Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate is needed?

[mimimimimi 0]

Hello,

I have two questions in preparation for AOS interview in a few days.

1) I have the ORIGINAL Marriage Certificate. Is a non-certified (and non-notarized) copy of that enough? Or do I also need a Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate issued by local City Clerk? If I don't bring a certified copy, will they keep my original one? Should I bother going to City Clerk and get a certified copy on Monday, the day before the interview? It would be a pain, but I don't want to be missing necessary documents.

2) What documents they want for: "Eligibility based on marriage"?

Thanks!

Edited March 7, 2009 by mimigrant

[Cino 5]

Hello;

You can go with the original Marriage Certificate, If the officer looks at it, that is fine. He/She is going to make a copy of it over there anyway.

So don't worry, go with the original one. You don't know what they are going to look at it ,

remember every case and/or each individual might be different.

You have to prove that your marriage has been entered in a good faith and you are living & sharing together. I will list

some of them from the most important first & then descending order.

1. Copy of Birth Certificate of any child/children born to this marriage. (If any, of course:))

2. Original Marriage Certificate

3. Copy of 2008 Jointly Filed Federal Income Tax Return.

4. A Bank Statement Showing Both Your Names on the Joint Account.

5. A copy of Lease Aggrement or Ownership of Your Common Residence.

6. Copy of Ownership of Any Property or Vehicle.

7. Utility Bills Showing Both Your Names.

etc, etc................. You get the idea ?

[pushbrk 13,166]

Hello,

I have two questions in preparation for AOS interview in a few days.

1) I have the ORIGINAL Marriage Certificate. Is a non-certified (and non-notarized) copy of that enough? Or do I also need a Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate issued by local City Clerk? If I don't bring a certified copy, will they keep my original one? Should I bother going to City Clerk and get a certified copy on Monday, the day before the interview? It would be a pain, but I don't want to be missing necessary documents.

2) What documents they want for: "Eligibility based on marriage"?

Thanks!

What you need is a photocopy of a certified copy. I would think you sent that with the AOS application. It's diffucult of for us to know if the "original" is what is needed but you need something from the county clerk indication the marriage is recorded, not just a ceremonial certificate signed at the wedding.

[BobGie 0]

After your wedding, you should have received a Notarized Marriage Certificate. Of course, this certificate is mailed or given to you after it has been entered in the book of registry. The copy of that Marriage Certificate is to be presented for your AOS. And then bring the original marriage certificate when you go for AOS interview.

Just sharing, hope it help.

[mimimimimi 0]

Thank you guys. I only had a civil wedding at City Hall, so they gave me a "Certificate of Marriage Registration" on the spot, right after the wedding. That's the only thing I have, and have made photocopies of it myself, but did not notarize it.

I saw some people on VJ saying they demand during AOS interview, beside that original one received after the wedding, also a "certified copy" (as, in another copy issued by City Clerk or so), so they can keep it for their records during the interview... this got me confused.

So you guys say the "Certificate of Marriage Registration" is enough and I shouldn't bother with asking for one more certified copy from city clerk, correct?

[Cino 5]

YOU HAVE TO GO TO CITY HALL TO GET YOUR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, IT SHOULD BE STATE SEAL ON IT. NOT THE PAPER

YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN RIGHT AFTER THE MARRIAGE. THAT IS ALSO DOCUMENT BUT THE OTHER ONE IS MORE SERIOUS.

THEY DON'T SEND IT TO YOU, YOU HAVE TO GO & APPLY & GET IT WITH A SMALL FEE.

Edited March 9, 2009 by Cino

[Rosie74 0]

At our interview the officer asked for the original. We gave him the Certified copy with the seal on it and he accepted it without any problem. I believe as long as it has the original state steal on it you will be fine

Edited March 9, 2009 by Rosie74

[AngelSaint 0]

i think it must be a certified marriage license. When u have that copy, it means that ur marriage is recorded at the state registry. When it is not recorded, ur marriage is not valid.

[Anonymous NY 1]

Where can I get copies of my records?

For copies of marriage licenses issued anywhere in New York State except the five (5) boroughs of New York City, a certified copy of the marriage record may be obtained from the office of the town or city clerk who issued the license, or from the New York State Department of Health. The fee is $10 if you obtain a certified copy from the town or city clerk who issued the license. If applying to the New York State Department of Health, the fee is $30. For a certified copy, write to:

Certification Unit

Vital Records Section

New York State Department of Health

P.O. Box 2602

Albany, New York 12220-2602

For marriage licenses issued in New York City, do not apply to the New York State Department of Health. For an application, current fees and ordering information contact the City Clerk of New York at (212) 669-2400 or visit their web site at New York City Marriage Bureau. You can also write them at:

New York City marriage records from 1930 to 1995 can be obtained solely from the Manhattan Office.

MANHATTAN:

Municipal Building

1 Centre Street, Room 252 South

New York, New York 10007

BRONX:

Supreme Court Building

851 Grand Concourse

New York, New York 10451

BROOKLYN:

Municipal Building

210 Joralemon Street, 2nd Floor, Room 205

Brooklyn, New York 11201

QUEENS:

Borough Hall Building 120-55 Queens Boulevard

Kew Gardens, New York 11424

RICHMOND:

Borough Hall Building

10 Richmond Terrace, 3rd Floor, Room 311

Staten Island, New York 10301

Edited March 9, 2009 by Anonymous NY

[itty_bitty 0]

We were only given a certified true copy of our marriage license not the original, it was mailed to us 2 weeks after applying for it. Do you guys have your original copy? Did you have to ask for it? If so, any fee for that?

[mimimimimi 0]

I think it depends on the state. In NY, you get a Certificate of Marriage on the day of your marriage. That's the one I have.

My question is regarding the Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate as some people on VJ said you should take one to leave with USCIS... but I decided not to order one, I am only taking the one I got at the marriage day. After all, they ask you to bring the originals of any documents you submitted with your application - and that's the one I sent.

We were only given a certified true copy of our marriage license not the original, it was mailed to us 2 weeks after applying for it. Do you guys have your original copy? Did you have to ask for it? If so, any fee for that?

Edited March 10, 2009 by mimigrant