France/America couples

[kimandfred 0]

Hello

We got married yesterday!

I have a question for the ones who did the "transcription". Apparently they ask for a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Can I just send a photocopy of that certified copy? I suppose that I can't but figured I should ask first. We only have one certified copy so if I need to send it, I'll have to request another one.

Congratulation on your wedding!!

The marriage certificate must have the apostille. In order to get it, you need to send your certified copy of the marriage certificate to the secretary of State who in exchange of a small fee ($10 or less, depends on your state) will attach an apostille to it. Without it, the French Consulate will reject your application.

Just a little FYI, your birth certificate cannot be older than 3 months and your US spouse's one cannot be older than 6 months.

You did the "publication des bans" right?

I am not sure if birth certificates are needed if you did things the right way.

yes we did the "publication des bans". I don't see how the birth certificate of my husband cannot be older than six months since they only get one. I mean, it's not like in France. What we get in France is a copy of our BC. Here they don't give a copy but an original. I had sent a photocopy of it for the publication des bans (along with mine, that was less than 3 months old - or 6 - can't remember). Maybe I'll send them an email to ask if we need to send BC again.

So since it needs the apostille I will really need to request another certified copy just for the French paperwork then.

Oh and we are dependant of the Consulate in Chicago, not Boston.

Felicitations Cecile!

For the birth certificate, it's the date of the copy, it's a certified copy, with a raised seal, not an original. However, I sent in one that was a year old, and had no problems. I wasn't about to go about getting another one anyway, I live in WI, but was born in OH so that would have been a hassle. When we got married, we got extra certified copies of our marriage certificate because we knew we'd need them. You have to figure you'll need one for AOS, one to get your SS card and driver's license, one to send away to get your passport name changed, and one for the publication des bans, and one just to have I guess. I think we have about 5 total. Oh, we needed an extra one cause USCIS said we didn't include it in our AOS packet, but I'm sure they lost it, so it was good to have backups on hand.

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Felicitations Cecile!

For the birth certificate, it's the date of the copy, it's a certified copy, with a raised seal, not an original. However, I sent in one that was a year old, and had no problems. I wasn't about to go about getting another one anyway, I live in WI, but was born in OH so that would have been a hassle. When we got married, we got extra certified copies of our marriage certificate because we knew we'd need them. You have to figure you'll need one for AOS, one to get your SS card and driver's license, one to send away to get your passport name changed, and one for the publication des bans, and one just to have I guess. I think we have about 5 total. Oh, we needed an extra one cause USCIS said we didn't include it in our AOS packet, but I'm sure they lost it, so it was good to have backups on hand.

Well, I did send them a photocopy of the birth certificate he's had for years for the "publication des bans" and had no problems. I just sent them an email to know if I need to send them other copies of these birth certificates, as they already have it, we will see what they answer.

Alright so I'm definitely going to need more certified copies soon. Do they keep them for the SS card and driver's license, or do they just want to see it?

[Koakland 0]

Hello

We got married yesterday!

I have a question for the ones who did the "transcription". Apparently they ask for a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Can I just send a photocopy of that certified copy? I suppose that I can't but figured I should ask first. We only have one certified copy so if I need to send it, I'll have to request another one.

Congratulation on your wedding!!

The marriage certificate must have the apostille. In order to get it, you need to send your certified copy of the marriage certificate to the secretary of State who in exchange of a small fee ($10 or less, depends on your state) will attach an apostille to it. Without it, the French Consulate will reject your application.

Just a little FYI, your birth certificate cannot be older than 3 months and your US spouse's one cannot be older than 6 months.

You did the "publication des bans" right?

I am not sure if birth certificates are needed if you did things the right way.

yes we did the "publication des bans". I don't see how the birth certificate of my husband cannot be older than six months since they only get one. I mean, it's not like in France. What we get in France is a copy of our BC. Here they don't give a copy but an original. I had sent a photocopy of it for the publication des bans (along with mine, that was less than 3 months old - or 6 - can't remember). Maybe I'll send them an email to ask if we need to send BC again.

So since it needs the apostille I will really need to request another certified copy just for the French paperwork then.

Oh and we are dependant of the Consulate in Chicago, not Boston.

The fact that you did the publication des bans will simplify things.

On all copies of BC, even in France, it gives the date the copy was made. The same goes with an American BC. Your hubby can request many certified copies of his BC, my hubby has three of them. I don't even think you need them anyhow since you did the publication des bans.

Regarding requesting certified copies of your marriage certificate, you can do it in person.

Mmh, you are dependent on the French Consulate in Boston and their instructions do not mention anything about apostille but my Consulate required it. I know how the French Government wants the same exact papers like clockwork.

You might want to give them a ring. If not, all instructions are given here.

Are these documents and the process you refer to necessary to have the marriage recognized in France? I have never heard of this before. Please help

Yes, they are. Ask your fiance to look into it! Doing all these paperwork will give you the privilege of getting your "livret de famille".

Hello again,

I hate to be a pain but will someone please explain all this to me? I asked my fiance about it and he had no clue. (But promised he'd look into it ) From your posts I gather that before I get married in the US I have to turn in paperwork to the French consulate so that my marriage can be legal in France? Is this necessary/French law? What is the benefit? -- If we want to move to France? Will someone please briefly explain all this to me? I don't know much about French law. Merci!

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Basically, before the marriage, you have to do something called the "publication des bans". All the French couples have to do it before they get married, and now when a French person gets married abroad, they also have to do it.

Then, once you are married, you ask the consulate to "transcript" the marriage, so it is recognized by the French authorities too.

I have no clue if there are any benefits, I'm doing it just because it is the way it is supposed to be, and since I'm French I'd rather make sure that I'm married by the French laws too

Some people have skipped the "publication des bans" and did the transcription without any problems.

The best thing to do is to find out which consulate you are dependant of and then read what they say on the "marriage" section of their website.

[Lili 3]

Having your marriage recognized allows you to get the "livret de famille" where all the birth of your children (if you decide to have any!) are recorded. It is basically your official story book.

Also, if you ever decide to get the french citizenship or even move to France, it simplifies things.

[Koakland 0]

Merci! I live in the Bay Area and will probably get married around here so I'll check out the consulate in San Francisco. Thanks again for the culture lesson. My fiance didn't know what I was talking about

Edited August 29, 2008 by Koakland

[kimandfred 0]

Felicitations Cecile!

For the birth certificate, it's the date of the copy, it's a certified copy, with a raised seal, not an original. However, I sent in one that was a year old, and had no problems. I wasn't about to go about getting another one anyway, I live in WI, but was born in OH so that would have been a hassle. When we got married, we got extra certified copies of our marriage certificate because we knew we'd need them. You have to figure you'll need one for AOS, one to get your SS card and driver's license, one to send away to get your passport name changed, and one for the publication des bans, and one just to have I guess. I think we have about 5 total. Oh, we needed an extra one cause USCIS said we didn't include it in our AOS packet, but I'm sure they lost it, so it was good to have backups on hand.

Well, I did send them a photocopy of the birth certificate he's had for years for the "publication des bans" and had no problems. I just sent them an email to know if I need to send them other copies of these birth certificates, as they already have it, we will see what they answer.

Alright so I'm definitely going to need more certified copies soon. Do they keep them for the SS card and driver's license, or do they just want to see it?

For me, they just wanted to see it. I don't know if you've heard this yet, but it's a good idea to wait a couple weeks to get your SS card since it takes that long to get you in the systems, otherwise, you'll probably have to go back. You do have to send it away to change your passport, but you will get it back when they are finished. I had to send one with my passport, one to the state capital for the special seal, then that same one to the consulate, then two for AOS.

[Lili 3]

Merci! I live in the Bay Area and will probably get married around here so I'll check out the consulate in San Francisco. Thanks again for the culture lesson. My fiance didn't know what I was talking about

You can have your fiance check out the consulate website, it gives all information relating to doing "la publication des bans" and so forth. Lucky you, you live in the Bay Area, you can even go in person.

[ginger1981 0]

Just dropping by to say...J'adore France! I'm an American who has a lot of love for the country. Some of the nicest people I've ever met...I just wish most Americans (most of whom have never been) didn't have such a negative attitude towards the country.

Just thought I'd say it.

Lindsay

P.S. I've been twice...have spent time in Paris, Calais, Le Touquet, and Normandy.

[Lili 3]

Hi Ginger,

It is nice of you to drop by!

You are right about the comment regarding Americans not liking France. It is kind of stupid and immature.

When you ask them, what they don't like about the country? They just don't know.

Normandy is beautiful but a tad cold to my liking (even though I live in WA now lol).

[Cécy 44]

Social Security and the DMV only want to see your marriage license.

For AOS they no longer require originals so you can send a photocopy of it, however if you do that make sure you have the original with you the day of the interview (if you have one) because they will ask for it.

[Joy&Josh 0]

Hi there,

This is my first post ever on this forum, even though I've been lurking here for months now...

Well, my fiancé and I just got approved and I needed to share the good news. I am so happy, I can't believe it finally happened!

I am the French one and my fiancé lives in Wisconsin, near Fond du Lac.

Good luck if your application is still being processed, I hope you won't wait too long.

Joy

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Congratulations Joy! things will go faster now and you will be together before you realize it!

[Lili 3]

Congrats, Joy!!

When is your entry date?

[kimandfred 0]

Hi there,

This is my first post ever on this forum, even though I've been lurking here for months now...

Well, my fiancé and I just got approved and I needed to share the good news. I am so happy, I can't believe it finally happened!

I am the French one and my fiancé lives in Wisconsin, near Fond du Lac.

Good luck if your application is still being processed, I hope you won't wait too long.

Joy

What town? I live in WI too and sometimes have to travel near Fond du Lac for work. Not too much happens there though....