So this means we are NOT DQ'd, right?

[Zin-Zin 21]

We just got the news that they were requiring some documents. 

They wanted 2 things. 

1. The W2s from the joint sponsor. Not sure why. We uploaded IRS transcripts. As you see in the picture, it says 'Accepted' anyway. Not sure what that means. 
2. The marriage certificate was not accepted. Crazy b/c my wife had a green card before when we were first married and the marriage certificate worked just fine then. 

So now we have to get the documents and then wait at the back of the line again. Right? 

Gutted!

[Zin-Zin 21]

49 minutes ago, Zin-Zin said:

We just got the news that they were requiring some documents. 

They wanted 2 things. 

1. The W2s from the joint sponsor. Not sure why. We uploaded IRS transcripts. As you see in the picture, it says 'Accepted' anyway. Not sure what that means. 
2. The marriage certificate was not accepted. Crazy b/c my wife had a green card before when we were first married and the marriage certificate worked just fine then. 

So now we have to get the documents and then wait at the back of the line again. Right? 

Gutted!

 

I was just denied for not having an appropriate marriage certificate. We need what's called a "Certificate of Acceptance."
 

My wife and I were married in Korea, but we are both non-Koreans. 
 

Does anyone have any experience or advice on how to get that "Certificate of Acceptance" from abroad? 

 

Edited June 15, 2022 by Zin-Zin

[Boiler 45,445]

I assume with the Joint Sponsor you did not show they met the financial requirements often they are opaque in explaining what you missed 

[Mozillaman 7]

You want to go here and look under the marriage section for details:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/SouthKorea.html

 

 

[Zin-Zin 21]

1 minute ago, Mozillaman said:

You want to go here and look under the marriage section for details:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/SouthKorea.html

 

 

Yes, I saw this. The problem is when I applied with the I-130, the administrator told me that he was giving me the only document I could get, which was satisfactory for the USCIS but not the NVC. 

I have no idea how to get the document. We are nowhere near Korea. 
 

[Zin-Zin 21]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I assume with the Joint Sponsor you did not show they met the financial requirements often they are opaque in explaining what you missed 

No, I think I did a pretty good job of that. I included transcripts for 2020, a copy of tax filing extension, and proof of current income. And the document says it was "Accepted" anyway. Not sure what's going on there. 

[Mozillaman 7]

Just now, Zin-Zin said:

Yes, I saw this. The problem is when I applied with the I-130, the administrator told me that he was giving me the only document I could get, which was satisfactory for the USCIS but not the NVC. 

I have no idea how to get the document. We are nowhere near Korea. 
 

I'd recommend calling the office in Korea and explaining your situation and telling them exactly what's being asked for from the embassy website. If what they gave you is the only document they can give you, ask to receive that in writing as well, put it and the document in the same PDF and provide it as evidence again.

 

If you don't mind my prying, why did you get married in a country neither of you live in/are citizens of?

 

1 minute ago, Zin-Zin said:

No, I think I did a pretty good job of that. I included transcripts for 2020, a copy of tax filing extension, and proof of current income. And the document says it was "Accepted" anyway. Not sure what's going on there. 

They're likely looking for 2021 now.

[Zin-Zin 21]

1 minute ago, Mozillaman said:

I'd recommend calling the office in Korea and explaining your situation and telling them exactly what's being asked for from the embassy website. If what they gave you is the only document they can give you, ask to receive that in writing as well, put it and the document in the same PDF and provide it as evidence again.

 

If you don't mind my prying, why did you get married in a country neither of you live in/are citizens of?

 

They're likely looking for 2021 now.

He filed an extension for 2021. I included that. The message says W2s for 2020. 

[Boiler 45,445]

Just send in the W2 s

 

You may need a local lawyer to get the certificate 

[Redro 4,611]

4 hours ago, Mozillaman said:

I'd recommend calling the office in Korea and explaining your situation and telling them exactly what's being asked for from the embassy website. If what they gave you is the only document they can give you, ask to receive that in writing as well, put it and the document in the same PDF and provide it as evidence again.

 

If you don't mind my prying, why did you get married in a country neither of you live in/are citizens of?

 

They're likely looking for 2021 now.

I assume they were living in Korea at the time they got married. 

It is fairly cheap and easy to get married in Korea. 

 

1. The local district office will provide you with a “Certificate of Marriage Registration” (수리증명서, pronounced soo-ree jeung-myung-suh).  When both of the marriage partners are U.S. citizens, they will receive this certificate form right away.  However, if one spouse is a Korean citizen, this process can take up to 3-5 days, and will be reflected on the Korean marriage certificate (혼인관계증명서, pronounced hone-in-gwan-gae jeung-myung-suh).

This is from the US Embassy Seoul website. You might want to re-upload the certificate with this explanation in the notes. 

Sometimes correct documents are uploaded but the reviewer doesn't realize they are looking at the correct documents. 

 

Is your joint sponsor married and filing (MFJ)? If they are- you need to include W2s/1099s. 

[Redro 4,611]

10 hours ago, Zin-Zin said:

We just got the news that they were requiring some documents. 

They wanted 2 things. 

1. The W2s from the joint sponsor. Not sure why. We uploaded IRS transcripts. As you see in the picture, it says 'Accepted' anyway. Not sure what that means. 
2. The marriage certificate was not accepted. Crazy b/c my wife had a green card before when we were first married and the marriage certificate worked just fine then. 

So now we have to get the documents and then wait at the back of the line again. Right? 

Gutted!

The certificate you used: Was it in English or Korean? 

I just saw in another forum someone's Korean marriage documents weren't accepted.... 

Have you checked this video to see if you have the correct document?

https://uploads.mwp.mprod.getusinfo.com/uploads/sites/67/2022/05/Instruction-pkt_MIV_Expd.pdf (this PDF is from Seoul Embassy Korea and has a video link explaining the correct documentation and sample translation). 

 

If you do not have the correct document you will have to enlist the services of a third party to go to the place you got married and get another copy for you. 

 

 

[Zin-Zin 21]

3 hours ago, ROK2USA said:

The certificate you used: Was it in English or Korean? 

I just saw in another forum someone's Korean marriage documents weren't accepted.... 

Have you checked this video to see if you have the correct document?

https://uploads.mwp.mprod.getusinfo.com/uploads/sites/67/2022/05/Instruction-pkt_MIV_Expd.pdf (this PDF is from Seoul Embassy Korea and has a video link explaining the correct documentation and sample translation). 

 

If you do not have the correct document you will have to enlist the services of a third party to go to the place you got married and get another copy for you. 

 

 

It was in English. 

Check out this plot twist. The form described on the US website was not available before January 1 2008. I got married in April 2007. 

[Zin-Zin 21]

25 minutes ago, Zin-Zin said:

It was in English. 

Check out this plot twist. The form described on the US website was not available before January 1 2008. I got married in April 2007. 

There was an entire change to the family registration system that passed April 27 2007 and went into effect on January 1 2008. I haven't found anything specifically about the document that the NVC is requesting, but it seems that what I've been told is legitimate. How do I proceed?

https://www.gjcity.go.kr/portal/contents.do?mId=0402040100

[Zin-Zin 21]

10 hours ago, ROK2USA said:

Is your joint sponsor married and filing (MFJ)? If they are- you need to include W2s/1099s. 

Ok, understood. Is that outline anywhere in the instructions? That if MFJ then include W2s/1099s? 

[Redro 4,611]

26 minutes ago, Zin-Zin said:

Ok, understood. Is that outline anywhere in the instructions? That if MFJ then include W2s/1099s? 

Go through the questionnaire for the Financial Evidence assistant:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/financial-evidence-assistant.html.html

 

1 hour ago, Zin-Zin said:

There was an entire change to the family registration system that passed April 27 2007 and went into effect on January 1 2008. I haven't found anything specifically about the document that the NVC is requesting, but it seems that what I've been told is legitimate. How do I proceed?

https://www.gjcity.go.kr/portal/contents.do?mId=0402040100

Who is Gwon MinJeong? If you can chat to they and see if they can get official documentation stating this was the marriage record you received in 2007 and there is no alternatives maybe do that (and upload that statement) OR see if you they can go to Gwangju and get an updated record of your marriage... Unfortunately the phone lines for NVC are closed... so you can't chat to a Tier 2 officer to escalate the matter. 

You might also consider emailing the consulate in Seoul and ask them how to manage the situation... they might have some knowledge on the documentation for two foreigners who married before 2008.