221g after interview :( Accra

[sweetk328 26]

Well, that was not the result we were expecting! After waiting for almost 2 years of Covid delays we finally got an interview for today 10-18th, interview went ok, but she asked for the original marriage certificate, which is with me in the states, my husband has a certified copy which he did show her, but she wanted the original, as well as pictures from our wedding, which of course are with me. The 221g states to submit those documents via Dhl, but my husband did not ask what was next. I have sent the original marriage certificate and our marriage photos a few min ago ( cost over $100 just to send documents! ) My husband should receive them this Thursday. Once received he has to take them in person to the DHL office who will then send the documents to the Embassy, along with his passport. Any ideal of the next steps? I'm sure no one can give me a timeframe as to how long this should take, after waiting almost 2 years, I hope it wont be long. Anyone that has been in a similar situation feedback would be greatly appreciated. 

[etrangais 954]

if that's all they asked for, you should be fine once you submit THE RIGHT documents.

 

Again, advise to EVERYONE to ensure they read directions in here and comply. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel by trying something different. You always need to submit ORIGINALS to the interview, that is common knowledge

[Aishat919 14]

So basically once he turn it in to dhl, they will deliver it to the embassy. Usually they will the approve the visa if no further information is needed! Mybhusnsd went through the same thing in Lagos, Nigeria embassy in 2018. It took about 10 days before they updated it and issue him the visa

[JeanneAdil 6,653]

why didn't he go to record keeping there in Ghana and get an original marriage document

and why didn't u send marriage photos with petition

Timeframe?   as long as the CO wants to make it or get the workload off her/his desk

 

u posted denied at interview on your timeline

the 221g asking for additional original documents is not a denial 

CEAC site may say refused but it isn't

the denial or approval is yet to come

 

best to u both

[sweetk328 26]

1 hour ago, etrangais said:

if that's all they asked for, you should be fine once you submit THE RIGHT documents.

 

Again, advise to EVERYONE to ensure they read directions in here and comply. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel by trying something different. You always need to submit ORIGINALS to the interview, that is common knowledge

Thank you for the information. That helps a little and yes, that is all they asked for. Regarding common sense...nothing is common about immigration if you have never been through this process. I've googled my way through this journey, no attorney, no outside help. I've done the best I've could with the little knowledge I have. I made a mistake. That is common. I've made several calls with immigration and Nvc and was told certified copies would be fine. 

[sweetk328 26]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

why didn't he go to record keeping there in Ghana and get an original marriage document

and why didn't u send marriage photos with petition

Timeframe?   as long as the CO wants to make it or get the workload off her/his desk

 

u posted denied at interview on your timeline

the 221g asking for additional original documents is not a denial 

CEAC site may say refused but it isn't

the denial or approval is yet to come

 

best to u both

1. He did go to the court house in Ghana, the original can never be reproduced as it is an original, which I have. There is only 1 original and unless I missed the memo, you can't get another "original" certificate?. Not sure where you comment was going ? Furthermore,  He did go to the court house and was given a certified copy. Not just a copy, but certified.

2. Our marriage pictures WERE sent with the original I-130 petition that I filed back in 2019. So they do have them. I sent recent conversation history etc. Our wedding pictures were sent back in 2019. But they were sent today, so now they have them again. 

3. On your time line, you are given 2 options. Approval and denied. Hence the reason I chose denial, it wasn't approved? 

I do appreciate your input, its reassuring to know that it isn't necessarily a denial. 

Edited October 18, 2021 by sweetk328

[sweetk328 26]

1 hour ago, Aishat919 said:

So basically once he turn it in to dhl, they will deliver it to the embassy. Usually they will the approve the visa if no further information is needed! Mybhusnsd went through the same thing in Lagos, Nigeria embassy in 2018. It took about 10 days before they updated it and issue him the visa

Thank you for leaving out your judgement of my mistake. I do appreciate that deeply, especially right now. They only asked for 2 things, which I do have luckily and have already sent to him to hand deliver to DHL. I know there is no time frame on review, but literally waiting almost 2 years for an interview and to have to wait again is tough. Its heart breaking, we were so close! I did the best I could with the knowledge that I had, it just wasn't enough and that is really hard on me, as I had no attorney, the blame comes on me  Thank you again for your input. 

[Aishat919 14]

1 minute ago, sweetk328 said:

Thank you for leaving out your judgement of my mistake. I do appreciate that deeply, especially right now. They only asked for 2 things, which I do have luckily and have already sent to him to hand deliver to DHL. I know there is no time frame on review, but literally waiting almost 2 years for an interview and to have to wait again is tough. Its heart breaking, we were so close! I did the best I could with the knowledge that I had, it just wasn't enough and that is really hard on me, as I had no attorney, the blame comes on me  Thank you again for your input. 

Trust me, I understand! i had no attorney and was put on AP with my husband first interview which took almost one year before we heard back from NVC & Uscis & the consulate. People can make honest mistakes. Just like I had submitted the wrong divorce certificate for my husband first marriage to the consulate. Mistakes happens. Now my husband is here with me and is having his citizenship ceremony soon! You're at the final stretch now; just relax! Lots of love 💕 

[nastra30 2,359]

4 hours ago, sweetk328 said:

Well, that was not the result we were expecting! After waiting for almost 2 years of Covid delays we finally got an interview for today 10-18th, interview went ok, but she asked for the original marriage certificate, which is with me in the states, my husband has a certified copy which he did show her, but she wanted the original, as well as pictures from our wedding, which of course are with me. The 221g states to submit those documents via Dhl, but my husband did not ask what was next. I have sent the original marriage certificate and our marriage photos a few min ago ( cost over $100 just to send documents! ) My husband should receive them this Thursday. Once received he has to take them in person to the DHL office who will then send the documents to the Embassy, along with his passport. Any ideal of the next steps? I'm sure no one can give me a timeframe as to how long this should take, after waiting almost 2 years, I hope it wont be long. Anyone that has been in a similar situation feedback would be greatly appreciated. 

It sucks. Basically, they want to see the original big green and white marriage paper. That marriage cert is so big I don't even know why Ghana doesn't use normal A4 or letter size for the marriage cert. LOL. Either ways, you've responded as quickly as you should so once he submits to the embassy through DHL you should be hearing something positive in no due time. I understand the waiting is frustrating sometimes, but you guys are almost at the end. All the best.

[TomoMontenegro 15]

i was also under 221g for expiration of tax transcript they asked from me 2020 taxes and i sent him after interview , all now is fine , we got visa , good luck

[knmuffin 15]

4 hours ago, sweetk328 said:

Thank you for the information. That helps a little and yes, that is all they asked for. Regarding common sense...nothing is common about immigration if you have never been through this process. I've googled my way through this journey, no attorney, no outside help. I've done the best I've could with the little knowledge I have. I made a mistake. That is common. I've made several calls with immigration and Nvc and was told certified copies would be fine. 

I am SO happy you posted this - we also got a certified copy for my partner after reading online and getting confirmation from NVC that it was fine. Luckily I'm heading to GH next month so I can bring the original back to them! Total agreement with you - nothing is common about this process and there's conflicting information at EVERY turn. Good luck, I hope your husband gets his visa quick! 

[Mike E 11,742]

20 hours ago, etrangais said:

if that's all they asked for, you should be fine once you submit THE RIGHT documents.

 

Again, advise to EVERYONE to ensure they read directions in here and comply. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel by trying something different. You always need to submit ORIGINALS to the interview, that is common knowledge

Most counties in America do not provide original birth, death, divorce, and marriage documents.  
 

Instead they provide certified copies.  That’s why they are called certificates. 

[etrangais 954]

14 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Most counties in America do not provide original birth, death, divorce, and marriage documents.  
 

Instead they provide certified copies.  That’s why they are called certificates. 

Documents that are issued by US counties are certified (apostilled) and the consulates/embassies know that and they do accept them.

What they don't accept are foreign documents that are not originals (in most cases).

[sweetk328 26]

32 minutes ago, etrangais said:

Documents that are issued by US counties are certified (apostilled) and the consulates/embassies know that and they do accept them.

What they don't accept are foreign documents that are not originals (in most cases).

Great explanation thank you, I was wondering why Nvc stated we could use a certified copy. It makes sense, I could have avoided all of this had I had more experience, everything they asked for we had. Lesson learned

 

[sweetk328 26]

17 hours ago, TomoMontenegro said:

i was also under 221g for expiration of tax transcript they asked from me 2020 taxes and i sent him after interview , all now is fine , we got visa , good luck

That's glad to hear you did in the end get your visa. How long did it take after they received your documents for your status to change? I'm avoiding checking it often, as I know nothing will change in the next few days.