Interview instructions asking for petitioner prior marriage divorce AND marriage certificates

[Dan and Akari 44]

Received an email with instructions for my wife's interview next month in Bangkok.  I am a bit confused/stressed because the email states:

 

Prior to your interview, you must scan and upload the following documents into the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website by accessing the following link: https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx

  

Petitioner’s heading 

 

-          All previous marriage and divorce certificate (if any).  

 

I've never been asked for the marriage certificate from my pervious marriage.

In every other document I have read about this process, I am only required to provide a certified copy of my final divorce decree, but reading the above language literally it says "AND".  Even clicking this link https://th.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/packets/ later in the email takes you another link to a document with specific instructions for the Thai embassy and it says:

 

"If you are applying for an IR1, CR1, or F2A visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident and your petitioning spouse was previously married, then you must submit the following documents to prove the current marriage is valid:   ▪ Evidence of the termination of EVERY prior marriage your petitioning spouse has had. This evidence must be an original or certified copy of one of the following documents:  FINAL legal divorce decree, death certificate, or annulment papers."

 

No mention of marriage certificate from prior marriage.

 

SO...is my previous marriage certificate required or is this another example of confusing language?

[Dashinka 24,657]

I’ll take Confusing Language for $1,000 Alex.   

 

I would go with the specific language found for the Thai consulate as I have never heard anyone being required to also submit the marriage certificate from a marriage that has ended in divorce.

 

Good Luck!

[Dan and Akari 44]

4 hours ago, Dashinka said:

I’ll take Confusing Language for $1,000 Alex.   

 

I would go with the specific language found for the Thai consulate as I have never heard anyone being required to also submit the marriage certificate from a marriage that has ended in divorce.

 

Good Luck!

Precisely my thought, but as you can imagine, at this stage we are getting anxious that we have everything buttoned up.  After further research,(and seeing the image they attached to the email), I see the following language which clarifies the blanket statement about marriage AND divorce certificates.  We are all lumped into the same category for this email.

 

Petitioner's divorce certificate (s) of every prior marriage (s) for Spouse visa (IR1, CR1, and F2A) • Petitioner and biological parent's marriage and divorce certificate (s) of every prior marriage (s) for Stepchild visa (IR2, CR2, and F2) • Petitioner's birth crtificate for Parent visa (IR5) and Sibling visa (F4   Appreciate the quick reply and Jeopardy reference.

[Bethie 104]

8 hours ago, Dan and Akari said:

Received an email with instructions for my wife's interview next month in Bangkok.  I am a bit confused/stressed because the email states:

 

Prior to your interview, you must scan and upload the following documents into the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website by accessing the following link: https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx

  

Petitioner’s heading 

 

-          All previous marriage and divorce certificate (if any).  

 

I've never been asked for the marriage certificate from my pervious marriage.

In every other document I have read about this process, I am only required to provide a certified copy of my final divorce decree, but reading the above language literally it says "AND".  Even clicking this link https://th.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/packets/ later in the email takes you another link to a document with specific instructions for the Thai embassy and it says:

 

"If you are applying for an IR1, CR1, or F2A visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident and your petitioning spouse was previously married, then you must submit the following documents to prove the current marriage is valid:   ▪ Evidence of the termination of EVERY prior marriage your petitioning spouse has had. This evidence must be an original or certified copy of one of the following documents:  FINAL legal divorce decree, death certificate, or annulment papers."

 

No mention of marriage certificate from prior marriage.

 

SO...is my previous marriage certificate required or is this another example of confusing language?

Actually this happened to us, my husband had his 10 year greencard interview back in 2019 - Houston Tx. and they asked for my Egyptian marriage certificate  along with the Egytian divorce certificate showing the divorce was registured.

[Lo&jo 4]

It happened to us too.. but it was 12 years ago..

[Dan and Akari 44]

23 minutes ago, Lo&jo said:

It happened to us too.. but it was 12 years ago..

What was your specific scenario?  My last post showed additional detail that the marriage certificate is not for spouse visa.
 

Were you required to have the certified marriage certificate for a spouse visa?  This would be the first I have ever seen or heard of this requirement for a spouse visa. Literally every other instruction I have seen for CR1 only references certified divorce decree. 

[SalishSea 17,987]

It is atypical, and must be consulate-specific.   If they’re asking for that, there is no way around it.

[pushbrk 13,011]

You are interpreting that one line as a firm request, but you do not quote enough of the instructions before that to determine proper context.  There ARE situations where a female petitioner would provide a prior marriage certificate, as evidence of a name change due to marriage.

 

On the other hand, is getting the marriage certificate a big problem?

[Thunderbolt 172]

We didn't do CR only K visa so it wasn't the same thing, but I only had to submit my divorce decree from my previous marriage to the BKK embassy. 

[Dan and Akari 44]

Here is the full email. Again following the link at the bottom embedded in the red text, you are taken to a page where you can open English instructions that only reference needing a certified divorce decree for CR1 visas. this appears to be an email sent for different types of immigrant visas. 
 

Dear Applicant,  

  

Your immigrant visa interview appointment date has been scheduled on 20-MAY-2024, at 09:00 A.M.           

  

Prior to your interview, you must scan and upload the following documents into the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website by accessing the following link: https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx

  

Petitioner’s heading 

 

-          All previous marriage and divorce certificate (if any).  

 

Applicant’s heading

 

-         All previous marriage and divorce certificate (if any).  

 -        Results of medical examination 

 

All civil document(s) which do not come in English, must be submitted with certified English translation from an accredited translation firm.

 

All documents must be uploaded under appropriate heading on CEAC dropdown menu and must be uploaded in the same file.  Your documents may be rejected if uploaded under incorrect heading or in separate files.    

 

You MUST bring all originals of required documents to your visa interview.  All original documents, excluding your passport, will be returned to you after the interview. 

 

REMARKS: You must review The DOCUMENT CHECKLIST on this link: https://th.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/packets/ before coming for visa interview. Failure to bring the required documents and their originals, may result in cancellation of your visa interview and you will be asked to reschedule at a later time.

 

[Dan and Akari 44]

Here is the image that was attached to the email and provides additional information. In particular, pay attention to the text in the lower right corner below bullet point 11. In my opinion this email is used to send instructions sent to applicants of multiple visa types and the language about uploading marriage and divorce certificates is a blanket statement. The attached image provides more clarity on who needs what document(s). 
 

[Lo&jo 4]

It was for K1 visa. They asked me not only for my previous marriage certificate, but also for my divorce certificate, documents from the court hearing and the final court verdict. Later repeated for adjustment of status..

[Lo&jo 4]

I will also add that the same documents were requested from my  husband (petitioner). My husband was married twice, the first marriage ended in an annulment (1969) and the second with the death of his partner (2008). He had termination certificates for both marriages, but we received an RFE because it was noticed that the 1969 certificate was missing some kind of signature. Due to an error 40 years ago, the entire procedure was suspended until the correction was made. Ultimately, we managed to explain it and even get the signature, but the situation was scary..

 

[pushbrk 13,011]

I expect you can do without the marriage certificate unless it is evidence of name change.  But, I would take it anyway.

[Dan and Akari 44]

6 hours ago, pushbrk said:

I expect you can do without the marriage certificate unless it is evidence of name change.  But, I would take it anyway.

The problem is that I don’t have a certified copy of the marriage certificate from my previous marriage and I am in Thailand helping my wife prepare everything for her medical, interview, and moving out of our condo. 
 

I believe the courthouse has e-certified documents they can send me via email, but I don’t know if w-certified documents are acceptable. 
 

I asked another member of VJ who was just approved in Thailand if he had to produce this document.