How many of you had to send in "original" documents to the NVC?

[MPGGPM 0]

We got an RFE. Even my "former" lawyer (long story:)......was not aware of this requirement of certain embassies (like Ankara) to require "original" documents, such as original birth certificate from my wife, original marriage certificate, original police certificate......etc...........

We sent in photocopies, and then promptly recieved an RFE several weeks later, requesting originals. I know of one other person who was doing an I-130 through Ankara, who also got an RFE for the same.

I was wondering what other countries require this? I personally (besides the fact we got an RFE for it), do not like this requirement at all, and feel we should be able to present the original documents at the embassy like many other countries can. I find it VERY risky for us to have to my wife mail her documents from Turkey to here (Florida).....and then after I am ready to submit it all, I will have to mail them to the NVC.

I find it a big inconvenience, ......and what happens if my wife has need of the birth certificate in the meantime? (To show proof of identity for various reasons while in Turkey).

I'd complain to them, but I really doubt it'd do any good. Not like the government is going to change anything just for me. But I find it risky to request originals , which then have to be sent by mail, and it also makes our lives more complicated in the meantime if my wife ever has need of her certificate in Turkey while/before the case is processed.

This immigration process had GOT to be about the most frustrating and inconvenient around. I think I'd rather have several root canals in a row (without anesthesia) , than to have to ever go through all of this process again!

Edited February 19, 2007 by MPGGPM

[riblet 0]

It is a requirement for the following countries, I had to send originals, luckily we knew it was coming so we were able to get duplicates of everything.

Albania, Canada, Lebanon, Philippines, Turkey, United Arab Emirates or on the continent of Africa

Here's the link:

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/applying_in.pdf

[cokebbeh 0]

It is a requirement for the following countries, I had to send originals, luckily we knew it was coming so we were able to get duplicates of everything.

Albania, Canada, Lebanon, Philippines, Turkey, United Arab Emirates or on the continent of Africa

Here's the link:

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/applying_in.pdf

Riblet is right. I had to also send originals of marriage certificate, birth, and passport bio copies. This is not new, for the embassies listed. So get them the originals and they will be given back to you during the interview.

[czc 0]

It is a requirement for the following countries, I had to send originals, luckily we knew it was coming so we were able to get duplicates of everything.

Albania, Canada, Lebanon, Philippines, Turkey, United Arab Emirates or on the continent of Africa

Here's the link:

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/applying_in.pdf

Riblet is right. I had to also send originals of marriage certificate, birth, and passport bio copies. This is not new, for the embassies listed. So get them the originals and they will be given back to you during the interview.

I had to send originals too , I´m in Mexico so I´d like to know why they asked for my originals

[Dennis & Ezgi 0]

Do you have to send the originals to NVC or to Embassy in Ankara?

[riblet 0]

To the NVC.

Do you have to send the originals to NVC or to Embassy in Ankara?

[MPGGPM 0]

To the NVC.

Do you have to send the originals to NVC or to Embassy in Ankara?

What she said.

The fortunate thing for you is, (as happened with "Riblet"), is that you have time ahead to get duplicates if you wish. By the time my wife and I got the RFE from the NVC, she was already back in Turkey. (One reason we were unhappy with the lawyer we hired.......my wife actually visited me for one month in December, she not only could have brought her birth certificate then, but she could have been told about the original police certficate being needed as well, and could have taken care of the police certificate issue in November , when she was in Istanbul, and then brought all that with her when she visited me in December.) Instead, the lawyer had no idea that originals were needed, and so subsequently, when we got the RFE, my wife and I are scrambling to get everything together and sent as soon as possible. When we saw the lawyer in January, she told us we didn't need originals, and that the NVC would accept copies. She told us that my wife would show originals at the time of interview in Ankara. So, the lawyer was misinformed...and mistaken.

Had we known ahead of time, it would have been nice to get duplicates...to be safe. But, instead, to save time, my wife just sent her only originals all the way from Turkey. The was risky.....especially considering my wife could have brought everything in person, and we could've avoided that risk.

I would like to know, if someone could answer, ....................when you mail these types of things to the NVC, what is that safest(and quickest way). Just FED EX it?

Edited February 21, 2007 by MPGGPM

[riblet 0]

I just used Express Mail through USPS, it's guaranteed overnight delivery and you can track it, I believe it was $14.40.

ETA: It sounds like your lawyer was verging on malpractice, that is really unacceptable that someone who is supposed to be an immigration attorney would not know that.

To the NVC.

Do you have to send the originals to NVC or to Embassy in Ankara?

What she said.

The fortunate thing for you is, (as happened with "Riblet"), is that you have time ahead to get duplicates if you wish. By the time my wife and I got the RFE from the NVC, she was already back in Turkey. (One reason we were unhappy with the lawyer we hired.......my wife actually visited me for one month in December, she not only could have brought her birth certificate then, but she could have been told about the original police certficate being needed as well, and could have taken care of the police certificate issue in November , when she was in Istanbul, and then brought all that with her when she visited me in December.) Instead, the lawyer had no idea that originals were needed, and so subsequently, when we got the RFE, my wife and I are scrambling to get everything together and sent as soon as possible. When we saw the lawyer in January, she told us we didn't need originals, and that the NVC would accept copies. She told us that my wife would show originals at the time of interview in Ankara. So, the lawyer was misinformed...and mistaken.

Had we known ahead of time, it would have been nice to get duplicates...to be safe. But, instead, to save time, my wife just sent her only originals all the way from Turkey. The was risky.....especially considering my wife could have brought everything in person, and we could've avoided that risk.

I would like to know, if someone could answer, ....................when you mail these types of things to the NVC, what is that safest(and quickest way). Just FED EX it?

Edited February 21, 2007 by riblet

[Dennis & Ezgi 0]

i am going to ask from my wife to send me everything needed but before i do, I would like to know exactly what NVC requests from us. I rather get everything from her in one shot. I always thought Embassy in turkey was going to ask for those stuff. Wow I hope they are not asking for her passport. IT will be really messed up.

Edited February 22, 2007 by Dennis & Ezgi

[Dennis & Ezgi 0]

and i was reading that pdf file. It does state that " Please obtain the original documents or certified copies from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity). " I know for a fact that Turkish embassies will give you certified copies and translations of these documnets with an official seal on them. Are you sure those won't bet accepted?

[riblet 0]

I'm not 100% sure they won't accept them, but when they specifically say "from the issuing entity" I'm almost positive that means that they won't accept just a notarized photocopy.

I'm attaching the instructions that come along with the DS-230, hopefully that will help you out.

ETA: now I'm thinking that's what you were reading but I still think what I said was right.

and i was reading that pdf file. It does state that " Please obtain the original documents or certified copies from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity). " I know for a fact that Turkish embassies will give you certified copies and translations of these documnets with an official seal on them. Are you sure those won't bet accepted?

DOS_Instruction_Packet.pdf

Edited February 22, 2007 by riblet

[MPGGPM 0]

i am going to ask from my wife to send me everything needed but before i do, I would like to know exactly what NVC requests from us. I rather get everything from her in one shot. I always thought Embassy in turkey was going to ask for those stuff. Wow I hope they are not asking for her passport. IT will be really messed up.

Your wife will be able to send a "copy" of her passport. What they want originals of are...

1) Police certificate from Turkey (my wife got her certificate in just a matter of hours, in Istanbul, so it doesn't take long to get one)

2) Wife's birth certificate

3) The original marriage certificate.

I don't know about that "certified" copy and translations from Turkish embassies that you mention. It's the first time I've heard of it being able to be done that way. And as I mentioned above, since my wife and I didn't have notice of all these originals being needed, we never bothered to look into where "duplicates" that might be accepted, could be done. My wife just got everything together , and sent it by mail the next day . (She had every original with HER, because since the lawyer told her when she was here that she'd take them to the interview in Ankara, she took them with her on her trip back to Istanbul. Then, weeks later when we got the RFE, she had to mail it all back to me).

That's really it as far as "originals". The other things the NVC will ask for are typical for everyone.....(the w-2's, tax returns, etc...)

[phila 0]

Oh dear, I didn't send my original birth certificate with my I129F- I didn't know Ankara required it. All I sent was a notarized front and back copy. Does anyone know how I might send this/ if it is possible to pre-empt and RFE?

No where did I read that certain countries required originals. Maybe it's different for the I130?

[MPGGPM 0]

Oh dear, I didn't send my original birth certificate with my I129F- I didn't know Ankara required it. All I sent was a notarized front and back copy. Does anyone know how I might send this/ if it is possible to pre-empt and RFE?

No where did I read that certain countries required originals. Maybe it's different for the I130?

I'm thinking from the what I copied below , that the procedures for the K-1 and K-3 are slightly different than for the I-130. From what this woman wrote below, it appears that the original documents are mailed "directly" to Ankara.............and that's different than the procedure for an I-130.

But, this is just one thread I found, and if I were you, on Monday, I would call the NVC (they are VERY difficult to get a hold of, so either call very late at night.....or first thing in the morning (7:30 am eastern time).......just to be on the safe side. You could also try to call the Ankara embassy directly, if you have a calling card. (but if you try that....you need to get up around 4:30 eastern...to have a chance of getting through before they stop accepting calls for the day)

The information on the actual Ankara embassy website, seems more geared toward people who were filing from Turkey. So, I haven't yet found anything on their website which explains 100%.....what you do if filing I-129f from the USA. (For example...the I-130 info says to mail the documents to Ankara as well.......but that must be only if someone actually is "living" in Turkey while filing.)

My husband's K-3 is being processed in Ankara, Turkey. I was able to email the embassy, and they told me that

we didn't have to wait for the packet from them. They said to download the instructions and forms, and mail them

to the embassy. Every embassy is different, but it wouldn't hurt to find out for yourself on their website or email them.

The forms that they asked from my husband were:

DS-230 Part 1

DS-156 - 2 copies

DS-157

My husband's police record - current and archived - with English translations

My husband's original or certified copy of birth certificate - with English translations

Copy and translation of my husband's passport

Our original marriage certificate with translation

My husband's military record - with English translation

I-134 Affidavit of support with copy of my most recent tax forms and W-2 forms

They wanted us to send everything via UPS, and to include a self-address prepaid UPS envelope inside,

just in case they needed to send everything back to them (if there was an error in the documents).

After they received everything, they sent us an interview letter that included more documents to

bring to the interview (medical report, receipt of paying $100 K-3 visa fee).

Good luck!

Dayna

The link is below.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;#entry734619

[Michele&Omer 0]

Oh dear, I didn't send my original birth certificate with my I129F- I didn't know Ankara required it. All I sent was a notarized front and back copy. Does anyone know how I might send this/ if it is possible to pre-empt and RFE?

No where did I read that certain countries required originals. Maybe it's different for the I130?

Ankara does not need your original birth certificate, they only need the originals from the finance/spouse receiving the visa. I brought along to the interview my original birth certificates and divorce papers, but they did not request to see them, they said they did not get a translated copy of my husbands birth certificate and I had a certified copy of that with us also (brought certified copies of all the documents he sent...just in case). I guess it does not hurt to call and find out but they mainly use your info to process the application here and use his info at the embassy.

Good Luck,

Michele and Omer