NVC RFE birth and marriage certificates

[rosajo 1]

My husband and I both got an RFE from NVC. For me, the applicant, it first says that I had a gap of more than 6 months between residences from age 16. I noticed I had put 1995 instead of 1994 on the last address.

After that comes information about the petitioner's missing information with a checklist referred to at the bottom of the page. But then after that, which is confusing me, says 'BIRTH CERTIFICATE' and under that simply 'Please submit this applicant's original, or a certified copy of the original document listed above.' It doesn't say that what I had submitted was inadequate or missing, like it did for the DS-230 data. What does this mean? I know for certain that I provided the appropriate document for my country, so the question is whether they deemed it inappropriate or what. Maybe it's just standard procedure to ask for it when data on DS-230 needs correction? Though in the case of originals, it would be impossible to submit another one. There's also a paragraph about submitting a marriage certificate, but again, I've already submitted the correct one, which is part of the birth certificate (actually a population register extract containing all personal information).

My country doesn't issue originals, but on our Embassy's website, it says what documents are needed, and that's what I got. It's not 'official looking' like American ones are, but it's official for Sweden. It has the stamp and signature of the person issuing it. I imagined that an NVC employee reviewing a case would refer to instructions for the applicant's nationality, but perhaps that's not the case.

Thanks for any insight.

[dwheels76 5,473]

My husband and I both got an RFE from NVC. For me, the applicant, it first says that I had a gap of more than 6 months between residences from age 16. I noticed I had put 1995 instead of 1994 on the last address.

After that comes information about the petitioner's missing information with a checklist referred to at the bottom of the page. But then after that, which is confusing me, says 'BIRTH CERTIFICATE' and under that simply 'Please submit this applicant's original, or a certified copy of the original document listed above.' It doesn't say that what I had submitted was inadequate or missing, like it did for the DS-230 data. What does this mean? I know for certain that I provided the appropriate document for my country, so the question is whether they deemed it inappropriate or what. Maybe it's just standard procedure to ask for it when data on DS-230 needs correction? Though in the case of originals, it would be impossible to submit another one. There's also a paragraph about submitting a marriage certificate, but again, I've already submitted the correct one, which is part of the birth certificate (actually a population register extract containing all personal information).

My country doesn't issue originals, but on our Embassy's website, it says what documents are needed, and that's what I got. It's not 'official looking' like American ones are, but it's official for Sweden. It has the stamp and signature of the person issuing it. I imagined that an NVC employee reviewing a case would refer to instructions for the applicant's nationality, but perhaps that's not the case.

Thanks for any insight.

You need to call NVC speak to a supervisor. Perhaps omeone teviewing may not know. But just clarify and verify exactly what the RFE is for other than DS-230. Call now.

[Karla.n.Bjorn 0]

My husband is Norwegian but was born in Sweden, so has a Swedish birth certificate. I am interested in what happens. I am worried a bit about the birth certificate, because like you say, it doesn't look as official as I am used to seeing. Keep us posted in what you find out.

[rosajo 1]

I think I'll just put another set of copies in there, and this time write in a cover letter that the documents fulfill the requirement for my country.

Let's just say that the new and 'improved' system is not as efficient as it used to be:).

We shouldn't have to be worried about our birth certificates not looking official. Swedes have emigrated to the US using these very same forms for years and years. Nothing new!

[Tommy and Maria 4]

I think I'll just put another set of copies in there, and this time write in a cover letter that the documents fulfill the requirement for my country.

Let's just say that the new and 'improved' system is not as efficient as it used to be:).

We shouldn't have to be worried about our birth certificates not looking official. Swedes have emigrated to the US using these very same forms for years and years. Nothing new!

something just like this happened to me today. My wife was born in Guatemala, but is a Belizean citizen. They said some pish posh about her original birth certificate not being original. I called right away (knowing that their is no way that can be true since all 13 of her brothers and sisters have the exact same form). They told me they were going to check with a supervisor, could be 15 days, wow. Her ds-230 also had a mistake apparently being one really sucks, she has always lived in the same place, so the dates were tricky because they say since you were 16. Low and behold i had to refill out the entire form.

these places are just great aren't they?

[rosajo 1]

Karla.n.Bjorn, I've looked at the Reciprocity Tables for Sweden and I'll have to sympathize with NVC. It says Personbevis and it doesn't say that the applicant should get the English version, nor what it's called in English. However, on another piece of document, it does say the English version should be requested and what it's called. Here's a link in case you want to include a copy with your IV package. Highly suggested if you don't want an RFE.

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/pk3_supplements/STK-PK3-ENGL-0001-1001.pdf

[rhiannasmom010 0]

I got the same RFE on the year. That is question #30 thatg ask where beneficiary has lived since the age of 16. My hubby has lived at the same address all his life so I did not put the year. I just put to present and I had to resubmit the whole form all over again. I'm hooping I can still get an October interview scheduled with this delay...

[Karla.n.Bjorn 0]

Thanks for the info, Rosajo! I will have my husband do that.

[Karla.n.Bjorn 0]

What does the official Swedish birth certificate look like? The one that my husband has been using says "UTDRAG UR" and is checked "födelse-och dopbok". I am guessing that this is not the correct one to use.

[pushbrk 13,176]

My husband and I both got an RFE from NVC. For me, the applicant, it first says that I had a gap of more than 6 months between residences from age 16. I noticed I had put 1995 instead of 1994 on the last address.

After that comes information about the petitioner's missing information with a checklist referred to at the bottom of the page. But then after that, which is confusing me, says 'BIRTH CERTIFICATE' and under that simply 'Please submit this applicant's original, or a certified copy of the original document listed above.' It doesn't say that what I had submitted was inadequate or missing, like it did for the DS-230 data. What does this mean? I know for certain that I provided the appropriate document for my country, so the question is whether they deemed it inappropriate or what. Maybe it's just standard procedure to ask for it when data on DS-230 needs correction? Though in the case of originals, it would be impossible to submit another one. There's also a paragraph about submitting a marriage certificate, but again, I've already submitted the correct one, which is part of the birth certificate (actually a population register extract containing all personal information).

My country doesn't issue originals, but on our Embassy's website, it says what documents are needed, and that's what I got. It's not 'official looking' like American ones are, but it's official for Sweden. It has the stamp and signature of the person issuing it. I imagined that an NVC employee reviewing a case would refer to instructions for the applicant's nationality, but perhaps that's not the case.

Thanks for any insight.

Was the birth certificate you sent a photocopy of the official document or the actual official document? A photocopy is not sufficient.

[rosajo 1]

Was the birth certificate you sent a photocopy of the official document or the actual official document? A photocopy is not sufficient.

Sweden doesn't issue official birth or marriage certificates. Your birth and other things are registered with the tax authorities and then when you need a copy of this information for whatever purpose, you go there and get a print out. But in the reciprocity tables, it explains which document is needed, with the Swedish word spelled out, and after calling NVC, they seem to be aware of this. The issue seems to be that I was going by a state.gov document called Instructions for Visa Applicants, Stockholm Embassy which states specifically to get the print out in the English version. But this doesn't appear on the reciprocity tables. Go figure. I'm so annoyed right now.

So, I'm resending the documents in Swedish. That's all that shows on the reciprocity tables, and I guess I should go by that. Even the Embassy wrote me that the NVC is the final authority on which documents are needed.