of UK decrees absolute. They are written in English and it is quite clear what it is if you read through the document.

[AMZJ 61]

I have made a very clear colour photocopy of mine (so that the red stamp shows) and highlighted the appropriate words. I agree with you, they must see dozens of UK decrees absolute. They are written in English and it is quite clear what it is if you read through the document.

Mine is a divorce from early 2015. They do not have a red stamp it's black and it is 100% not a copy, it's the original divorce decree that I got from the court.