ENTIRE divorce decree??

[pj1959us 0]

There is normally a seal or stamp put on a certified copy by the clerk's office. It would be best to contact the local clerk's office and verify what you have is the certified decree. That would be the only way to know for sure (each area can do things differently).

[KarenCee 3]

Ok,

Well if they get an RFE cause of your "I sent only the four page divorce decree." advice, you get to console them not me

Sincerely,

Ramos

I was only telling them what I did...I was certainly NOT telling them to do what I did based on my experience. Your sarcasm isn't needed. Each person's case is individual and what worked or did not work for one doesn't mean it will be the same with the next person.

To the OP: I would find out from the state/county in which the divorce is registered what constitutes a divorce decree. YOU can decide from there what you want to send.

[pushbrk 12,898]

im sure if you send the entire package there are no ?s however they do request the divorce decree, not sure why they need the parenting plan w/visitation agreements..lol..however im sure spoken from ppl that have gotten an RFE send it all and theres no ?s...guess i just take the request literally, so I was only planning myself in sending my divorce decree not the uniform suport order, parenting plan...etc.....perhaps i will send it all as well...

The quantity of paper isn't the issue. My certified decrees were each one page. They just want the correct document. A copy of the whole thing that is not certified is of no use. A certified copy of the full decree and settlement would be extremely expensive to have Notarially translated in China.

So, get the correct document, regardless of whether it is "the whole thing".

Just as a rule of thumb, most people don't have "certified divorce decree" copies on hand after a divorce. Generally they request them separately, some time after the divorce is recorded. If you haven't done that, there is good reason to believe you do not yet have the correct document.

In Michigan, the divorce settlement IS the decree, and the parties are provided with a "true copy" (signed by clerk)... is this the same as being certified?

Yes, there are commonly two ways to provide a certified divorce decree. The copy of full settlement is good to have in case there are questions about the terms later. The other way is to obtain a "certified copy" of the "decree" only. On the US side, the one or two page document is generally preferred. When children are immigrating with a parent, the immigrant also must document the custody arrangment or permission from the other parent.

For a K1, the full decree and settlement papers are no real problem except a lot of extra paper. For those marrying abroad, getting that umpteen page document translated to the satisfaction of the foreign government can get pretty darn expensive.

[zencat 0]

im sure if you send the entire package there are no ?s however they do request the divorce decree, not sure why they need the parenting plan w/visitation agreements..lol..however im sure spoken from ppl that have gotten an RFE send it all and theres no ?s...guess i just take the request literally, so I was only planning myself in sending my divorce decree not the uniform suport order, parenting plan...etc.....perhaps i will send it all as well...

The quantity of paper isn't the issue. My certified decrees were each one page. They just want the correct document. A copy of the whole thing that is not certified is of no use. A certified copy of the full decree and settlement would be extremely expensive to have Notarially translated in China.

So, get the correct document, regardless of whether it is "the whole thing".

Just as a rule of thumb, most people don't have "certified divorce decree" copies on hand after a divorce. Generally they request them separately, some time after the divorce is recorded. If you haven't done that, there is good reason to believe you do not yet have the correct document.

In Michigan, the divorce settlement IS the decree, and the parties are provided with a "true copy" (signed by clerk)... is this the same as being certified?

Yes, there are commonly two ways to provide a certified divorce decree. The copy of full settlement is good to have in case there are questions about the terms later. The other way is to obtain a "certified copy" of the "decree" only. On the US side, the one or two page document is generally preferred. When children are immigrating with a parent, the immigrant also must document the custody arrangment or permission from the other parent.

For a K1, the full decree and settlement papers are no real problem except a lot of extra paper. For those marrying abroad, getting that umpteen page document translated to the satisfaction of the foreign government can get pretty darn expensive.

I'm sorry, but I'm still a little confused here... The "I-129F checklist" on this site only mentions "photocopies" of documents be sent in. If I pay, say, $30 for a certified copy, then send it in with my I-129F, will I be asked to again produce another certified copy further on in the process? When I go to the courthouse, should I ask for 3 or 4 certified copies and pay the $50-60, because I will need them later?

[pushbrk 12,898]

im sure if you send the entire package there are no ?s however they do request the divorce decree, not sure why they need the parenting plan w/visitation agreements..lol..however im sure spoken from ppl that have gotten an RFE send it all and theres no ?s...guess i just take the request literally, so I was only planning myself in sending my divorce decree not the uniform suport order, parenting plan...etc.....perhaps i will send it all as well...

The quantity of paper isn't the issue. My certified decrees were each one page. They just want the correct document. A copy of the whole thing that is not certified is of no use. A certified copy of the full decree and settlement would be extremely expensive to have Notarially translated in China.

So, get the correct document, regardless of whether it is "the whole thing".

Just as a rule of thumb, most people don't have "certified divorce decree" copies on hand after a divorce. Generally they request them separately, some time after the divorce is recorded. If you haven't done that, there is good reason to believe you do not yet have the correct document.

In Michigan, the divorce settlement IS the decree, and the parties are provided with a "true copy" (signed by clerk)... is this the same as being certified?

Yes, there are commonly two ways to provide a certified divorce decree. The copy of full settlement is good to have in case there are questions about the terms later. The other way is to obtain a "certified copy" of the "decree" only. On the US side, the one or two page document is generally preferred. When children are immigrating with a parent, the immigrant also must document the custody arrangment or permission from the other parent.

For a K1, the full decree and settlement papers are no real problem except a lot of extra paper. For those marrying abroad, getting that umpteen page document translated to the satisfaction of the foreign government can get pretty darn expensive.

I'm sorry, but I'm still a little confused here... The "I-129F checklist" on this site only mentions "photocopies" of documents be sent in. If I pay, say, $30 for a certified copy, then send it in with my I-129F, will I be asked to again produce another certified copy further on in the process? When I go to the courthouse, should I ask for 3 or 4 certified copies and pay the $50-60, because I will need them later?

Submit a photocopy of the certified copy with your petition and retain the original "certified copy". Once you get your certified copy of the divorce decree, it will become clear that it is not a "copy" of something you already have, although it may be a copy of one or two pages of a document you now possess.