Birth, Police, Single Status, Medical Document Validity

[Beau & Digna 5]

Hi All…We’re hoping for some help, and peace of mind.

Our K-1 visa interview is scheduled for October 24, 2011 in Cuba, and we’re wondering if it’s a problem for the US Interests Section in Cuba SPECIFICALLY for us to have the following documents issued to us as of today’s date (July 21, 2011)…a little over 3 months before the interview:

1) Birth Certificate

2) Certificate of Single Status

3) Police records

4) Medical Exam

I haven’t been able to confirm how long these documents are valid for at the US Interest Section in Cuba. I believe the Birth Certificate is valid from birth until death, and Police Records are valid for one year, and the Medical Exam is valid for one year. I have no idea how long the Certificate of Single Status is valid prior to the interview. I understand that the US Interest Section in Cuba won’t pay any attention to the expiration dates on these documents issued by Cuba, but will go with their own guidelines…(Whatever they are…and never reply to when you email them these questions).

Have other recent K-1 visa applicants in Cuba, obtained these documents further out from the interview than 3 months? I hope we’re not jumping the gun, but I want to make sure everything is accurate with these documents well in advance of the interview…for example when we obtained Birth Certificates for her, and two sons…all 3 had errors, and it took some time to correct this.

Any advice, knowledge, or experience would greatly be appreciated. Thanks, and best wishes to everyone on here.

Beau and Digna

[Darnell 8,478]

Here's a recent approval, perhaps you can ask them about it?

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=86467

and remember, click yer flag - it takes you to yer country portal, can study much there.

[Beau & Digna 5]

Here's a recent approval, perhaps you can ask them about it?

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=86467

and remember, click yer flag - it takes you to yer country portal, can study much there.

Thanks Darnell,

I go to the Cuba portal quite regularly, and I know Claudia and others on the Cuba portal will respond with what they've experienced...but I'm thinking none of us in our small Cuba portal really know for sure about the validity duration of these documents, and we just have to take a chance with this, but that's not how I like to work with something as important as this for all of us here on VJ.

I know other countries have their unique "things", but the US Interest Section in Cuba website says that we MUST have all the documents that I've listed above, before we can even schedule an interview, which is currently 8-9 MONTH AWAY! In reality, I know none of us have all of these items complete prior to scheduling an interview, but if you call 5-6 times at $5 a call, they may schedule an interview...sooner or later.

We can follow instructions if they are given, but we don't know what to do if they conflict so much!!! Included in our Packet 3 is form I-156K obviously, but it's the March 1998 version!!! Should we fill out the forms they gave us by hand, or download the current version to fill out? The I-156K specifically says "previos editions obsolete" (1998?)...I could go on-and-on-and-on-again...ha ha.

Thanks again Darnell...

Beau and Digna

[Claudia2010 1]

Beau and Digna you are right Cuba is definitely an unique and complicated country lol. I believe the time lines you have are some what correct we had our interview which he has approved thank god and i believe he got his papers way before the interview..birth certificate its fine and i believe the single status and police reports are good for 6 months so your timeframe is good...schedules for the medical are crazy so get him asap done k...good luck..and if you have the time and resources i learned that someone actually got an earlier interview by calling the 1800 number..

[Beau & Digna 5]

Beau and Digna you are right Cuba is definitely an unique and complicated country lol. I believe the time lines you have are some what correct we had our interview which he has approved thank god and i believe he got his papers way before the interview..birth certificate its fine and i believe the single status and police reports are good for 6 months so your timeframe is good...schedules for the medical are crazy so get him asap done k...good luck..and if you have the time and resources i learned that someone actually got an earlier interview by calling the 1800 number..

Laughing silently...(ha ha)...We tried to advance our interview many times earlier by calling the 1-800 number, as I've seen it's possible for some, but to no avail for us. At this point, we're letting it be what it is. I'm headed there mid-August and again for the interview. We've got the medical already scheduled for late September. I thank you very much for letting us all know. I wouldn't have expected a medical appointment would be hard to get, but apparently it is. One question though...Do you know if your fiance filled out very old forms that the US Interest Section in Cuba gave him (1998+), or did you guys fill out the most current forms? Thanks Claudia.

Beau and Digna

[Erica & Pavel 1]

Laughing silently...(ha ha)...We tried to advance our interview many times earlier by calling the 1-800 number, as I've seen it's possible for some, but to no avail for us. At this point, we're letting it be what it is. I'm headed there mid-August and again for the interview. We've got the medical already scheduled for late September. I thank you very much for letting us all know. I wouldn't have expected a medical appointment would be hard to get, but apparently it is. One question though...Do you know if your fiance filled out very old forms that the US Interest Section in Cuba gave him (1998+), or did you guys fill out the most current forms? Thanks Claudia.

Beau and Digna

These documents are valid only for six months I have them and they do state it at the bottom of the form!

[Beau & Digna 5]

These documents are valid only for six months I have them and they do state it at the bottom of the form!

Erica y Pavel,

On the bottom of what form? We don't see this anywhere. All of these documents originate in Cuba, and the the US Interest Section in Cuba doesn't necesiarly need to go by the expiration dates that Cuba specifies. Thanks.

Beau and Digna

[Beau & Digna 5]

These documents are valid only for six months I have them and they do state it at the bottom of the form!

Erica y Pavel,

In addition to which form states this, I was curious why you would have these documents already if your NOA1 was issued June 2011. I don't think there is much of a chance for your interview to happen in the next 6 months, but maybe you will be lucky, otherwise you will need to obtain all of these documents again if the 6 month validity is indeed correct. Thanks again.

Beau and Digna

[Darnell 8,478]

OK - after thinking a bit, and sleeping - I'll suggest this -

Since yer in a K-1, yer at the whim of the entity in Cuba (US Special Services)

but

spousal visa type, CR-1/IR-1, they have the document intake for the immigration visa, the DS-230, that has all of these civil documents (sans the single certificate) that you've mentioned.

Here's a really strong suggestion - if you do it, report results back, it'd be cool (for you and other folks chasing Visas in Cuba) -

Call into NVC, ask to speak to a supervisor, ask specifically about the expiration / validity of these documents for Cuba. He / she may not know, exactly - and if that's the case, ask about getting a Visa Specialist on the phone.

Good Luck !

---

PS - I mentioned yer portal, solely so that you could find and contact others who have done the K-1 interview this year in Cuba - it's still up to you to contact them (via PM perhaps?) and ask them, directly.

---

PPS - IF you get 'the answer' - hey - edit the Embassy Info page for Cuba, add in the information you've gleaned - helps those coming up behing you..

Edited July 22, 2011 by Darnell

[Elizabeth-Yuniel 0]

Laughing silently...(ha ha)...We tried to advance our interview many times earlier by calling the 1-800 number, as I've seen it's possible for some, but to no avail for us. At this point, we're letting it be what it is. I'm headed there mid-August and again for the interview. We've got the medical already scheduled for late September. I thank you very much for letting us all know. I wouldn't have expected a medical appointment would be hard to get, but apparently it is. One question though...Do you know if your fiance filled out very old forms that the US Interest Section in Cuba gave him (1998+), or did you guys fill out the most current forms? Thanks Claudia.

Beau and Digna

I filled out the packet that Cuba gave my fiance back in April,I hope it is ok for our interview in Sept..I am planning to go!!!In regarding the medical exam they originally gave him the appt for August, but because it was so close to the interview I had to pay to move his appt up for June, and it took about 3 weeks before they gave him the results...The police record is dated June and the one of him been single I believe is dated May..The only thing you should make sure is that they give your fiance the up dated medical form..(modelo DS-3025 ) also make sure she makes photo copy before she give it to the embassy the day of the interview she will need it for the process of the green card..This was told by another VJ member that her fiance is here already..

Elizabeth and Yuniel

[Erica & Pavel 1]

Erica y Pavel,

In addition to which form states this, I was curious why you would have these documents already if your NOA1 was issued June 2011. I don't think there is much of a chance for your interview to happen in the next 6 months, but maybe you will be lucky, otherwise you will need to obtain all of these documents again if the 6 month validity is indeed correct. Thanks again.

Beau and Digna

I have these documents because I was recently married in cuba and brought them just in case I would need them and if you read them it does have a date on the birth certificate with an expiration and on the police record it says expires in 6 months. In addition Iam perfectly aware those documents are not of any good anymore but my process is different from yours because I will issue new ones at the NVC stage! Listen, I was just trying to help in giving you some info you can do what ever you want.

[Beau & Digna 5]

I have these documents because I was recently married in cuba and brought them just in case I would need them and if you read them it does have a date on the birth certificate with an expiration and on the police record it says expires in 6 months. In addition Iam perfectly aware those documents are not of any good anymore but my process is different from yours because I will issue new ones at the NVC stage! Listen, I was just trying to help in giving you some info you can do what ever you want.

Erica y Pavel,

I’m sorry that I’ve obviously offended you guys. We sincerely appreciate the advice, again sorry. I was basically looking for documentation of the validity period for these documents as far as the US Interest Section is concerned. The 6 month expiration that is shown on your Cuba Police Report means nothing to the US…The US goes by their own guidelines. I just didn’t know which document you were referring to when you replied…I was thinking maybe everyone on here could have it on a black-and-white copy for support.

We’re thinking we’ll be pretty safe obtaining these documents at this stage (already in the works), but this has driven me a bit nuts over the previous months waiting and wondering when is too early or too late to obtain these documents. I’ve researched a lot on VJ and elsewhere, and time frames vary from 30 days – 1 year…each consulate has their own requirements...We just happen to not know what those requirements are at the US Interest Section in Cuba. We were trying to help as well.

Peace,

Beau and Digna

[Darnell 8,478]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/320802-birth-police-single-status-medical-document-validity/page__view__findpost__p__4797227

Suggest you call NVC, whilst they're still open. They'll know for Cuba, if you can get the right person there.

Edited July 23, 2011 by Darnell

[Beau & Digna 5]

OK - after thinking a bit, and sleeping - I'll suggest this -

Since yer in a K-1, yer at the whim of the entity in Cuba (US Special Services)

but

spousal visa type, CR-1/IR-1, they have the document intake for the immigration visa, the DS-230, that has all of these civil documents (sans the single certificate) that you've mentioned.

Here's a really strong suggestion - if you do it, report results back, it'd be cool (for you and other folks chasing Visas in Cuba) -

Call into NVC, ask to speak to a supervisor, ask specifically about the expiration / validity of these documents for Cuba. He / she may not know, exactly - and if that's the case, ask about getting a Visa Specialist on the phone.

Good Luck !

---

PS - I mentioned yer portal, solely so that you could find and contact others who have done the K-1 interview this year in Cuba - it's still up to you to contact them (via PM perhaps?) and ask them, directly.

---

PPS - IF you get 'the answer' - hey - edit the Embassy Info page for Cuba, add in the information you've gleaned - helps those coming up behing you..

Thanks for the suggestion Darnell…I hadn’t thought to contact NVC rather than the US Interest Section in Cuba…K-1’s have such a short stay at NVC, I’ve not studied their functions/capabilities much…and basically pretty much forgot about them.

I took your advice, and contacted NVC today twice…Unfortunately, I had no luck…even after asking for a Supervisor and Visa Specialist…I was just flat out told that our case is in Havana and there is nothing they could tell me about that “consulate”, and I will need to contact the US Interest Section in Cuba for more information. Go figure…we have to call Cuba to find out about US policies.

Oh well…I tried to get something concrete, but we do feel more secure with our document timelines now after all the input from everyone. Thanks. I encourage others to email the US Interest Section in Cuba the same questions…maybe…eventually…we will know.

Thanks again everyone, and best wishes.

Beau and Digna

[Darnell 8,478]

perhaps reform the question for Monday ? something to the effect of:

Hey - civil documents for a CR-1 to Cuba, what's the length of validity from issuance date ?

---

again, my point on this, is that NVC does intake for civil documents on the CR-1/IR-1 - so they should know about this, for the civil documents.

Whatever their answer is for the CR-1, should be the same for the K-1 (exception of the single status certificate) as it's the same place (Cuba).