RFE'd DS 230 ADVICE NEEDED!!!

[Schmelle 0]

Hello all..

I have been RFE's for my DS230 and I recieved the letter today and I have a couple of questions and I hoping you all can help me so that I dont mess it up this time!!!

So the first red circle is around PART 1 Question #2 Other Names Used or Aliases (if married woman give maiden name).

My Answer was N/A because I did not change my name when I got married and I do not use any other names.

So how to I answer the question now?? Any advice??

The next red circle was around my present address and I think it is because I left the Office Phone number BLANk...however, I did change my Canadian address since this whole process started and I have the email which the NVC sent us saying they recieved my change of address. I guess I will include this email just to be safe.

Also they are saying that maybe my police report was not good even though it was Canada Wide Search....I ordered another one anyway from the Toronto Police Department and I should have it in a couple of days.

NEXT, #20...I think it is because I had my residence start at 1993 at which point I was 18 and not 16...that was my mistake. BUT just to be clear...you don't need to put specific address....they only was CITY, PROVINCE, COUNTY, DATES right? not street address and all that stuff.....please help here as well.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can pass on some kind words of direction.

Schmelle

[Jigi 0]

Hi

Canada people please help..... I wish i could...

Jigi

[kim-786 0]

Hello all..

I have been RFE's for my DS230 and I recieved the letter today and I have a couple of questions and I hoping you all can help me so that I dont mess it up this time!!!

So the first red circle is around PART 1 Question #2 Other Names Used or Aliases (if married woman give maiden name).

My Answer was N/A because I did not change my name when I got married and I do not use any other names.

So how to I answer the question now?? Any advice??

The next red circle was around my present address and I think it is because I left the Office Phone number BLANk...however, I did change my Canadian address since this whole process started and I have the email which the NVC sent us saying they recieved my change of address. I guess I will include this email just to be safe.

Also they are saying that maybe my police report was not good even though it was Canada Wide Search....I ordered another one anyway from the Toronto Police Department and I should have it in a couple of days.

NEXT, #20...I think it is because I had my residence start at 1993 at which point I was 18 and not 16...that was my mistake. BUT just to be clear...you don't need to put specific address....they only was CITY, PROVINCE, COUNTY, DATES right? not street address and all that stuff.....please help here as well.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can pass on some kind words of direction.

For Q2, even you are not changing your name, you must put your maiden name an d any other names used. I am not sure about other questions. Hope other people will help you. Good luck!!!

Schmelle

[RandyandRina 2]

I'm sorry to hear about this mishap. I will try to help you here as much as I can, as I heard this before....

Hello all..

I have been RFE's for my DS230 and I recieved the letter today and I have a couple of questions and I hoping you all can help me so that I dont mess it up this time!!!

So the first red circle is around PART 1 Question #2 Other Names Used or Aliases (if married woman give maiden name).

My Answer was N/A because I did not change my name when I got married and I do not use any other names.

So how to I answer the question now?? Any advice??

You have to write ALL names used, for example if your married full name is MARY JANE DOE- SMITH. Your other names should be MARY DOE, MARY J. DOE, MARY JANE DOE

The next red circle was around my present address and I think it is because I left the Office Phone number BLANk...however, I did change my Canadian address since this whole process started and I have the email which the NVC sent us saying they recieved my change of address. I guess I will include this email just to be safe.

Never leave anything blank, write N/A instead. If you do not have an office number, write NONE.

Also they are saying that maybe my police report was not good even though it was Canada Wide Search....I ordered another one anyway from the Toronto Police Department and I should have it in a couple of days.

That will be a great idea. Provide them with the Canada Wide Search and the one from your police locality.

NEXT, #20...I think it is because I had my residence start at 1993 at which point I was 18 and not 16...that was my mistake. BUT just to be clear...you don't need to put specific address....they only was CITY, PROVINCE, COUNTY, DATES right? not street address and all that stuff.....please help here as well.

Yes, that's right you do not need the exact address, just what they are asking for. For your present address, please write the FROM Date then the TO Date write PRESENT. You have to list all the addresses with no gaps since you have reached the age 16.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

~ Rina

Edited October 25, 2007 by RandyandRina

[trailmix 77]

Hi Schmelle,

Sorry to hear you got an RFE, but it seems to be the norm for the DS-230.

A couple of things I wanted to add to what has already been said:

I believe you need to enter your Maiden name in on that second line - even though you didn't change your name. Our DS-230 is for my Husband - so non-issue. I mean they could just be skim reading and not have noticed, so what can you do, other than fill it in even though it seems redundant. I would put my maiden name and then (did not change my name when I got married).

As for the police certificate, who did you get your first one from? Whether it is RCMP or Local Police, as long as it is a Canada wide search it doesn't matter - so I too find this confusing. I am assuming you have no criminal charges on your record (therefore you didn't require a fingerprint check) - they should accept either.

That said, you are doing the right thing by getting another one - it would take you longer to argue with them than to get a new one!

Edited October 25, 2007 by trailmix

[indianheart 2]

you need to answer "NONE" if you have used no other names

[trailmix 77]

you need to answer "NONE" if you have used no other names

Good point indianheart - because they do seem to frown on N/A being used in place of none

[chakaas 0]

So the first red circle is around PART 1 Question #2 Other Names Used or Aliases (if married woman give maiden name).

My Answer was N/A because I did not change my name when I got married and I do not use any other names.

So how to I answer the question now?? Any advice??

when i sent in the DS230 for my wife i put her maiden name in Question #2 even though she did not change her name. after i submitted the DS230, i thought i made a mistake since her name and maiden name were the same. i thought that i would have to put "None" or "N/A" or something and was worried but i called the NVC operator and she said it would be okay. we did not get an RFE and it has been approved.

i would recommend putting the maiden name, even if it is the same as your name and call an operator just to confirm.

good luck!

Edited October 25, 2007 by chakaas

[Schmelle 0]

Hi Schmelle,

Sorry to hear you got an RFE, but it seems to be the norm for the DS-230.

A couple of things I wanted to add to what has already been said:

I believe you need to enter your Maiden name in on that second line - even though you didn't change your name. Our DS-230 is for my Husband - so non-issue. I mean they could just be skim reading and not have noticed, so what can you do, other than fill it in even though it seems redundant. I would put my maiden name and then (did not change my name when I got married).

As for the police certificate, who did you get your first one from? Whether it is RCMP or Local Police, as long as it is a Canada wide search it doesn't matter - so I too find this confusing. I am assuming you have no criminal charges on your record (therefore you didn't require a fingerprint check) - they should accept either.

That said, you are doing the right thing by getting another one - it would take you longer to argue with them than to get a new one!

Hey Trailmix,

Thanks for the advice...I think I will put NONE and then attached a letter explaining everything that they asked me to change. As for my police report...I ordered mine from Winnipeg because I was in Florida at the time and you can send in your documents and they will mail it to you. (I do not have any criminal record so it was fine). It is a Canada Wide SEarch and honestly I think it's a mistake that they are asking me for another one...it's because i had a gap in my "places of residence"...it was a stupid error on my part...I started my list from when I was 18 instead of 16...totally my fault. Anyway, even though I think it is fine...I will wait to recieve the other police report from Toronto before I send it in.

It's just another snag in the process...such a drag...my husband and I didnt have any of this drama when he came to Canada!!!! Go figure!!!

Cheers, Schmelle

[Tussie 0]

You know, I think for the name question, I would put down, only if it applies to you, the name changes you have made since you have been married. I think that is a reason why my I-130 is taking for freaken ever because I just changed my last name through the social security office. I had my maiden name, then I have my german name and the american version of the german name. The american alphabet does not contain ä with the two dots above it so in the US you would pronounce this letter as ae. I think that is what the hold up is. My social security, passport and work information has my current last name. But some of my bank and bills statements have my maident. Germany only has the marriage certificate with the German last name.

[Ness and Keith 0]

So the first red circle is around PART 1 Question #2 Other Names Used or Aliases (if married woman give maiden name).

My Answer was N/A because I did not change my name when I got married and I do not use any other names.

So how to I answer the question now?? Any advice??

You have to write ALL names used, for example if your married full name is MARY JANE DOE- SMITH. Your other names should be MARY DOE, MARY J. DOE, MARY JANE DOE

I agree with Rina on this.. Even me got RFE here even i put my full maiden name.. NVC want that you will put all names u used when ur still single and until u got married.

[trailmix 77]

Hi Schmelle,

Sorry to hear you got an RFE, but it seems to be the norm for the DS-230.

A couple of things I wanted to add to what has already been said:

I believe you need to enter your Maiden name in on that second line - even though you didn't change your name. Our DS-230 is for my Husband - so non-issue. I mean they could just be skim reading and not have noticed, so what can you do, other than fill it in even though it seems redundant. I would put my maiden name and then (did not change my name when I got married).

As for the police certificate, who did you get your first one from? Whether it is RCMP or Local Police, as long as it is a Canada wide search it doesn't matter - so I too find this confusing. I am assuming you have no criminal charges on your record (therefore you didn't require a fingerprint check) - they should accept either.

That said, you are doing the right thing by getting another one - it would take you longer to argue with them than to get a new one!

Hey Trailmix,

Thanks for the advice...I think I will put NONE and then attached a letter explaining everything that they asked me to change. As for my police report...I ordered mine from Winnipeg because I was in Florida at the time and you can send in your documents and they will mail it to you. (I do not have any criminal record so it was fine). It is a Canada Wide SEarch and honestly I think it's a mistake that they are asking me for another one...it's because i had a gap in my "places of residence"...it was a stupid error on my part...I started my list from when I was 18 instead of 16...totally my fault. Anyway, even though I think it is fine...I will wait to recieve the other police report from Toronto before I send it in.

It's just another snag in the process...such a drag...my husband and I didnt have any of this drama when he came to Canada!!!! Go figure!!!

Cheers, Schmelle

You know, I just thought of this.

I got an RFE for my DS-230 for not putting 'to present' on the two lines that call for it (meant to write it in with pen after printing it out and forgot to).

Anyway, because it is a 'date' field, my RFE also had this long spiel about Police Certificates, when in fact they didn't need another one, but I KNEW they didn't need another one because I had spoken to the operator and she told me - well mostly told me, what they needed. This made me look at the RFE differently - I think it's a canned answer - ie: any time they send you the RFE for a date related 'error' they throw in all the stuff about the police certificate.

So anyway, I think they just do this as a blanket, 'hey you made a mistake in a date field so you MAY have to get another police certificate if your missed dates aren't already covered by one'.

My RFE is below so you can see all the Police Cert stuff, when in fact they weren't really asking for one, does it look like yours?:

Edited October 26, 2007 by trailmix

[Johnnie Oz 0]

we are K1s (fiance visa) but just wanted to write that trailmix's last comment makes a lot of sense.

Maybe b/c it comes as a relief to us!

Gathering police certificates can by complicated and confusing. In addition, in one part of the instructions we got it says you need a police cert for all place you've lived for more than six months (the checklist), and in another (the supplemental info sheet), all places for more than one year!

Who know what to believe when the RFE says one year, but the DS 230 wants you to list all places you have lived for more than six months. again, somewhat different signals.

I suppose this is due to the fact that some countries have multiple jurisdictions and IF you are a national or current resident of such a country, the six month rule needs to be emphasized since you may need different certs if you have moved around. Other countries have one jurisdiction so you only need one cert.

Let's see if this makes sense:

If you have lived six months in e.g. one place in sweden and six months in another place in sweden, all you need is one nation-wide police certificate.

however some countries would have different certificates for e.g. two different states/provinces. So nationals of those countries need two seperate certs if they have moved between these places.

This is the only reason i can think of for the six month in country of nationality/residence vs one year in other countries. The assumption is that you have spent most time in your current residence or nationality. A safe one.

been trawling this forum for info, and it seems people react badly to RFEs like yours, assuming that more police certs are needed. In fact, they are just telling you that you MIGHT need one.

thanks for being clear-headed about this and esp for sharing your RFE.

C & J

You know, I just thought of this.

I got an RFE for my DS-230 for not putting 'to present' on the two lines that call for it (meant to write it in with pen after printing it out and forgot to).

Anyway, because it is a 'date' field, my RFE also had this long spiel about Police Certificates, when in fact they didn't need another one, but I KNEW they didn't need another one because I had spoken to the operator and she told me - well mostly told me, what they needed. This made me look at the RFE differently - I think it's a canned answer - ie: any time they send you the RFE for a date related 'error' they throw in all the stuff about the police certificate.

So anyway, I think they just do this as a blanket, 'hey you made a mistake in a date field so you MAY have to get another police certificate if your missed dates aren't already covered by one'.

My RFE is below so you can see all the Police Cert stuff, when in fact they weren't really asking for one, does it look like yours?:

[simple_male 1]

Hello all..

I have been RFE's for my DS230 and I recieved the letter today and I have a couple of questions and I hoping you all can help me so that I dont mess it up this time!!!

So the first red circle is around PART 1 Question #2 Other Names Used or Aliases (if married woman give maiden name).

My Answer was N/A because I did not change my name when I got married and I do not use any other names.

So how to I answer the question now?? Any advice??

Answer: You should write "NONE" instead of "N/A."

The next red circle was around my present address and I think it is because I left the Office Phone number BLANk...however, I did change my Canadian address since this whole process started and I have the email which the NVC sent us saying they recieved my change of address. I guess I will include this email just to be safe.

Also they are saying that maybe my police report was not good even though it was Canada Wide Search....I ordered another one anyway from the Toronto Police Department and I should have it in a couple of days.

Answer: You should not leave space blank. If you don't have an office phone, write "NONE." Write down your current address. I am not sure, why your Police certificate is not good. Perhaps the one that you are obtaining will be good to satisfy them.

NEXT, #20...I think it is because I had my residence start at 1993 at which point I was 18 and not 16...that was my mistake. BUT just to be clear...you don't need to put specific address....they only was CITY, PROVINCE, COUNTY, DATES right? not street address and all that stuff.....please help here as well.

Answer: Yes, you only need city, province, country, dates. I don't remember what the question # 10 asks for. Does it asks for address since age 16 or 18?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can pass on some kind words of direction.

Schmelle

[trailmix 77]

thanks for being clear-headed about this and esp for sharing your RFE.

C & J

So I assume this means you won't be getting a cert for the country you lived in for 11 months?

Edited November 30, 2007 by trailmix