Country Specific Guidelines
Interview Preparation
Immigrant Visa Guidelines for K-Visa Applicants - Guyana (GEO)
These instructions are specific to visa applicants applying for immigration benefits from I-129 petitions (classified as K1, K-2, K-3 or K-4). If you are applying for immigration benefits from an I-130 petition (classified as IR, CR, F1, F2, F3, or F4), these instructions do not apply to you; download your instructions from this site.
On the day of your visa appointment, please arrive at the time stated on your appointment letter. If you arrive late, you will miss your appointment and may be unable to receive a new appointment for several months.
You are responsible for ensuring that all required documents are available at the time of the interview. Failure to bring all required documentation to the interview will result in a delay in visa issuance or a visa refusal. This document will help you prepare for the interview; please ensure you have the following documents:
1. Appointment Letter
2. Passport(s) for all traveling applicants. Passports must be valid for six months beyond the intended date of entry into the United States. If you have children listed on your passport you must have them deleted.
3. Two Color photographs (2” x 2” or 50mm square)
4. Police Certificate(s) for any place you have resided for one year or more.
5. Civil Documents: YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE YOUR UNITED STATES VISA without recently issued Guyanese birth certificates and marriage certificates. All such documents should be newly issued or issued within the past two years. Bring photocopies of all original documents submitted.
• Original birth Certificate(s) for both the petitioner and beneficiary. .
• Marriage Certificate for all present and prior marriages, if applicable, for the petitioner and beneficiary.
• Divorce decree for the petitioner and beneficiary for all prior marriages, if applicable.
• Death certificate of spouse of the petitioner and beneficiary, if applicable.
6. Application forms:
• Two (2) DS-156 forms for each traveling applicant. Download from the Internet at http://evisaforms.state.gov/.
• Two (2) DS-156K forms (principal applicant only). Download from the Internet at http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa/ds0156k.pdf.
• Two (2) DS-157 supplemental forms (must be completed by all male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45). Download from the Internet at http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa/ds0157.pdf.
• One (1) DS-230 Supplemental Sheet for each traveling applicant. Download from this site.
7. Medical Examination Report (DS-2053, 3024, 3025 and 3026) for each traveling applicant. Form DS-3025 must be done in duplicate for each traveling applicant. Contact the Panel Physician to schedule your medical and obtain these forms. Download the Panel Physicians list from this site.
8. Evidence of Financial Support: Petitioners and joint sponsors commonly fail to understand what is required of them in terms of financial support. Please review the financial support forms thoroughly to avoid visa refusal due to improperly completed forms.
• A signed Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) for the principal applicant and one photocopy for each traveling applicant. Download from the Internet at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-134.pdf.
Note: Affidavit of Support Form (I-184) does not apply to your case.
• Certified copy of the most recent year of U.S. Federal Income Tax forms (1040 and W-2) or tax transcript from the IRS
• Evidence of additional assets (if necessary)
• Proof of legal status in the U.S from sponsor(s) (A copy of the green card, naturalization certificate, or biographic page of US passport)
Although only one original of the supporting documents is required, you may wish to obtain two originals of each document. You should retain the duplicate in case the originals are lost, mutilated or otherwise rendered unusable.
9. Evidence of ongoing relationship.
10. Court and prison records, if applicable.
11. Military records, if applicable.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
FEES
The application fee is U.S. $131.00, payable in U.S. or Guyanese dollars. The applicant must pay all applicable fees on the day of the appointment. The fee is non-refundable. Personal checks and credit union drafts are not acceptable. The fee may be paid in Guyana dollars or in U.S. dollars; only one currency may be used, not a combination of both. If you do not pay the fees, you will not be interviewed and must wait for another appointment date.
DOCUMENTS
All documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation into English. Translations must be certified by a competent translator and sworn to before a Notary Public.
Originals and one photocopy of all required civil documents for applicant and petitioner (birth, marriage and death certificates) listed on your appointment instruction sheet must be shown to the consular officer, who can certify the photocopies. If you do not bring photocopies, the originals will not be returned to you.
Guyana birth and marriage certificates must have been issued no more than two years prior to the applicant’s visa appointment. Failure to bring recently issued civil documents will delay your case. All cases require birth certificates for both the petitioner and the beneficiary. If you have not obtained recently issued civil documents you should bring your older documents with you.
Birth certificates alone do not establish biological relationships. You may wish to bring historical documents, such as, baptismal certificates, school records, photos, etc.
If the relative who filed the petition has become a U.S. citizen, bring a notarized copy of the naturalization certificate or official notification from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicating that your relative is now a U.S. citizen.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Bringing your fiancé/e (the petitioner) to your scheduled interview is likely to significantly shorten the amount of time needed to process your visa application. Therefore it is strongly recommended, but not required, that the petitioner attend the initial interview with you.
PERMISSION FOR MINOR CHILDREN TO GO TO THE U.S.
A parent wishing to take a child under 16 to the United States must have permission from the non-immigrating parent or a Guyana court order granting sole custody and permission to take the child out of Guyana.
The non-immigrating parent may appear at this Embassy to give permission to go. If the parent is residing abroad they may go to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to have their written consent notarized by a consular officer. If the parent is currently residing in the United States, they may provide notarized consent along with a copy of the biographical page of their passport.
EVIDENCE OF ONGOING RELATIONSHIP
Unfortunately, we have found that there is great deal of fraud involved in relationships which confer immigration benefits. Certain types of documentation may be helpful in the adjudication of these types of cases. Please do not create evidence on your relationship solely to show the consular officer. Bring items that you have collected through the natural course of the relationship that shows convincingly you are in a relationship. Please do not include any lewd or pornographic pictures.
Possible evidence of relationship:
• Photos from you and your fiancé/e.
• Birth certificates of any children born to you and your fiancé/e.
• Copy of passport pages from any trips your fiancé/e has taken to visit you (include the biographic page).
• Documentation which shows that you and your fiancé/e have a continuing relationship.
• Documentation which shows you and your fiancé/e, have a joint residence and have formed an economic and material union. These may include but are not limited to, Lease/Mortgage held jointly, Utility Bills, Evidence of Joint Accounts, etc.
Note: You are not required to bring all of these documents. Please bring whatever evidence you feel convincingly shows that you are in an ongoing relationship.
Relationship between parents and children:
Generally these documents should cover years prior to and a few years after the birth of the person whose relationship is in question.
• Hospital Records
• Baptismal Certificates
• School Records
• Childhood Immunization Records
• Bank Statement or other financial records
• Court Reports
• Correspondence - cards and letters
• Photographs
If you do not have any of the evidence listed above, the consular officer may recommend DNA testing. DNA testing must be supervised by this office.
Recently executed deed polls; testimonials or other new documents will not be acceptable for this purpose.
Please submit original documents and not photocopies. These original documents will be returned to you after they are reviewed.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
The following are not permitted inside the Consular Section
1. All battery operated or electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, digital diaries, digital watches, pagers, cameras, audio/video cassettes, portable music players ( IPods, CD players and walkmans) portable digital storage (floppies, USB drives and CDs) laptops, personal digital assistants (palmtops, treo and Blackberry.)
2. All bags such as travel bags, back packs, briefcases, suitcases, leather, jute or cloth bags and zip folders.
3. Any food item.
4. Sealed envelopes or packages.
5. Cigarettes/cigars/match boxes/lighters.
6. Any sharp objects such as scissors, pen knives, nail files, nail clippers or razor blades
7. Weapons or explosive material of any kind.
8. Items such as perfumes, lipsticks, nail polish and cosmetic including facial powder.
The list provided above is not finite. Other items may be prohibited based on security staff discretion.
Only a small ladies handbag and/or a plastic bag containing your application-related papers will be permitted.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL DELAY YOUR VISA APPLICATION