SERIOUSLY Need an Answer

[Khal_Drogo 50]

I am literally freaking out a bit over the documents my wife is bringing with her to her interview on March 7th.

She is hearing from people in another forum that she needs certified copies of EVERYTHING, to include certified photocopies of my life insurance and everything.

I mentioned this elsewhere on VJ, but nothing came of it.

Here's the thing; my life insurance has ONE original, and it's locked up in the military personnel flight of my home base. I can't get it. And how can I get it certified if I'm deployed?

Same for my will; my lawyers told me not to send her the original will, but to send her a photocopy of it with the word "Copy" on the top right corner of every page.

She can't get anything joint because my bank won't add her without an SSN, and she printed out Skype chats and e-mail stuff between us to present as evidence of a relationship.

I just need an answer; what are the rules on documents brought to the interview? What if I can't get originals or certified copies, what do we tell the interviewer if he asks? Are we screwed before we even had a chance?

Here's where I mentioned it in the other thread:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/414333-documents-for-interview/page__p__5975467#entry5975467

Along with the copy of the will/powers of attorney, the scan of the life insurance, and my vRED sheet, I also sent original affidavits from my three family members attesting to our relationship and a copy of our vows (we did not handwrite them, we typed them and printed them), and she will, as mentioned, be bringing Skype chats and e-mails from us.

Edited February 26, 2013 by Khal_Drogo

[Done--Really 331]

Every embassy is different--have you read the experience of others?? If not, there is nothing better than their first hand experience:

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?trim=no&cty=&cnty=Bulgaria&page=1&dfilter=5&topic=

[mfranc68 31]

Take some deep breaths and STOP freaking out. You will be FINE. You allready sent in everything that you needed to the USCIS and the NVC. It would be a good idea if you had copies of the forms you sent in and the supporting material , and an extra original birth certificate of you and your wife and your marriage certificate just in case what you sent in has gotten "lost". It has been known to happen.

As for evidence or your relationship, I have not heard that you need to have certified copies of everything. A copy of your will and your life insurance policy should be fine. Remember, they are not mandatory to have. You are showing the Embassy that you have a life together. If you sent her any money (I sent my wife money through Western Union) bring the receipts to show financial support. You should have some photos of your wedding and your time together. Photos of you two together and with family and friends. If you can get copies of the three affidavits from your family members that will help. You can also bring the copies of the emails and skype chats.

I am not sure of the specific rules for your Embassy, but make sure that the results of your wife's medical exam are there, you both have your passports, and your wife has her country's identification card (if there is one). If you made trips to your wife's country to visit with her then your passport will not only be your identification, but you can show your entry and exit stamps as proof of your visits.

On your interview letter, there should be a list of the necessary documents that you need to have, and whether or not they are needed.

Make sure that you bring any documents that are requested.

Are you going to the interview with your wife? The evidence is mostly secondary. At this stage the most important thing is the questions that they ask you. How well do you two communicate and know each other? When are your birthdays? When did you first meet? What was your wedding song? What are your favorite colors? What are the names of your famlies? What are your favorite foods? Does your wife know the name of your commander? What unit you are in? The job that you do? When will your deployments end? How much money you make? What is the address of where you will be living? Questions like that.

If you know and love each other all will be well. So relax and exhale. And write a post on March 8th. I want to know what happens.

[Done--Really 331]

I read through the reviews, and it looks like it is a very easy going embassy, so unless something huge is missing, it looks like a piece of cake. Be sure that both of you read everything to get a good feel about how they operate, and you will feel more confidant.

[Khal_Drogo 50]

Well, I never sent my birth certificate. I mean, she has hers no problem, but mine I never even sent in the I-130 package or anything, I did however send copies front to back of my passport (including all the pages with entry/exit stamps) and she has the original marriage certificate with her right now; had to have my First Sergeant DHL it to her lol.

I will not be going with her; I am deployed currently and will not be going anywhere for a little while lol.

But for those questions, she'll be able to answer those no problem, plus more, we even quizzed ourselves on a whole list of example questions and for the most part she aced them.

I'm just so used to overpreparing that when something drops that I wasn't expecting, it throw me into a bit of a tailspin lol.

Edited February 26, 2013 by Khal_Drogo

[ecg19 7]

You don't even need to provide extra evidence at the interview - I didn't. I just had copies of the stuff that I sent in my packages.

[SerenityNOW 11]

I just saw this as I was looking for something else in the Bulgaria portal. My experience is from 5.5 years ago but we will be back at the Sofia embassy for my stepson's interview. My experience with them so far is that they are evil towards the nonimmigrant applicants (or maybe just to my family!) and very welcoming to the immigrant applicant. I was freaking out before our interview as well because they had been so mean to my husband when he tried to get a tourist visa. No problems at all. Total disaster when my two stepsons applied for tourist visas to visit us. I am hoping no problems for the younger boy's immigrant visa interview.

The CO we had looooooved our photos. I put them in plastic sleeves so she leafed through them like a little book. I think I included 40 total. Mostly different/more recent than the ones I sent with the I-130.

The only thing I can think of is that Bulgaria requires this inane document, something from the mayor's office somehow proving that you are married moreso than your marriage certificate does? They approved my husband's visa but didn't deliver it until we gave them that document. We translated it also but I can't remember if they required it. This is from a pdf that I saved but I have no idea where I found (DOS website somewhere). The title is "SOF-PK3-MULT-0711.pdf" if you want to search to see the entire document

Applicants over 18 years must submit a Marital Status Certificate. This document may

be obtained at the local municipilaty.

...

Кандидатите над 18-годишна възраст трябва да представят удостоверение за

семейно положение, независимо дали в момента са женени, разведени или

вдовци/вдовици. Удостоверението за семейно положение се издава от общината по

местоживеене, служба „Гражданско състояние"

Good luck!!

ETA: Whoa, I just saw that this was in a military forum. I'm sorry, I don't know what is different for military cases, so I don't know if what I wrote will apply to you or not.

Edited February 27, 2013 by SerenityNOW

[Khal_Drogo 50]

Serenity, thank you; luckily we did manage to get that document, and she's picking up a second copy of those records today.

My wife told me when she got her tourist visa that they weren't exactly polite. Wouldn't go so far as rude, but like when she went in for her interview, the guy didn't even look at her; just sat typing away while asking some questions and then she was approved (she said she was absolutely sure he was typing her rejection letter lol).

[ecg19 7]

By the way - I feel like often you can scare yourself by reading too much!

I was convinced that despite our expedite, that everything would get declined and that we would be waiting 8 or 9 months to see each other. Of course everything worked out fine because we are a legitimate married couple! In the end, the systems are here because there are A LOT of high risk countries (many on this board - and many situations you can see from a mile off are not legitimate) that the USA are protecting themselves from.

You guys will be fine