thinking of including orig cert copies in I 129F

[TJandJR 69]

I hope I'm not abusing my posting priv. by posting so many new questions. But I'm learning so much here. Thanks everyone. I have an idea. I've been worried about mailing my original documents to my fiance in Lagos to take to the interview with him to back up the photo copies in my I 129F. Regarding documents such as my certified birth certificate and certified copy of my divorce, I ordered multiple certified copies in case they got lost in the mail so I would have them to mail out again. But I'm thinking, since I have multiples why not just include the original certified copy of my birth certificate and divorce with my I 129 instead of a photo copy? Because I know my file is going to be sent to Lagos. And I can also mail certified copies to my fiance. Everything I have ever mailed there takes weeks to get to him. There are some letters and cards he never received. I just think my documents will have a better chance of arriving there if USCIS sends them to Lagos included in my file. Your opinions?

[tru_loves_journey 117]

I hope I'm not abusing my posting priv. by posting so many new questions. But I'm learning so much here. Thanks everyone. I have an idea. I've been worried about mailing my original documents to my fiance in Lagos to take to the interview with him to back up the photo copies in my I 129F. Regarding documents such as my certified birth certificate and certified copy of my divorce, I ordered multiple certified copies in case they got lost in the mail so I would have them to mail out again. But I'm thinking, since I have multiples why not just include the original certified copy of my birth certificate and divorce with my I 129 instead of a photo copy? Because I know my file is going to be sent to Lagos. And I can also mail certified copies to my fiance. Everything I have ever mailed there takes weeks to get to him. There are some letters and cards he never received. I just think my documents will have a better chance of arriving there if USCIS sends them to Lagos included in my file. Your opinions?

I included Original's of the BC & Divorce degree with the I-129F as I had also gotten extra's. I felt it was better for my peace of mind, I didn't want that dreaded RFE Everything went fine and we had no RFE's during our K-1 process. Your Fiance will still need to show Original's at the interview . My Fiance was ask for those when interviewed. The Best of Luck on your K-1 journey

[TJandJR 69]

Thanks. Yes. I would have better peace of mind if I do it this way. And I will make sure I mail them to my fiance, too. But am curious why they asked for them at the interview if they already had them in the file... Those interview people are strange.

[Pitaya 2,577]

We sent good legible copies of all of our important documents, i.e., Birth/Divorce certs., etc. with all of our assorted petitions and applications, with the exception of the Form I-485, and have had no issues or RFEs. We also had the original documents available for inspection, as mentioned in many of the various official instructions, at the visa interview. We sent a certified copy of our marriage license with the I-485 petition submission. After reading the forum, there seems to be some confusion with the USCIS adjudicators regarding the AOS process and marriage licenses, resulting in RFEs, hence our certified copy submission with that petition.

YMMV.

[TJandJR 69]

I meant to post this to the forum pertaining to Lagos Nigeria but I guess its a general question. The answers and opinions wouldn't be different for Lagos. ???

[Pitaya 2,577]

I meant to post this to the forum pertaining to Lagos Nigeria but I guess its a general question. The answers and opinions wouldn't be different for Lagos. ???

You did post in the sub-Saharan Africa forum. And thus far, you got responses from folks that didn't go through a sub-Saharan African embassy/consulate. From your timeline, it looks like you have a bit of time before Lagos may receive your petition. I would dare say that there are easier embassies/consulates to process visa applications. However, I am of the opinion that Cairo and Guangzhou are NOT in that group. Perhaps you should wait until you receive a suitable response to you before making a decision?

YMMV.

Good luck on your visa journey.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Lagos tends to be tougher than other places. It may be to show that you are truely in touch with the person you are petitioning for. It may also be to check the validity of his documents. Nigerians are known for producing fake documents. As for cards and letters, those sometimes have a horrid success rate. It seems if they fall into the hands of less than honest postal people they are "inspected" for money and the process for continuing the process after "inspection" is poor. Try postcards they usually make it.

[Dana and Divine 61]

If you need to send original documents to Nigeria, I suggest FedEx. It is more expensive (around $80 USD for up to 1 pound) but I've had a 100% success rate.

It would be easier and safer to add the originals with your petition. Remember, NVC asks specifically for original documents as well.

Side note: You can never ask too many questions! God bless and good luck to you!

[ErinO 9]

I hope I'm not abusing my posting priv. by posting so many new questions. But I'm learning so much here. Thanks everyone. I have an idea. I've been worried about mailing my original documents to my fiance in Lagos to take to the interview with him to back up the photo copies in my I 129F. Regarding documents such as my certified birth certificate and certified copy of my divorce, I ordered multiple certified copies in case they got lost in the mail so I would have them to mail out again. But I'm thinking, since I have multiples why not just include the original certified copy of my birth certificate and divorce with my I 129 instead of a photo copy? Because I know my file is going to be sent to Lagos. And I can also mail certified copies to my fiance. Everything I have ever mailed there takes weeks to get to him. There are some letters and cards he never received. I just think my documents will have a better chance of arriving there if USCIS sends them to Lagos included in my file. Your opinions?

hi jus thot I chip in here might be helpful. My case Wud have bn completed by end of August but we received a "checklist" email stating my Certified Divorce certificate doesn't have the original seal from the appropriate authority and I kept wondering what authority apart frm the court which it was issued to me in Abuja.Only for me to go back to the court asking if they actually gave me the original copies and they checked my file and said yes they did. I showed the court registra their email to me and he was like "ohhhh they need the seal from Ministry of foreign affairs" becos any document like that must go thru MFA for them to be valid abroad such as school result etc!

So I went there..wasn't an easy task but I thankGod someone introduced me to this very nice man who works there that helped me out in no time.

What they did was to write to the court asking if the divorce actually took place in their court and the court replied and wala!! Got the seal and I jus Dhl it to my husband this wk so hopefully il be getting an interview date as this is all they r waiting for before they can consider my case complete.

Oh and also I had to get another certified copy from the court cos NVC had my original.

So jus letting u in on this.

GOODLUCK!

[dwheels76 5,468]

What I have learned and this is maybe also a reason why you are asked for originals at interview is USCIS doesn't return as you see originals. Thats why they onlt ask for photcopy. Since you are going to be a K1 you won't be dealing with NVC so originals will be presented at interview. You will just have to decide on FEDEX, DHL, UPS to deliver or someone going over (I just had someone take my husband a 58 lb suitcase). <BR><BR>And don't worry about asking a million questions. I filed 9 months after we married. How you think I got so many posts. LOL Ask away dear thats what we are all here for to contribute and learn and help. This journey it no dey easy abi.

Edited October 17, 2012 by dwheels76

[QueenE 174]

Ugh I was just going to send copies of my passport. But yall are saying send our original birth certificate?!? Man Im so tired of Lagos and their anticipated drama

[dwheels76 5,468]

Ugh I was just going to send copies of my passport. But yall are saying send our original birth certificate?!? Man Im so tired of Lagos and their anticipated drama

The OP was talking abt what to send with her petition filing when the USC has to show how r they a citizen. Photocopies at the USCIS level is all that is required.

Most CO wiLl not ask for the USC birth certificate but better to have and not need u never know.

They beneficiary needs the exact replica of everything sent in accept they need originals. That includes pics, documents and decrees and affidavits.

[QueenE 174]

Ok thank you for clearing that up for me.

The OP was talking abt what to send with her petition filing when the USC has to show how r they a citizen. Photocopies at the USCIS level is all that is required.

Most CO wiLl not ask for the USC birth certificate but better to have and not need u never know.

They beneficiary needs the exact replica of everything sent in accept they need originals. That includes pics, documents and decrees and affidavits.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Ugh I was just going to send copies of my passport. But yall are saying send our original birth certificate?!? Man Im so tired of Lagos and their anticipated drama

No original USC birth certificate should be send to Lagos or any other embassy unless specifically asked for. Photo copies or certified copies of the USC's birth certificate are sufficient at the USCIS stage and the embassy stage. The beneficiary's original birth certificate needs to be brought to the interview. I have never heard of an original USC's birth certificate being asked for in Lagos. They are more concerned with the beneficiary's docs at this point.

[TJandJR 69]

For clarity, I was referring to original certified COPY versus photocopy of it. Not the actual one and only original.