question about affidavit for bona fide marriage

[shek 1]

Hello,

I am a US titizen. My wife lives in Calgary, Alberta. We are preparing for the I-130 package right now. I have a question about affidavit for bona fide marriage. Does it have to be notarized? If yes, is it ok to go for commissioner for oaths in registry? or it has to be done by notary public?

[sdw 10]

We didn't have ours notarized, we didn't have any issue.

[shek 1]

We didn't have ours notarized, we didn't have any issue.

Thank you very much.

[Inky 1,110]

Affidavits are not primary evidence and are not needed unless you have no better proof.

Better to have them notarized but they do not have to be.

[shek 1]

Affidavits are not primary evidence and are not needed unless you have no better proof.

Better to have them notarized but they do not have to be.

Thank you so much.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

If you want to, you can get them certified by a Commissioner of Oaths. They are basically witnessing the signatures and verifying that the signatories are who they say they are. The US doesn't use Commissioners of Oaths while Canada does. In this case, they are doing the same job so certification by a Commissioner of Oaths accomplishes the same thing as notarization by a Notary Public. The stamp and signature validate the document's authorship. (I used to be a Commissioner of Oaths when I still lived in Canada).

Edited May 19, 2011 by Kathryn41