COPIES IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRANT VISAS FOR NVC
Author: New York Immigration Attorney Alena Shautsova
Good news can be shares with all immigrant visas applicants: the NVC will no longer require submission of the original documents in support of the immigrant visas. Usually, when a person applies for an immigrant visa (a spousal visa; visa for an immediate relative; work related visa; etc) as a part of the visa process, the applicant must submit certain documents not to the consulate directly, but to the National Visa Center first.
NVC often required that original of certain documents be submitted to it, such as original of birth and/or marriage certificates. This requirement would significantly delay the process as in some countries it is simply illegal to mail original of the birth or marriage certificates (Russia, for example). As such, the applicant would have a really hard time trying to follow NVC instructions and stay on track with the timing of the application.
However, NVC stated that as of November 12, 2014, it will change its instructions. The only document that will still have to be in the original would be an affidavit of support form.
Only after the appointment is scheduled, NVC will tell the applicant to bring the originals to the consulate.