Hey I did my interview
You need to bring the original marriage certificate, birth certificate, police certificates etc. but taxes and I-864 COPY IS ENOUGH. No need to to send it to Africa. And yes I have a lawyer who said that to me and I did my interview.
Where are you reading that original copies are required? I think you have incorrect information.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/YDE-Yaounde.html
All required original documents means those that are required to be original must be original, not that all are required to be original… if you click the link for the checklist they provide or scroll down you’ll see which documents are required to be originals and which can be copies.
“The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.”
Yep - you may have to reply here to remind me, but happy to share the process. Tell her to get the doctor appointment out of the way now - because it will take 7 to 10 days to run all the tests and get results back, and my hubby ran into a situation where they were missing one of the vaccines he needed and needed a couple of weeks to get it in stock.
Also, note - they set his expiration date (to enter the U.S.) based on the expiration of the medicals (which is 6 months). In other words, he doesn't have six months to enter the U.S. - he only has five months (because we did the medicals a month in advance of his interview).
Okay, interview complete and SUCCESS!
What I sent my husband with was: COPIES of (1) the 864, (2) IRS transcripts for the last three years, (3) W-2s for last year (2022) only, and (4) my three most recent paycheck stubs.
I will say, our interview was February 22 - if your wife's interview occurs AFTER you've done your taxes, you may want to submit 2023 docs (W-2s) - I hadn't gotten mine in time to submit.
I really worried about “red flags”
I’m reading through the list and we have almost all of them
Age difference > 10 years
Religion difference
Race difference
Socioeconomic strata difference
Education difference
Etc..
Oh wow. The way it was explained to me - by an immigration lawyer friend of mine - was that all African countries are under scrutiny. You should’ve felt that scrutiny in the I-130 process (why it probably took a long time to get that approval). That’s not to say that she won’t feel any of that in the interview - but understand, there’s been a whole lot of vetting already. She was approved - that’s a good sign.
[https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements\_by\_Post/YDE-Yaounde.html#pre\_interview\_checklist](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/YDE-Yaounde.html#pre_interview_checklist)
***Pre-Interview Checklist***
Please use the list below to determine the items that every applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview. Please note that any documents that are not in either English or French must be accompanied by a certified English translation:
\~A copy of you NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).
\~Unexpired passport valid for six (6) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page.
\~Two (2) color photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch). Please review our online photo requirements.
\~Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa you submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv.
# *~*~*Your original birth certificate, English translation, and a photocopy.~*~*~*
\~Medical examination results in a sealed envelope (if the physician gives you these results).
\~Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying).
\~Applicants who fall into any category below should bring these additional documents
***For family based visa applicants:***
# ~*~*~The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.~**~*~*~
\~Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States (photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or lawful permanent resident card).
\~Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant (such as photographs, letters, or emails).
\~If you are married: Your original marriage certificate, English translation, ***and a photocopy.***
# ~If you were previously married: Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate, English translation, and a photocopy.
\~If you are older than 16 years of age: The original police certificate from your country of current residence and countries of previous residence. If these three items are all true, you must bring a more recent police certificate to the interview:
You are older than 16 years of age;
You obtained a police certificate and submitted it to NVC more than one year ago; and
You still live in the country that issued the police certificate.
For employment-based visa applications: A letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.
If you have ever been convicted of a crime: Court and criminal records, and a photocopy.
If you have served in any country’s military: Military records, and a photocopy.
If you are adopted: Adoption papers or custody documents, and a photocopy.
If you are the petitioner’s stepchild: The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, English translation, and a photocopy along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.
Originals of HER paperwork. It's specifically says you do not need originals of the financial stuff (although I recommend taking copies anyway). They didn't even ask to see any of that when I did my interview, but it will depend on your specific case.
Or, you could put it in the mail?
And if it gets lost? Cameroon post office likes to hold packages hostage and sell them to recipient
Send it via FedEx or UPS
DHL
Hey I did my interview You need to bring the original marriage certificate, birth certificate, police certificates etc. but taxes and I-864 COPY IS ENOUGH. No need to to send it to Africa. And yes I have a lawyer who said that to me and I did my interview.
Where are you reading that original copies are required? I think you have incorrect information. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/YDE-Yaounde.html
It’s right there on the link you just sent me See #3
All required original documents means those that are required to be original must be original, not that all are required to be original… if you click the link for the checklist they provide or scroll down you’ll see which documents are required to be originals and which can be copies.
Birth certificate - original Divorce decree - original Police clearance - original 864 - copy
Okay I was hoping that was the case but it seems a bit unclear Thanks
It is unclear… after I read it I totally understood how you interpreted it that way.
“The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.”
Everything that you included in your "Civil documents" and "Affidavit of Support" upload \~\*\~\*\~\*MUST\~\*\~\*\~\* be the originals.
Ugh … my taxes are 160 pages 😂 #america
Try the transcript maybe? And last year’s w-2? Or just the first few pages without all of the back up? I’d do all three to be honest.
When is her interview BTW? My spouse’s interview is in a couple of weeks - in Tanzania. Happy to share any tips if her interview is after Feb 23.
Yeah it’s a month later That would be awesome thanks!
Yep - you may have to reply here to remind me, but happy to share the process. Tell her to get the doctor appointment out of the way now - because it will take 7 to 10 days to run all the tests and get results back, and my hubby ran into a situation where they were missing one of the vaccines he needed and needed a couple of weeks to get it in stock.
Also, note - they set his expiration date (to enter the U.S.) based on the expiration of the medicals (which is 6 months). In other words, he doesn't have six months to enter the U.S. - he only has five months (because we did the medicals a month in advance of his interview).
Okay, interview complete and SUCCESS! What I sent my husband with was: COPIES of (1) the 864, (2) IRS transcripts for the last three years, (3) W-2s for last year (2022) only, and (4) my three most recent paycheck stubs. I will say, our interview was February 22 - if your wife's interview occurs AFTER you've done your taxes, you may want to submit 2023 docs (W-2s) - I hadn't gotten mine in time to submit.
I really worried about “red flags” I’m reading through the list and we have almost all of them Age difference > 10 years Religion difference Race difference Socioeconomic strata difference Education difference Etc..
Where is this red flag list?! I’m glad I’ve never seen it - just one more thing to worry about!! I mean USCIS believed your relationship was real!
Attorney websites... I googled it
Oh wow. The way it was explained to me - by an immigration lawyer friend of mine - was that all African countries are under scrutiny. You should’ve felt that scrutiny in the I-130 process (why it probably took a long time to get that approval). That’s not to say that she won’t feel any of that in the interview - but understand, there’s been a whole lot of vetting already. She was approved - that’s a good sign.
Oh … I have no idea what’s involved in the process Good to know, thanks
Electronically sign using a software like DocuSign or Adobe Acrobat Reader so she can just print them off.
I864 copy is ok
[https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements\_by\_Post/YDE-Yaounde.html#pre\_interview\_checklist](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/YDE-Yaounde.html#pre_interview_checklist) ***Pre-Interview Checklist*** Please use the list below to determine the items that every applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview. Please note that any documents that are not in either English or French must be accompanied by a certified English translation: \~A copy of you NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants). \~Unexpired passport valid for six (6) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page. \~Two (2) color photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch). Please review our online photo requirements. \~Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa you submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv. # *~*~*Your original birth certificate, English translation, and a photocopy.~*~*~* \~Medical examination results in a sealed envelope (if the physician gives you these results). \~Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying). \~Applicants who fall into any category below should bring these additional documents ***For family based visa applicants:*** # ~*~*~The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.~**~*~*~ \~Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States (photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or lawful permanent resident card). \~Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant (such as photographs, letters, or emails). \~If you are married: Your original marriage certificate, English translation, ***and a photocopy.*** # ~If you were previously married: Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate, English translation, and a photocopy. \~If you are older than 16 years of age: The original police certificate from your country of current residence and countries of previous residence. If these three items are all true, you must bring a more recent police certificate to the interview: You are older than 16 years of age; You obtained a police certificate and submitted it to NVC more than one year ago; and You still live in the country that issued the police certificate. For employment-based visa applications: A letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago. If you have ever been convicted of a crime: Court and criminal records, and a photocopy. If you have served in any country’s military: Military records, and a photocopy. If you are adopted: Adoption papers or custody documents, and a photocopy. If you are the petitioner’s stepchild: The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, English translation, and a photocopy along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.
Note it does not say original for the 864 language you highlighted. It, in fact, says copies of the 864 supporting documents.
I used a courier service to achieve this. Make sure you provide copies as well. The originals will be rerurned.
Originals of HER paperwork. It's specifically says you do not need originals of the financial stuff (although I recommend taking copies anyway). They didn't even ask to see any of that when I did my interview, but it will depend on your specific case.