Originals to bring to Interview

[C&H12 13]

I'm new here and probably going about this all the wrong way but I have a question regarding what document "originals" are needed at the interview.  In the 129-F, I submitted a copy of my passport as proof of my citizenship.  I have read that she should bring an original of such things as birth certificates and divorce decrees but since I used my passport as proof of citizenship, are they going to expect her to have my passport with her at the interview?  I was thinking to just give her a certified copy of my birth certificate but I am worried that since that was not what I used originally in the application that they might not accept my certified birth certificate at the interview.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[payxibka 10,047]

2 minutes ago, Allen Crabtree said:

I'm new here and probably going about this all the wrong way but I have a question regarding what document "originals" are needed at the interview.  In the 129-F, I submitted a copy of my passport as proof of my citizenship.  I have read that she should bring an original of such things as birth certificates and divorce decrees but since I used my passport as proof of citizenship, are they going to expect her to have my passport with her at the interview?  I was thinking to just give her a certified copy of my birth certificate but I am worried that since that was not what I used originally in the application that they might not accept my certified birth certificate at the interview.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Consulate specific.  The consulate will inform you of the required evidence and which can be copies and which need to be original or certified 

[C&H12 13]

6 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Consulate specific.  The consulate will inform you of the required evidence and which can be copies and which need to be original or certified 

Interesting... so the required citizenship evidence at the time of the interview could actually be different that the evidence provided on the I-129f?

[payxibka 10,047]

5 minutes ago, Allen Crabtree said:

Interesting... so the required citizenship evidence at the time of the interview could actually be different that the evidence provided on the I-129f?

95%+ of everything provided at the interview relates solely to the applicant not the usc. 

 

Some consulates will occasionally request information about the USC but it is the exception not the rule,  that's why the document list from the consulate is important.   

 

I provided no original documents for my wife's interview 

Edited July 19, 2019 by payxibka

[Pitaya 2,577]

Don't worry you will still have the opportunity to flash your original documents, at the AOS interview.

 

At our AOS interview, I was asked by the IO to show him my original divorce decree. I had submitted a copy of it when I submitted my I-129F

 

YMMV,

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Hank_ 9,174]

26 minutes ago, Allen Crabtree said:

I'm new here and probably going about this all the wrong way but I have a question regarding what document "originals" are needed at the interview.  In the 129-F, I submitted a copy of my passport as proof of my citizenship.  I have read that she should bring an original of such things as birth certificates and divorce decrees but since I used my passport as proof of citizenship, are they going to expect her to have my passport with her at the interview?  I was thinking to just give her a certified copy of my birth certificate but I am worried that since that was not what I used originally in the application that they might not accept my certified birth certificate at the interview.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I see no reason why you can't use a copy of your birth certificate for the embassy.  Is the birth certificate (evidence of U.S. citizenship) listed as a required document for Mexico?   I know it isn't for the Philippines.   Every embassy has their own requirements.

[samnrong 52]

I really doubt you will need this at the interview. Validity of your citizenship will be taken care of on the front end when the petition is circulating through USCIS.

 

Once the petition is approved the consulate only performs the interview and is most concerned with whether the applicant qualifies for the Visa. For a K-1 this is things like ensuring they’re free to marry (divorce decrees), have all their documents, and that the relationship is a real relationship.

 

Verifying the citizenship of the petitioner likely will not be done at the interview as USCIS has already done this before approving the petition.

 

Best to double check a consulate specific answer though.

[C&H12 13]

41 minutes ago, Pitaya (火龙果) said:

Don't worry you will still have the opportunity to flash your original documents, at the AOS interview.

 

At our AOS interview, I was asked by the IO to show him my original divorce decree. I had submitted a copy of it when I submitted my I-129F

 

YMMV,

Good luck on your immigration journey.

That's exactly what I was talking about...   I'm just wanting to make sure that when she's in the interview that she has everything that she might need.  When I submitted my I-129F, I had submitted a copy of my divorce decree so I am ordering a certified copy for her to have.  My concern is that I submitted a copy of my US passport as proof of citizenship.  If they ask for the actual passport, she will not have it.  I have a certified copy of my birth certificate that I can give her to take to the interview but since that was not what I submitted in my original I-129F, I am worried that they may not accept it.  Alternatively I suppose, I could fly down and give her my passport to take into the interview......

[Pitaya 2,577]

We may be talking about two separate interviews. It sounds like your fiancee is preparing for the K1 visa interview at the consulate. I was speaking about, later on in the process, when both of you are in the US, and you have your AOS interview at your local USCIS office.

 

Here is the list of info from the VJ site for the Ciudad Juarez consulate, dated from 2014. Not certain if there is something newer available. https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/K1/CDJ - Ciudad Juarez.pdf

 

I do see your concern, it doesn't really say copy or original of the petitioner's birth cert. or passport. When we were at this phase of our journey, I flew to Guangzhou, and gave her my passport to take to the interview. In China, the petitioner is not allowed to attend the interview.

 

Another place where you could inquire about this is in the Mexico, Latin, South America Regional Forum: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/96-mexico-latin-south-america/

 

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[C&H12 13]

17 minutes ago, Pitaya (火龙果) said:

We may be talking about two separate interviews. It sounds like your fiancee is preparing for the K1 visa interview at the consulate. I was speaking about, later on in the process, when both of you are in the US, and you have your AOS interview at your local USCIS office.

 

Here is the list of info from the VJ site for the Ciudad Juarez consulate, dated from 2014. Not certain if there is something newer available. https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/K1/CDJ - Ciudad Juarez.pdf

 

I do see your concern, it doesn't really say copy or original of the petitioner's birth cert. or passport. When we were at this phase of our journey, I flew to Guangzhou, and gave her my passport to take to the interview. In China, the petitioner is not allowed to attend the interview.

 

Another place where you could inquire about this is in the Mexico, Latin, South America Regional Forum: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/96-mexico-latin-south-america/

 

Good luck on your immigration journey.

It is confusing.  Thanks for the link!  That is very helpful!   I'll probably just go down there and hand her my passport.  I live in Albuquerque and Juarez is only a 4 hour drive south.  I was planning on being there for her anyway.  I am not allow to accompany her to the interview either. 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

2 hours ago, Allen Crabtree said:

I'm new here and probably going about this all the wrong way but I have a question regarding what document "originals" are needed at the interview.  In the 129-F, I submitted a copy of my passport as proof of my citizenship.  I have read that she should bring an original of such things as birth certificates and divorce decrees but since I used my passport as proof of citizenship, are they going to expect her to have my passport with her at the interview?  I was thinking to just give her a certified copy of my birth certificate but I am worried that since that was not what I used originally in the application that they might not accept my certified birth certificate at the interview.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Here is the P3 letter from your embassy. It states what you will need including if it needs to have an original. Most embassy's require the original plus a copy. They compare the two and keep the copy if they are satisfied and will return the original to the beneficiary. If they don't please ask.  The P3 I am sharing with you is from 2017 and though I received it not long ago, it would surprise me that there is a more current copy.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cBWgGJr4a5ay3b4OV28_dC3pgf63ZUr-/view

 

If you find anything not up to date or the information is wrong, please share your findings. Please compare the date of the P3 of mine with the date from your copy, once you receive yours from your embassy. Keep in mind that I try and be factual with my information, but I can't do it on my own and that's where you come in and can give back to the community that comes behind you. Without others ahead of you I would not be able to provide this to you.  I can only share factual information if folks like you continue to be my eyes and ears for your embassy. I wish you much success in your visa journey.

Edited July 19, 2019 by Greenbaum

[Stubmeister 31]

Just as an FYI, my fiance was asked for an authenticated copy of my divorce decree. Obtaining the document from the prothonotary office was not a big deal, but shipping it express to South America was. Mexico I would presume wouldn't be as bad but I think I would give your fiance authenticated copies, divorce decree ie, just as a CYA. They might never ask for it depending on the CO. But it beats the hell out of scrambling for documents and delays in issuance of the K-1 visa. Good luck!

 

[GyC 79]

On 7/19/2019 at 1:02 PM, Allen Crabtree said:

That's exactly what I was talking about...   I'm just wanting to make sure that when she's in the interview that she has everything that she might need.  When I submitted my I-129F, I had submitted a copy of my divorce decree so I am ordering a certified copy for her to have.  My concern is that I submitted a copy of my US passport as proof of citizenship.  If they ask for the actual passport, she will not have it.  I have a certified copy of my birth certificate that I can give her to take to the interview but since that was not what I submitted in my original I-129F, I am worried that they may not accept it.  Alternatively I suppose, I could fly down and give her my passport to take into the interview......

I will give you my now wifes personal recent experience with Ciudad Juarez. I too only sent a copy of my passport with I129F as my proof of citizenship. When my now wife went for her interview, I sent her in with a certified copy of my birth certificate to take with her, just in case. I didnt think they'd ask for it since we sent a copy of my passport. But guess what, the official asked her for my certified birth certificate. Luckily my now wife had it and gave it to them and everything was okay. They took a photocopy of it and gave her my original back. My best advice to you is to take a certified copy like you said. Send with her everything you think. You just never know! Its up to the officials discretion on what he asks. 

[C&H12 13]

On 7/19/2019 at 1:27 PM, Greenbaum said:

Here is the P3 letter from your embassy. It states what you will need including if it needs to have an original. Most embassy's require the original plus a copy. They compare the two and keep the copy if they are satisfied and will return the original to the beneficiary. If they don't please ask.  The P3 I am sharing with you is from 2017 and though I received it not long ago, it would surprise me that there is a more current copy.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cBWgGJr4a5ay3b4OV28_dC3pgf63ZUr-/view

 

If you find anything not up to date or the information is wrong, please share your findings. Please compare the date of the P3 of mine with the date from your copy, once you receive yours from your embassy. Keep in mind that I try and be factual with my information, but I can't do it on my own and that's where you come in and can give back to the community that comes behind you. Without others ahead of you I would not be able to provide this to you.  I can only share factual information if folks like you continue to be my eyes and ears for your embassy. I wish you much success in your visa journey.

Thanks for providing your P3 for my review!  I will certainly compare the two when I get ours. 

 

I have a question regarding #8 from the list of documents required.  I am assuming that since I am the petitioner that I am NOT an applicant and that she is the only one that needs to provide 2 photographs?  I submitted a picture of each of us in the 129F.  I just wanted to make sure I didn't need to give her 2 more photos of myself to take to her interview.  I hate when they mix terms like applicant, sponsor, and beneficiary.  Arguably I could easily consider myself an "applicant" as well.

 

Item #2 clearly states "Original and copy of birth certificates."  I assume from the plural that they mean both the petitioner and the beneficiary but it could refer to multiple applicants (beneficiary and dependents).  Item #10 requires "Proof of the petitioner’s U.S. citizenship. (Birth certificate or U.S. passport),"  but does not ask for an original and copy.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

2 hours ago, Allen Crabtree said:

Thanks for providing your P3 for my review!  I will certainly compare the two when I get ours. 

 

I have a question regarding #8 from the list of documents required.  I am assuming that since I am the petitioner that I am NOT an applicant and that she is the only one that needs to provide 2 photographs?  I submitted a picture of each of us in the 129F.  I just wanted to make sure I didn't need to give her 2 more photos of myself to take to her interview.  I hate when they mix terms like applicant, sponsor, and beneficiary.  Arguably I could easily consider myself an "applicant" as well.

 

Item #2 clearly states "Original and copy of birth certificates."  I assume from the plural that they mean both the petitioner and the beneficiary but it could refer to multiple applicants (beneficiary and dependents).  Item #10 requires "Proof of the petitioner’s U.S. citizenship. (Birth certificate or U.S. passport),"  but does not ask for an original and copy.

I always recommend to error on the side of too much and variety. If it doesn't ask for the original from the petitioner (you) then send copies. If it ask, then you must send a copy and the original. They will keep the C and return the O. Yes she is going to need some  photos. Some Embassy's ask and others don't. A good place to ask these embassy specific questions is in your sub-forum. I don't know the workings of every embassy, only that I have a P3 and that is what I refer to, to answer your questions or anyone elses.

 

Link: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/96-mexico-latin-south-america/

Edited July 22, 2019 by Greenbaum