Certified copies

[rsimm]

I retained original birth and marriage certificates and submitted photocopies, since I don't want to lose the originals.
NVC has asked for "certified" true copies. Who can certify the copies?
1. Can I just get the photocopies "notarized"?
2. Can a translation be certified by any one other than the beneficiary i.e by the petitioner himself, as follows and does it have to be notarized?

I, <translator name>, certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and <native language name> languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document entitled <document title>.

Signature:
Date: Typed Name
Address

thanks

rsimm

[knowledgeable]

Duplicate Post ...

... posting multiple times will not increase the chances of quicker responses.

[justtohelp]

[Please let me know from which country you are from ... I think then I can be sharing you what I have done.

[rsimm]

[Please let me know from which country you are from ...

india.

thanks for any help

rsimm

[knowledgeable]

Yes, you can have the ....

... signature on a photo copy notarized. Not the copy itself if you do not have the originals with you.

Yes, you need to have the translated copy notarized.

If you use advance search in these forums you will find a lot of valuable information on notarization as many people have offered a variety of resolutions.

Take care.

I retained original birth and marriage certificates and submitted photocopies, since I don't want to lose the originals.
NVC has asked for "certified" true copies. Who can certify the copies?
1. Can I just get the photocopies "notarized"?
2. Can a translation be certified by any one other than the beneficiary i.e by the petitioner himself, as follows and does it have to be notarized?

I, <translator name>, certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and <native language name> languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document entitled <document title>.

Signature:
Date: Typed Name
Address

thanks

rsimm

[Rakhee]

Hi rsimm,
what did you do for "certified copies"?
since NVC accepted it, I'm curious how you got the certified copies over here. did you get it notarized, showing the original?
thanks

[rsimm]

Certified Copies

Hi rsimm,
what did you do for "certified copies"?
since NVC accepted it, I'm curious how you got the certified copies over here. did you get it notarized, showing the original?
thanks

Hi Rakhee:
My mom took the original and photocopies to an Advocate/Notary in Chennai, and he certified the photocopies as true copies and affixed the notary seal plus advocate stamp. Some folks suggest letting the Notary/Advocate make the photocopy himeself so that there is no question

For some documents which were with me here in the U.S, I submitted the originals (sent to NVC by Express mail with return receipt). Fortunately, NVC acknowledged that they received the originals (in the checklist they enclosed with interview appointment letter).

Obtaining Police Clearance Certificates from the RPO, Chennai took two and a half months. PCC from the local commissioner's office took just 2 weeks.

rsimm

-----------
Timeline:
22 June 2008: I-130 petition
04 Sept 2008: I-130 Approval from CSC
09 Sept 2008: NVC Entered Date
16 Sept 2008: AOS Fee Bill received
21 Sept 2008: AOS Fee paid online
01 Oct 2008: DS-3032 recd
01 Oct 2008: DS-3032 submitted via email
07 Oct 2008: IV Fee Bill generated online
08 Oct 2008: IV Fee Paid online
11 Oct 2008: I-864 submitted using cover sheet from NVC site
23 Oct 2008: NVC sent notice of receipt of I-864
29 Oct 2008: DS-230 and docs submitted
10 Nov 2008: RFE
26 Dec 2008: submitted docs
06 Jan 2009: Case Completed
13 Feb 2009: Interview. Approved!
17 Feb 2009: collected passport and sealed envelope
21 Feb 2009: PoE: San Francisco - Passport stamped. Awaiting GC
04 Mar 2009: Welcome letter received
06 Mar 2009: SS card received
10 Mar 2009: GC received

[Rakhee]

hi rsimm,
how did the interview go?
is there anything specific you can share?
can you also write about when the originals were given back and when the passport is expected to reach home?
thanks
rakhee

[rsimm]

CP interview

hi rsimm,
how did the interview go?
is there anything specific you can share?
can you also write about when the originals were given back and when the passport is expected to reach home?
thanks
rakhee

Hi Rakhee:

Sorry, I've been busy with travel arrangements and meeting friends and family and didn't log on until today.

Interview process in Chennai, as we experienced:
1. Folks seem to queue up from 6:30 Am. We were there by 7:45 and there were 50 ahead of us (including other non-immigrant visa applicants who seem to have 7 AM appointments)

2. Normal security checks at the entrance. All documents in a clear folder, no cell phones etc

3. We were seated in building 2, after one of the VFS folks checked our appointment letter. We were told to wait until our name is called. No tokens at this stage. We waited until 10 AM (2 hour wait)

4. Interview is in 3 stages.

First, an Indian officer calls you and checks all the documents, and gets the medical certificate from you. My mom's photo was incorrect (I expected it, since the background wasn't white) and had taken better ones. The Indian officer spoke Tamil and asked my mom a few questions (no of children, prior visits, whether my mom intends to immigrate,etc.

I had with me 2 affidavits from my mom's elder brothers about my mom's name discrepancy between her passport and my birth certificate and produced it when my mom was asked about it. My mom also signed DS-230 Section II at this point in front of the IO.

I requested her to expedite my mom's interview since the air-conditioning was too much for my mom and she was shivering. We got a token at this point and the officer agreed to expedite the process.

At the second stage, an American officer took my mom's finger prints and asked no questions. This happened about 10 minutes after the first interview. I helped with the fingerprints as well.

At the third stage, about 10 minutes after the second, my mom was called for the interview by an American Immigration official (woman IO). I went with my mom and requested a Tamil interpreter, since I'd been told that I cannot do the translation in a response to an earlier email to the IV section of the US Consulate.

The IO smiled and asked me " You can translate for her, can't you?" I said "Of course!" and stayed during the entire interview and did the translation. My mom was administered the oath, was asked about number of children, who is in India and who is in the US, whether my mom understood the nature of "permanent residency" (not an extended tourist visa :-), when my father died, how many trips to the U.S., visits to any other country, any stay longer than 6 months in the U.S etc. For the last question, my mom jumped the gun and answered yes, without waiting for my translation!! I translated and then my mom said "no" and the IO called the first stage IO and they had a conversation, flipping back and forth the passport pages, apparently looking for entry/exit immigration stamps/dates. She looked at DS-230 as well for the dates of visits. They were counting the months using their fingers :-) My mom had stayed for less than 6 months during her previous trips on visitor visa and so no harm done.

The IO was smiling during the entire time. She asked me what I did, when I reached India, what was my first US visa (F1). She flipped through I-864, my U.S passport (and remarked that I travel a lot), and asked me if I had made travel arrangements for my mom, and arranged with VFS for passport delivery. I told her I am waiting for immigrant visa approval before buying tickets and that I did pay the courier fees at VFS for passport delivery. The IO mentioned that it may take up to a week to get the passport and the sealed envelope.

Finally, she said every thing looks fine and "Congratulations and welcome to the United States. Enjoy your stay" to my mom. She returned the original birth certificate, marriage certificate etc to me at this point.

All this took about 20 to 30 minutes. All three interviewing officers were cordial (not just with us). All in all, a very pleasant experience.

Since our interview was on a Friday, I expected to pick up the passport on Monday but VFS and the consulate were closed due to Presidents' Day. Went to VFS Tuesday evening between 4 and 5 and collected the passport and papers. We were also warned not to open the sealed envelope. I didn't want to wait for the courier delivery and opted to collect the stuff in person.

The irony is that I was allowed to accompany my mom at the Consulate but not by the VFS folks at their office in Gopalapuram. They were also asking folks waiting in line for security check, to turn off their cell phones even outside the building!!!

Hope this helps.

All the best

rsimm

Timeline:
22 June 2008: I-130 petition
04 Sept 2008: I-130 Approval from CSC
09 Sept 2008: NVC Entered Date
16 Sept 2008: AOS Fee Bill received
21 Sept 2008: AOS Fee paid online
01 Oct 2008: DS-3032 recd
01 Oct 2008: DS-3032 submitted via email
07 Oct 2008: IV Fee Bill generated online
08 Oct 2008: IV Fee Paid online
11 Oct 2008: I-864 submitted using cover sheet from NVC site
23 Oct 2008: NVC sent notice of receipt of I-864
29 Oct 2008: DS-230 and docs submitted
10 Nov 2008: RFE
26 Dec 2008: submitted docs
06 Jan 2009: Case Completed
13 Feb 2009: Interview. Approved!
17 Feb 2009: collected passport and sealed envelope
21 Feb 2009: PoE: San Francisco - Passport stamped. Awaiting GC
04 Mar 2009: Welcome letter received
06 Mar 2009: SS card received
10 Mar 2009: GC received.

[Rakhee]

thank you so much for being an angel. i appriciate the detailed reply. its everything i wanted to know.
my mother will go for the interview by herself, (not filed ds 230 yet, as the pcc from local police got messed up and to get another one took a long while)
your input is all I have, to direct her.
Thanks again and Congratulations!
Rakhee.

[Rakhee]

I thought I might just ask this as well....
After we get the interview letter, first we have to get the lab test done, next to the panel doctor for shots and finally just before interview 2 or 3 days before again to the same doctor for a physical. right?
Did you take your mom to the lady doctor dr. vijayalakshmi?
How much did it all cost in total? around Rs.15,000? (I know it differs from person to person depending on the shots requirement)
I totally understand you will be extremely busy right now, but if you can reply sometime, it will be great help.
Rakhee

[rsimm]

I thought I might just ask this as well....
After we get the interview letter, first we have to get the lab test done, next to the panel doctor for shots and finally just before interview 2 or 3 days before again to the same doctor for a physical. right?
Did you take your mom to the lady doctor dr. vijayalakshmi?
How much did it all cost in total? around Rs.15,000? (I know it differs from person to person depending on the shots requirement)
I totally understand you will be extremely busy right now, but if you can reply sometime, it will be great help.
Rakhee

1. Lab test (X-rays, blood test etc)
2. visit your own doctor or panel doctor for vaccination.
3. visit panel doctor with results from lab test and vaccination proof.

We combined steps 2 and 3 and went to the panel doctor N. Vijayalakshmi 1 day after lab tests and about 2 weeks before interview. Her fees + vaccination shots came to Rs. 3100. The number of shots depend on previous history and age. There are fewer shots for elderly people.

Lister lab tests cost Rs. 810.

Timeline:
22 June 2008: I-130 petition
04 Sept 2008: I-130 Approval from CSC
09 Sept 2008: NVC Entered Date
16 Sept 2008: AOS Fee Bill received
21 Sept 2008: AOS Fee paid online
01 Oct 2008: DS-3032 recd
01 Oct 2008: DS-3032 submitted via email
07 Oct 2008: IV Fee Bill generated online
08 Oct 2008: IV Fee Paid online
11 Oct 2008: I-864 submitted using cover sheet from NVC site
23 Oct 2008: NVC sent notice of receipt of I-864
29 Oct 2008: DS-230 and docs submitted
10 Nov 2008: RFE
26 Dec 2008: submitted docs
06 Jan 2009: Case Completed
13 Feb 2009: Interview. Approved!
17 Feb 2009: collected passport and sealed envelope
21 Feb 2009: PoE: San Francisco - Passport stamped. Awaiting GC
04 Mar 2009: Welcome letter received
06 Mar 2009: SS Card received
10 Mar 2009: GC received .

[Rakhee]

Thank you so much!
Rakhee.

[chinnains]

PC certificate from Passport office

Hi, I applied for Immigrant Visa for my mom and I am in the process of collecting Police Certificates to submit DS230. I have to get Police cetificates for my mom from two places.
1. Police District Head Office. This is easy.
2. Passport Office. In this case, I have to get it from Hyuderabad Regional Passport office. Not sure how difficult it is! I or my mom never visited hyd passport office. Can you please tell me if I need to take any documents to passport office besides my moms passport andn photo? Any specific documents they ask for? How many days it takes etc?
4. I saw some one is talking about marriage certificate. Is that petitioner or Applicants marriage certificate? My mother is widow. In this case, can I just get death certificate?

Please help me.

[Rakhee]

If your mother is widow, you need only your father's death certificate.
there is a 'form 2' available in the passport website. you need to pay the fees, and two passport size photos and submit the passport. all the details are given in the website.
It took a good 3 and 1/2 months for my mother to get the certificate from the passport office. thats the only difficulty we faced.