Marriage certificate

[william_wallace 8]

i was reading a thread that when you get your interview at the Embassy, that you need to bring with you any marriage certificates from previous marriages. I know about having to bring any divorce decrees. But why would they need to see any marriage certificates?

Thanks

[Dawny&Tommy 0]

When I had my interview last August, it did mention somewhere on the paperwork about marriage certificates. I didn't have mine, my ex husband did, I didn't take it with me either. All I took was the divorce papers and it was perfectly fine, I wasn't even asked for the marriage cert.

Hopefully it will be the same for you but maybe try and get a certified copy just in case?

Dawn.

[English Muffin 59]

I thought a copy had to be sent anyway with the I-129F?

I got a certified copy of mine before we filed so that my husband could send a photocopy of it with his petition. I took the original to my interview and handed it over with my divorce decree.

Gillian

[English Muffin 59]

I just checked and a marriage certificate only seems to be required for women who have ever changed their name due to previous marriages - it provides a paper trail of all name changes. As a guy you'll probably get away without one.

Gillian

[william_wallace 8]

I thought a copy had to be sent anyway with the I-129F?

I got a certified copy of mine before we filed so that my husband could send a photocopy of it with his petition. I took the original to my interview and handed it over with my divorce decree.

Gillian

This could put me back a few weeks if i need to get my previous marriage cert. I'm a UK citizen and was married in Louisiana. I didn't think you need any previous marriage certs for applying for the K1.

[English Muffin 59]

This could put me back a few weeks if i need to get my previous marriage cert. I'm a UK citizen and was married in Louisiana. I didn't think you need any previous marriage certs for applying for the K1.

As I've just said in the post above your last one you'll only need a marriage certificate if you changed your name when you married. If you've always had the same name you'll just need your divorce decree.

Gillian

[william_wallace 8]

This could put me back a few weeks if i need to get my previous marriage cert. I'm a UK citizen and was married in Louisiana. I didn't think you need any previous marriage certs for applying for the K1.

As I've just said in the post above your last one you'll only need a marriage certificate if you changed your name when you married. If you've always had the same name you'll just need your divorce decree.

Gillian

Cheers for that Gillian. As im male ( last i looked ) I wont need to get one lol. Will my fiance who is the petitioner need to get her marriage cert for when we apply the K1 or will that just be needed when i get my interview at the Embassy?

Thanks

[English Muffin 59]

Cheers for that Gillian. As im male ( last i looked ) I wont need to get one lol. Will my fiance who is the petitioner need to get her marriage cert for when we apply the K1 or will that just be needed when i get my interview at the Embassy?

Thanks

It will all depend on what name she uses now. If she goes by her original birth surname then she should be ok but if she uses her previous married name I think she'll need the marriage certificate to explain the difference between the name she uses now and the one on her birth certificate. If she needs it she'll need to send it with the I-129F, not save it for the interview.

I got this from the I-129F instructions;

If either you or the person you are filing for is using a name other than that shown on the relevant documents, you must give USCIS copies of the legal documents that made the change, such as a marriage certificate, adoption decree or court order.

Gillian

Edited April 20, 2008 by English Muffin

[william_wallace 8]

Cheers for that Gillian. As im male ( last i looked ) I wont need to get one lol. Will my fiance who is the petitioner need to get her marriage cert for when we apply the K1 or will that just be needed when i get my interview at the Embassy?

Thanks

It will all depend on what name she uses now. If she goes by her original birth surname then she should be ok but if she uses her previous married name I think she'll need the marriage certificate to explain the difference between the name she uses now and the one on her birth certificate. If she needs it she'll need to send it with the I-129F, not save it for the interview.

I got this from the I-129F instructions;

If either you or the person you are filing for is using a name other than that shown on the relevant documents, you must give USCIS copies of the legal documents that made the change, such as a marriage certificate, adoption decree or court order.

Gillian

But wont the divorce decree show why her name has been changed? She still goes by her married name. It was too much hassle for her to change it back to her maiden name after she divorced.

[English Muffin 59]

But wont the divorce decree show why her name has been changed? She still goes by her married name. It was too much hassle for her to change it back to her maiden name after she divorced.

Well, the I-129F asks for all documents pertaining to a name change so it's up to you if you want to risk an RFE or not. I don't doubt that some people have got away without it and some people have had RFEs for it. Are you the gambling type??

[william_wallace 8]

But wont the divorce decree show why her name has been changed? She still goes by her married name. It was too much hassle for her to change it back to her maiden name after she divorced.

Well, the I-129F asks for all documents pertaining to a name change so it's up to you if you want to risk an RFE or not. I don't doubt that some people have got away without it and some people have had RFEs for it. Are you the gambling type??

No you right. Better be safe than sorry. It takes 8 weeks to get a copy of a marriage cert from Philadelphia. Looks like we wont be filing until she gets it lol

[English Muffin 59]

If I were you I would file as soon as possible without the marriage certificate but apply for it straight away. That way if you do get an RFE for it you already have it and can send your RFE back immediately and it will only add a few days to your case. If you don't get an RFE it will be a bonus.

Either of these options is better than adding 8 weeks to your application.

Gillian

[william_wallace 8]

If I were you I would file as soon as possible without the marriage certificate but apply for it straight away. That way if you do get an RFE for it you already have it and can send your RFE back immediately and it will only add a few days to your case. If you don't get an RFE it will be a bonus.

Either of these options is better than adding 8 weeks to your application.

Gillian

Good point. We will do that. Cheers Gillian

[English Muffin 59]

GOOD LUCK!!