Copy of marriage license

[MonkeyArtic 1]

Hi,

i've just read that in california you need to return your marriage license to the county clerk within 10 days after the ceremony.

so, what do i send to the USCIS then? do i just make a copy before i return it?

thanks everyone.

[Otto 83]

Hi,

i've just read that in california you need to return your marriage license to the county clerk within 10 days after the ceremony.

so, what do i send to the USCIS then? do i just make a copy before i return it?

thanks everyone.

Your marriage license is just a license until it is recorded (at the county clerk's office) which then makes it your marriage certificate (in other words, a license doesn't necessarily mean you got married, a certificate does and USCIS will want proof you got married) (this of course varies by state - but it sounds like Ca. is this way.) You could potentially take the license to the county clerk's office yourself and ask them to record it while you wait (that's what we did in Texas - saved 2 weeks).

Edited April 7, 2009 by Karin und Otto

[tabbydrax 0]

The marriage license has to be filled out - date (within 90 days after the license was issued) and city where the marriage took place; signatures of witnesses and the officiating person who conducted the marriage. Follow the instructions that was included in the packet where you got your license (this is a separate piece of paper). The address of the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk was also there to send the filled out license and mail it together with a check or money order (fee for recording). In 2005, the processing took 4 weeks before I got the marriage certificate back completed from the County Clerk.

A copy of the marriage certificate is the one that you submit - not the marriage license.

I hope this info will help you.

Edited April 7, 2009 by tabbydrax

[mr and mrs 187]

what do you need the original marriage certificate for? just to hang on to for proof of marriage? a copy of it is acceptable to send to USCIS as proof of marriage?

[luckytxn 2,265]

Hi,

i've just read that in california you need to return your marriage license to the county clerk within 10 days after the ceremony.

so, what do i send to the USCIS then? do i just make a copy before i return it?

thanks everyone.

After I got the marriage license and got the civil wedding I asked the justice if I could hand carry to the county clerk and get a certified copy. I then went to the clerk and asked for a certified copy and was given one for a fee. I used this to send to USCIS. The certified copy is one where everything was done legally and a marriage certificate was being issued. Later I received the official marriage certificate in the mail.

[kumar1234 0]

Hi,

i've just read that in california you need to return your marriage license to the county clerk within 10 days after the ceremony.

so, what do i send to the USCIS then? do i just make a copy before i return it?

thanks everyone.

Your marriage license is just a license until it is recorded (at the county clerk's office) which then makes it your marriage certificate (in other words, a license doesn't necessarily mean you got married, a certificate does and USCIS will want proof you got married) (this of course varies by state - but it sounds like Ca. is this way.) You could potentially take the license to the county clerk's office yourself and ask them to record it while you wait (that's what we did in Texas - saved 2 weeks).

Completely agree with Karin and Otto. Our marriage certificate didn't arrive for more than 4 weeks! Later on when I went to the marriage bureau they told me they had sent it 3 weeks back and it must have gotten lost in the mail! If you are working under a strict timeline then go in person and get the certificate yourself. While you are there ask them for 2 extra copies. You can attach these copies with your forms (one for I-130 and one for I-485).

Please note that simple photocopies won't work as the copies need to be notarized. Two copies will cost you $25 ($15 for the first and $10 for subsequent copy).

Good luck!

PS: FYI -- Our marriage officiant told us not to take the form in person.. according to him only the officiant is allowed to take the form in person to the city clerk office but I doubt if that's true. Thought you should know.