Marriage Certificate from Registrar of Marriages

[July15 4]

Hello guys,

I got a checklist from NVC, requesting for my Original Marriage Certificate, it was included in the package. When I called them they say it has to come from the "Government Registrar of Marriages from India" What do they mean? We got it from our state's registrars office. Do we need to register Nationally? I don't know what do they mean. Please help me understand...thank you.

[Divs 35]

Hello guys,

I got a checklist from NVC, requesting for my Original Marriage Certificate, it was included in the package. When I called them they say it has to come from the "Government Registrar of Marriages from India" What do they mean? We got it from our state's registrars office. Do we need to register Nationally? I don't know what do they mean. Please help me understand...thank you.

No, you don't need to register nationally. Pl cross check if you sent them the original/certified copy or if you sent them a photocopy.

Edited February 25, 2012 by Divya Rao

[July15 4]

No, you don't need to register nationally. Pl cross check if you sent them the original/certified copy or if you sent them a photocopy.

Thank you Divya.

Do you know if Government Registrar of Marriages is different from Sub-Regristrar Office? This is what the stamp/seals say "office of sub-registrar" and the city's name. I'm confused if we need to get it from the Gov. Registrar

Edited February 25, 2012 by July15

[Divs 35]

Thank you Divya.

Do you know if Government Registrar of Marriages is different from Sub-Regristrar Office? This is what the stamp/seals say "office of sub-registrar" and the city's name. I'm confused if we need to get it from the Gov. Registrar

What you have is more than enough. Pl get NVC to review that document one more time. In all likelihood, they're confused at best guess.

I have the same document with me too.

[maiortum 6]

Hello guys,

I got a checklist from NVC, requesting for my Original Marriage Certificate, it was included in the package. When I called them they say it has to come from the "Government Registrar of Marriages from India" What do they mean? We got it from our state's registrars office. Do we need to register Nationally? I don't know what do they mean. Please help me understand...thank you.

First of all Ms. Divya Rao has summarized some important points in this issue.

Secondly and I really do feel that US citizens marriage to Indian Nationals present a huge challenge due to so many conflicting views and opinions. But the important thing to focus on is this: The US Department of State has stated at this website: http://travel.state....5.html?cid=9215 their view of Indian Marriages under their "Reciprocity" rules. I am pasting the relevant section here below:

Marriage Certificates

Available. The Hindu and Muslim communities do not usually register marriages, however, marriages by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs may be voluntarily registered under the Hindu Marriage Act of l955. This Act does not apply to Muslims, Parsis, Jews or Christians, who may register their marriages under the Special Marriage Act of l954, or the Christian Marriage Act. Marriage certificates for marriages registered under these Acts may be obtained from the offices of Government Registrar of Marriages, which are located in the headquarters of each district. The certificate will be issued by the Registrar only if the bride and groom personally appear before the official and pay the required fee.

A certificate of marriage between Muslims is usually issued by the priest who performed the ceremony. The document is in the Urdu language, and a certified translation is required. Marriages between Christians are usually obtainable from Church records. If the marriage has not been officially registered, then two sworn affidavits giving the names, dates and places of birth of the bride and groom, and the date and place of marriage, as well as the names of the parents of both parties are acceptable. The affidavits must be executed by one of the parents of each party, or if the parents are deceased, by the nearest relative of each party who was present at the wedding.

Note: A document termed as "Marriage Agreement" or "Deed of Marriage" to live as man and wife (under the Registration Act of l908) is not confirmation of a marriage solemnized legally under the Indian Marriage Acts now in force. Such a document does not confer upon the contracting parties' legal marital status under the law.

Myself and my bride, are both Christians and we followed the Church rules to the letter and then also registered the marriage with the District Marriage Registrar and our Church Marriage Certificate was properly registered at the Mantralya and paid the requisite fees and the certificate was duly stamped and the Registrar than countersigned. This is supposed to be the proper procedure for Indian Christian Marriages in the State of Maharashtra.

So my suggestion is that depending on the religious affiliation(s) of the couple, one should first meet the local District Marriage Registrar and get a clear path on a legal marriage in India.

Look at it this way: if NVC has any doubts about a particular marriage they will pick up the phone and call the requisite authorities and get the final word on what is legal.

It is not difficult to have a proper legal marriage in India but the local rules based on religion or lack thereof can cause one a lot of grief.

Good Luck to all and Many Blessings.

[July15 4]

What you have is more than enough. Pl get NVC to review that document one more time. In all likelihood, they're confused at best guess.

I have the same document with me too.

Thanks, I called them it will take 10-15 days to review.

[July15 4]

First of all Ms. Divya Rao has summarized some important points in this issue.

Secondly and I really do feel that US citizens marriage to Indian Nationals present a huge challenge due to so many conflicting views and opinions. But the important thing to focus on is this: The US Department of State has stated at this website: http://travel.state....5.html?cid=9215 their view of Indian Marriages under their "Reciprocity" rules. I am pasting the relevant section here below:

Marriage Certificates

Available. The Hindu and Muslim communities do not usually register marriages, however, marriages by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs may be voluntarily registered under the Hindu Marriage Act of l955. This Act does not apply to Muslims, Parsis, Jews or Christians, who may register their marriages under the Special Marriage Act of l954, or the Christian Marriage Act. Marriage certificates for marriages registered under these Acts may be obtained from the offices of Government Registrar of Marriages, which are located in the headquarters of each district. The certificate will be issued by the Registrar only if the bride and groom personally appear before the official and pay the required fee.

A certificate of marriage between Muslims is usually issued by the priest who performed the ceremony. The document is in the Urdu language, and a certified translation is required. Marriages between Christians are usually obtainable from Church records. If the marriage has not been officially registered, then two sworn affidavits giving the names, dates and places of birth of the bride and groom, and the date and place of marriage, as well as the names of the parents of both parties are acceptable. The affidavits must be executed by one of the parents of each party, or if the parents are deceased, by the nearest relative of each party who was present at the wedding.

Note: A document termed as "Marriage Agreement" or "Deed of Marriage" to live as man and wife (under the Registration Act of l908) is not confirmation of a marriage solemnized legally under the Indian Marriage Acts now in force. Such a document does not confer upon the contracting parties' legal marital status under the law.

Myself and my bride, are both Christians and we followed the Church rules to the letter and then also registered the marriage with the District Marriage Registrar and our Church Marriage Certificate was properly registered at the Mantralya and paid the requisite fees and the certificate was duly stamped and the Registrar than countersigned. This is supposed to be the proper procedure for Indian Christian Marriages in the State of Maharashtra.

So my suggestion is that depending on the religious affiliation(s) of the couple, one should first meet the local District Marriage Registrar and get a clear path on a legal marriage in India.

Look at it this way: if NVC has any doubts about a particular marriage they will pick up the phone and call the requisite authorities and get the final word on what is legal.

It is not difficult to have a proper legal marriage in India but the local rules based on religion or lack thereof can cause one a lot of grief.

Good Luck to all and Many Blessings.

Totally right. First I should've read NVC's requirements in order to get the document exactly how NVC wants it. Others have used the same certificate I've sent them. I think they just need to review it again -like Divya Rao said.