Is one original allowed for both parents

[intheline 5]

Can someone please help me with the following? I am preparing IV documents for both my parents (DS261 25 June and 27 June).

1. I have only one marriage certificate for my parents. If I send it for my father;s application, can I simply say in my mother;s application that it can be found in documents for the case number that corresponds to my father?

2. My birth certificate is unavailable. Can the same be done for the unavailability certificate?

3. I am planning to send an affidavit for my birth with the birth certificate unavailability statement from the govt agency. How many affidavits do I need? Can they be from my parents, or do they need to be from somebody else?

Thanks very much!

[milimelo 4,479]

No. Each case is individual - get the 2x of each document required.

[intheline 5]

No. Each case is individual - get the 2x of each document required.

Thanks Millimelo for the answer. That is brutal though: I was hoping that since both would attend the interview together, they may not need to get two originals. How can one even get more than one original certificate - certified copies?

vijay

[Gitab 3]

I had the same doubt when we sent our IV docs and so asked NVC. They said that we can attach the original or certified copy of

the marriage document with one case (of one parent) and attach photocopy of that with the other case (other parent), mentioning (we wrote in pencil)

that the original of the photocopy is with case number so and so(the first parent) Hope this helps.

To make sure, you can call NVC again.

[NikLR 13,227]

One marriage certificate could suffice. If needed make sure to write in the cover letter where the marriage certificate is locate and to send both cases within the same envelope. Write both case numbers on the marriage certificate as well.

[intheline 5]

I had the same doubt when we sent our IV docs and so asked NVC. They said that we can attach the original or certified copy of

the marriage document with one case (of one parent) and attach photocopy of that with the other case (other parent), mentioning (we wrote in pencil)

that the original of the photocopy is with case number so and so(the first parent) Hope this helps.

To make sure, you can call NVC again.

Thank you Gitab! I did call NVC but since it is taking 60 days for every round now, wanted to avoid a checklist. I am not sure the NVC representative understood what I was referring to - he kept asking if they are applying separately or together. I will call them again.

Just to make sure - were your IV docs accepted by NVC this way (or are they still under consideration)?

[Gitab 3]

Hello,

I have not yet received any completion of review information from NVC so far, but I am nearing the 60 days in about 10 days or so.

Keeping my fingers crossed that they are accepted

I will definitely try to let you know in case it is accepted or even otherwise.

Meanwhile, in case you call NVC again and find out, please let me know as to whether I got the right information from NVC last time

[intheline 5]

Hello,

I have not yet received any completion of review information from NVC so far, but I am nearing the 60 days in about 10 days or so.

Keeping my fingers crossed that they are accepted

I will definitely try to let you know in case it is accepted or even otherwise.

Meanwhile, in case you call NVC again and find out, please let me know as to whether I got the right information from NVC last time

Thanks Gitab. I called NVC yesterday and was asked to do what you recommended. They said: put a photocopy where the original should be and explain there that it is a photocopy and the original can be found in the documentation of such and such case. Also, they recommended a cover letter explaining the same thing.

Good luck for your case!

I have another doubt and was wondering if you had per chance faced the same issue: I am the petitioner and I will be sending affidavits of my birth (along with non-availability certificate). The NVC page mentions that for beneficiary birth certificate, affidavits should 'preferably be from mother'. For petitioner, they do not mention anything. I have affidavits from my parents, but am wondering if NVC would throw a fit since the parents are also the applicants. Whom should the affidavits be from? Two NVC reps gave opposite information, so experience is probably the best guide here.

[dhlunar 25]

I had the same doubt when we sent our IV docs and so asked NVC. They said that we can attach the original or certified copy of

the marriage document with one case (of one parent) and attach photocopy of that with the other case (other parent), mentioning (we wrote in pencil)

that the original of the photocopy is with case number so and so(the first parent) Hope this helps.

To make sure, you can call NVC again.

Would not recommend it. We have been going back and forth with the NVC regarding a document that they have but neglect to acknowledge they have it or it was even overlooked during the first document review in mid June.

[Gitab 3]

Just got checklisted from NVC for the marriage certificate and petitioner birth certificate. As usual they were asking for original or certified copy despite

calling NVC and getting information that it is suffice to attach the photocopy of my marriage certificate and photocopy of my son's birth certificate (have mentioned on photocopies that original is with the documents of my husband and mentioned case number of spouse too)!! Mentioned this in cover letter too.

So I called NVC immediately and the person on the other end, once I told her that I had attached photocopies and done as mentioned above after contacting NVC, then told me to disregard the checklist for now and mentioned that she has referred this to a supervisor.

Hope the problem has been solved. The wait for the next few weeks is agonizing.

Hoping I do not get any more checklists:(

It has been a long wait from the start - June 2013

In case you have two certified copies of both the documents, please send them so as not get any checklist!!! Better to be safe than sorry.

[intheline 5]

Just got checklisted from NVC for the marriage certificate and petitioner birth certificate. As usual they were asking for original or certified copy despite

calling NVC and getting information that it is suffice to attach the photocopy of my marriage certificate and photocopy of my son's birth certificate (have mentioned on photocopies that original is with the documents of my husband and mentioned case number of spouse too)!! Mentioned this in cover letter too.

So I called NVC immediately and the person on the other end, once I told her that I had attached photocopies and done as mentioned above after contacting NVC, then told me to disregard the checklist for now and mentioned that she has referred this to a supervisor.

Hope the problem has been solved. The wait for the next few weeks is agonizing.

Hoping I do not get any more checklists:(

It has been a long wait from the start - June 2013

In case you have two certified copies of both the documents, please send them so as not get any checklist!!! Better to be safe than sorry.

Sorry to hear about the checklist. I hope it is resolved soon. It is crazy that they would not follow their own instructions.

I do not have two certified copies and have started the procedure for getting an extra copy. Since that procedure is also slow, if I get IV fees email before I get them, I will send out with one original and photocopy. Otherwise, I will send out both originals.

Good luck with your case! I hope light is around the corner. Actually what NVC has also told me (and it seems many VJers have reported that also) is that if they checklist for the same package twice, the second time they tell the applicant to take the documents to the interview. I think that if that is true, and if the interviews are held together, then the applicants can point to the consular officer that the original is in the other file. In any case, ultimately the consular officer will keep only photocopies and return the originals. So the worst thing is a 60 day wait because of one checklist.

[Gitab 3]

Even after talking to an NVC rep as mentioned above and told to disregard the checklist, I received the same checklist again today!!!

I have no idea what to do now

Just have to wait for Monday again to talk to NVC again!!!!

[Gitab 3]

Just talked to the NVC rep and photocopies of my marriage certificate as well as petitioner birth certificate have been accepted!!!

So in IR5 cases, the original of marriage certificate of parents can be attached to one parent's case and photocopy with the the other parent's case as mentioned above. Same with petitioner birth certificate.