subject: K 1 Fiance – Steer Clear of These Slip-ups When Submitting Visa Documentation [print this page] The K 1 Fiance process can get a bit complicated and messy. A person may feel a need to cut a few corners to quicken process. Avoid the urge to cut corners; it will only cause problems down the road. Here are a few documentation mistakes that will get an application returned, denied or put on hold.
Notarized Documentation
Not many documents need notarization, yet those that do are originals. Purchase an extra notarized copy as a backup. In the event the packet gets lost in the mail or the original misplaced by the immigration officer, there will be an extra copy to resubmit. Some petitioners make the mistake of sending in a copy instead of an original. The officer will not continue process with a copy. The application is on hold until the USCIS receives the notarized document from the petitioner. This puts your application in a hold status for up to a month.
Government Certified Documentation
Throughout the process the beneficiary will need a document translated into the English language. Only do business with translation services which are government certified and approved. The USCIS will reject non certified translation services.
The original cannot be emailed or faxed to the petitioner. Send all certified documentation through regular mail or FedEx. Send all originals with the application packet. Some petitioners make the mistake of having the beneficiary fax or email a copy to them, and then send in the packet with the copy. This will not work. Since the original documents are not found within the packet, the application remains active, yet put in a waiting mode until the right documents are within the officer's hands. This can hold up your application for one to two months. Wait for the original to arrive in the mail before sending off the packet.
Make Lots of Copies
For the clients I work with, I often recommend they make a complete copy of their entire application packet. This means a second copy of all notarized and certified documentation. Not only will this help in the event documentation is lost, but it will also help during the Adjustment of Status Process which follows the K 1 Visa.
Make three copies of documents which do not need notarization or certification. Keep these in a safe place for the current process and the process which follows the K1 Visa. Make one extra copy of all notarized and certified documentation. Keep these documents in a locked safe, deposit safety box or in a place where they will not get damaged. It will be impossible to reproduce any documentation that originates from a foreign country. With tight deadlines, these copies will coming in handy if the need arises.
Follow these simple steps to avoid mistakes when submitting documentation to the USCIS. Keep copies of everything and find a secure place for important documents which are not replaceable. With a complete backup packet available, the petitioner will be able to response to any issues within a matter of days and keep the application process moving in the right direction.
K 1 Fiance Steer Clear of These Slip-ups When Submitting Visa Documentation
