Additional Documentation Required - Bangkok Embassy

[Nahathai_Ike 0]

Good morning to all,

We went to interview this morning and everything was OK, except there was a surprise turn on one piece of documentation that I did not have, which is the Certificate of Naturalization. My certificate was lost for a long time and I did not use it when submitting the request on the I-130. (I used an unexpired US passport instead.) Everything was approved by the USCIS and NVC levels.

I knew that it was no way that I could get a US passport without first submitting the Naturalization Certificate.

Since I am with my wife right now in Bangkok, what are my options? We plan to go back to the embassy tomorrow. (When my wife went to interview, she did not have my passport with her.) I am thinking about surrendering my original US passport to her tomorrow. I am not sure whether it makes any differences. (I will tell the reason based on the previous paragraph.)

I also contacted my lawyer and she was also surprised to hear that the approval was done by at least two agencies. I hate to have this one document blocked our marriage relationship here.

Any recommendations so far. We have around 24 hours to think it through. Thanks.

Edited April 21, 2009 by Nahathai_Ike

[pushbrk 12,882]

Good morning to all,

We went to interview this morning and everything was OK, except there was a surprise turn on one piece of documentation that I did not have, which is the Certificate of Naturalization. My certificate was lost for a long time and I did not use it when submitting the request on the I-130. (I used an unexpired US passport instead.) Everything was approved by the USCIS and NVC levels.

I knew that it was no way that I could get a US passport without first submitting the Naturalization Certificate.

Since I am with my wife right now in Bangkok, what are my options? We plan to go back to the embassy tomorrow. (When my wife went to interview, she did not have my passport with her.) I am thinking about surrendering my original US passport to her tomorrow. I am not sure whether it makes any differences. (I will tell the reason based on the previous paragraph.)

I also contacted my lawyer and she was also surprised to hear that the approval was done by at least two agencies. I hate to have this one document blocked our marriage relationship here.

Any recommendations so far. We have around 24 hours to think it through. Thanks.

Go with her if you can but certainly let her carry your passport into the Embassy. She should have done that the first time anyway to show you were there in Bangkok with her.

[AaronLV 12]

The Bangkok embassy has been quite a pain lately with paperwork. Several people have had to resubmit paperwork that was in their packet.

I would make an appointment with the American Services unit of the Embassy, bring your passport and g221a and explain that you lost your certificate of naturalization and how could you get a US Passport without it. Maybe they can help you out with not having the certificate. I personally would do that prior to resubmitting your passport in place of the naturalization certificate.

[daboyz 36]

The Bangkok embassy has been quite a pain lately with paperwork. Several people have had to resubmit paperwork that was in their packet.

I would make an appointment with the American Services unit of the Embassy, bring your passport and g221a and explain that you lost your certificate of naturalization and how could you get a US Passport without it. Maybe they can help you out with not having the certificate. I personally would do that prior to resubmitting your passport in place of the naturalization certificate.

They allowed me back into the Embassy with my wife to submit additional evidence on Monday or Wednesday between 13:00 and 15:00. So I would go back there with her tomorrow with your passport. They let me in for this a little over a month ago.

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

yea, BKK are being real PITA's lately.

for once, I Concur with pushbrk, your wife should have had your passport on top of everything so they know you were out there waiting.

I'm going through the same 221g BS with them now......jumping through ridiculous friggin' hoops.

As daboyz mentioned, on your 221g form, it says you can only go there to return the documents

on Monday and wednesday from 1-3pm. But at least you can go in with her. Show them your passport and make a copy of it to give to them. Explain to them you are here not there and maybe they'll go with your passport.

I dont know if they can make those documents for you there or not.

Worst case scenario, you'll have to return to the states, get the document and send to her.

[daboyz 36]

To add to that, I never once throughout this process sent in, or showed anyone a birth certificate. I used my passport as proof of citizenship throughout the entire process.

[Nahathai_Ike 0]

yea, BKK are being real PITA's lately.

for once, I Concur with pushbrk, your wife should have had your passport on top of everything so they know you were out there waiting.

I'm going through the same 221g BS with them now......jumping through ridiculous friggin' hoops.

As daboyz mentioned, on your 221g form, it says you can only go there to return the documents

on Monday and wednesday from 1-3pm. But at least you can go in with her. Show them your passport and make a copy of it to give to them. Explain to them you are here not there and maybe they'll go with your passport.

I dont know if they can make those documents for you there or not.

Worst case scenario, you'll have to return to the states, get the document and send to her.

Thank you for your comments.

Certificate of Naturalization will take approximately eight months to get the replacement. It will cost over $500 to get a replacement. I do not believe that this certificate will block the visa path for my wife.

Right now, I also contacted my attorney in the States to send a letter addressing the US embassy regarding this surprise documentation that was not called in the first place. She informed me that the instructions in I-130 is very clear and specific regarding substitution in order to prove of the citizenship.

(I assumed that the reason that the Consular Officer asked for the certificate of Naturalization is to proof that I am the US Citizen. I do not know what reason that he asked for it. However, if I am not a US Citizen, how can the application go through and get approved by USCIS and NVC?)

We will go back tomorrow, since it is Wednesday in BKK. I do not know whether we need to make the appointment with the Embassy or not. We have the G221 with us.

Thanks again.

[mommymeow 0]

i do agree with AaronLV, make the appointment with the American Service Unit or you can just go there and tell the guard that you need to contact with American Service Unit. Asking them about what you should do if you lost your Naturalization Certificate which they asked for that at your wife's interview. That way you will be able to get inside the embassy with your wife and you will be able to submit whatever they requested for about the visa.

[Nahathai_Ike 0]

i do agree with AaronLV, make the appointment with the American Service Unit or you can just go there and tell the guard that you need to contact with American Service Unit. Asking them about what you should do if you lost your Naturalization Certificate which they asked for that at your wife's interview. That way you will be able to get inside the embassy with your wife and you will be able to submit whatever they requested for about the visa.

Additionally,

I will bring the following:

1. Our I-130, with instructions to demonstrate what are the requirements;

2. My original US Passport

3. Letter from my attorney explaining submitting the documentation and explain the legality of all documents submitted.

4. G221 form

5. My wife's passport and photograph required

I do not think we should carry any heavy stuffs that we brought to the embassy today. We have a lot of documentations. We hate to bring them back again.

I will keep you posted. I believe that we do not have to make the appointment online, just go in there with my wife with the G221. If I have to make the appointment on-line, please post it as well. Thanks.

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

with the 221g, you can go in, just not the initial interview.

I'm curious, did your wife have the fat old bald guy?

was he a ####### to her?

When you go back in, please let me know if she goes to the same interviewer

or another member of the staff takes the papers.

Thanks

i'm just wondering if i have to friggin' go back there for this 221g or not.

maybe if they give her more sheit......and has to go the 3rd time

[daboyz 36]

yea, BKK are being real PITA's lately.

for once, I Concur with pushbrk, your wife should have had your passport on top of everything so they know you were out there waiting.

I'm going through the same 221g BS with them now......jumping through ridiculous friggin' hoops.

As daboyz mentioned, on your 221g form, it says you can only go there to return the documents

on Monday and wednesday from 1-3pm. But at least you can go in with her. Show them your passport and make a copy of it to give to them. Explain to them you are here not there and maybe they'll go with your passport.

I dont know if they can make those documents for you there or not.

Worst case scenario, you'll have to return to the states, get the document and send to her.

Thank you for your comments.

Certificate of Naturalization will take approximately eight months to get the replacement. It will cost over $500 to get a replacement. I do not believe that this certificate will block the visa path for my wife.

Right now, I also contacted my attorney in the States to send a letter addressing the US embassy regarding this surprise documentation that was not called in the first place. She informed me that the instructions in I-130 is very clear and specific regarding substitution in order to prove of the citizenship.

(I assumed that the reason that the Consular Officer asked for the certificate of Naturalization is to proof that I am the US Citizen. I do not know what reason that he asked for it. However, if I am not a US Citizen, how can the application go through and get approved by USCIS and NVC?)

We will go back tomorrow, since it is Wednesday in BKK. I do not know whether we need to make the appointment with the Embassy or not. We have the G221 with us.

Thanks again.

Email them. That's what I did. They respond pretty quick. Use this address and put your case number as the subject. make sure you use this address:

visasbkk2@state.gov

This was one of their responses:

During the interview, the applicant submitted only 5 photos, some money

transfers, 2 cards. Your 2007 income is above the poverty guidelines,

but the consular officer has noted an IRS lien of 11K from JUN 2008,

which would bring the income to below poverty guidelines. Thus, in

order to process the case, the applicant needs to submit more

substantial evidence of relationship and information about the lien.

Regards,

Correspondence Unit

This was another:

Thank you for your email. Please notify the applicant that she can come

to the Embassy to submit pending documents on any business Monday and

Wednesday in the afternoon between 13.00 and 15.00.

Regards,

Correspondence Unit

[afisher 0]

Was the 221G because of the Naturalization Cert. maybe?

[daboyz 36]

Thinking about my case and this case. Shouldn't all this proof of citizenship and I-864 issues be handled by USCIS or NVC much earlier in the process? It seems like if there is an issue with either of these, that the case should never be sent to the consulate.

Just my opinion.

[AaronLV 12]

When you go back in, please let me know if she goes to the same interviewer

or another member of the staff takes the papers.

Thanks

i'm just wondering if i have to friggin' go back there for this 221g or not.

maybe if they give her more sheit......and has to go the 3rd time

In our case we didn't see the consular again just the girl took our paperwork into the back. They wouldn't let me in to sit with her when we went back for our 221g.

As part of your packet 3 you should have included a copy of your biographical page of your passport. They should have already seen this. Another important item in providing your US Passport as proof you are a US Citizen, is it must still have a validity period of 5 Years on it. If it is less then 5 years you are most likely going to need your Certificate of Naturalization. I just looked this up in the instructions on filling out the forms. I had less then 5 years on mine, and I had included my birth certificate with my application.

[Nahathai_Ike 0]

When you go back in, please let me know if she goes to the same interviewer

or another member of the staff takes the papers.

Thanks

i'm just wondering if i have to friggin' go back there for this 221g or not.

maybe if they give her more sheit......and has to go the 3rd time

In our case we didn't see the consular again just the girl took our paperwork into the back. They wouldn't let me in to sit with her when we went back for our 221g.

As part of your packet 3 you should have included a copy of your biographical page of your passport. They should have already seen this. Another important item in providing your US Passport as proof you are a US Citizen, is it must still have a validity period of 5 Years on it. If it is less then 5 years you are most likely going to need your Certificate of Naturalization. I just looked this up in the instructions on filling out the forms. I had less then 5 years on mine, and I had included my birth certificate with my application.

Hello,

We are not submitting packet 3. We are on the CR1.

I also had the photocopy of the name change certificate during my naturalization with me. It was granted by the immigration court in 1994. I got my first US passport in 1994. After 10 years, this is my second book, which will be expired in 2014. My current passport was issued in 2004. I believe that my court order of name changes by Immigration Court in 1994 was a proof that I had been the US citizen since 1994. The letter itself came from USCIS.

My lawyer was also drafting the letter indiciating that, as a part of I-130 for submission, unexpired US Passport is sufficient. There were the options to use the birth certificate, Naturalization Certificate or unexpired US Passport. Everything had been approved in the USCIS and NVC levels.

I did not know that this bald headed guy pulled us another surprise. He said that everything was a OK in the financial information, evidence of relationship and everything else. The thing that he argued was that, the petitioner needed to submit the certificate of Naturalization. I was totally amazed that, how could a non-US citizen could pass all of the paperwork level from the USCIS up to NVC and now, going to the consulate level.