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Many applicants will be relieved to note that with effect from November 13, 2014, applicants who will apply for their Immigrant Visas at any and all non-electronic posts will be required to submit ONLY copies of all supporting documents.
We also advise all clients who are in the process of obtaining the necessary documents such as birth records, marriage certificates, and police certificates to obtain at least 2 “originals” of each such document. It is easier to obtain 2 originals at one time than to try and seek an “extra original” at a later time. It is always advisable to carry an original to any interview at a US Consulate.
This attorney has heard recent reports where one original set of said documents was submitted to the NVC, and then another set of original documents presented to the US Consulate at the time of the interview; and lo and behold the applicants are finding it challenging to get either set of originals returned to them!
Take away from the incident: PLEASE obtain 3 original documents when you are trying to obtain one! There will be no reason to regret not having obtained the additional “original” and it will save you a lot of time, energy and heartache!
“UNCLASSIFIED 14 STATE 130716
Subject: National Visa Center No Longer Collecting Original Civil Documents
1. Summary. The National Visa Center (NVC) will cease collecting original civil documents in support of immigrant visa (IV) applications as of November 12, 2014. Most applicants will be required to submit photocopies of supporting
documents (such as birth, marriage, and police certificates) and will be instructed to take their original documents to their interviews for review.
This does not include Affidavit of Support forms, which petitioners will still submit to NVC for initial evaluation.
End Summary.
New Instructions to Applicants
2. After applicants and petitioners collect the Affidavit of Support form(s), financial evidence, and supporting civil documents, they are instructed to submit all of the documents to NVC. As of November 12, 2014, applicants at non-electronic processing posts will be instructed to submit photocopies of their civil documents by mail. NVC will review the copies and, when the case is documentarily complete, will place the copies into the file, which will be sent to post, increasing the number of cases that are documentarily qualified. When the appointment is scheduled, NVC will instruct applicants to bring their original documents to the interview for evaluation and final case processing. Original Affidavit of Support forms will still be submitted to NVC for initial evaluation. Applicants at designated electronic processing posts will continue to submit their documents via email.
3. NVC anticipates this change will maintain the integrity of the IV process, reduce customer wait times, and improve the customer experience overall. UNCLASSIFIED 14 STATE 130716”
About The Author
Rohit Turkhud has been specializing in the practice of the US Immigration & Nationality Laws since 1985. For the first 9 years of his career his practiced focused on asylum and removal cases. Since 1994 he has been specializing in employment based and family based matters. From 1994 to 2001 Rohit served in senior executive positions at IT companies and headed their legal and international recruiting divisions. He was an integral part of setting up an IT company's UK operations and travelled extensively to the UK in the discharge of those responsibilities. From June 2004 to September 2012 he was a partner at the Law Offices of Cyrus S. Nallaseth PLLC, and at Nallaseth & Turkhud PLLC. He continues to focus on employment based immigration matters. Rohit has joined FLG, as a partner, in the pursuit of excellence and expansion. Rohit seeks to contribute to the international growth of FLG and help ensure that we always provide the quality of services and attention to customer satisfaction that has catapulted FLG to the top of law firms specializing in the field of immigration laws. He is proud to be a member of a team that reaches from Miami to San Francisco and from New York to Denver, with Michigan being the heart of the network. He has authored a frequent immigration law column for India Today's North American edition. He is a guest speaker on business immigration issues, specially relating to H-1B and the new PERM rules and regulations. He has authored an article in the second edition of the authoritative "THE PERM BOOK". On the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, Rohit hosts a prime time LIVE immigration show on Jus Punjabi, a national cable network channel. Mr. Turkhud is fluent in the Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi languages.
