Ridiculous obstacles stopping the registration of our marriage....how do we proceed?

[Darnell 8,478]

Get a 2nd Opinion? Call into NVC, ask for a Visa Specialist, put the question ..

[sunshine_84 11]

We have offered bribes but they were not willing to accept. They treated my husband very poorly, like he committed some terrible crime. They have disrespected me to my face, including mocking my husband in front of me and telling him that marriages with white American woman never last and he will be divorced in a short time. They also called him "desperate" and taunted him for choosing an American because "apparently Indian girls aren't 'good' enough for him". It's all been so humiliating. It's like they're dangling a carrot in front of us and pulling it away every time we jump for it. As far as I'm concerned, U.S. immigration will be a walk in the park compared to what we have already been through.

An update: I called USCIS today and they told me I should be safe to proceed with the paperwork for the CR-1 . They did warn me about a possible RFE for the missing marriage registration but he seemed confident that I had enough evidence to show proof of our marriage. We will keep fighting to get our marriage registered in India. I hope the Indian consulates will grant me the document. My only fear is that these officials will come up with another ridiculous request just so they can create another obstacle for us.

Again, I truly thank everyone for their advice and support. K and I are overjoyed that we can proceed with the CR-1.

Glad to know USCIS may work in your favor. But just want you to be aware of one more possible obstacle your husband may come across in this processing, and it could be to get PCC from Passport Seva Kendra office. Recently I have seen many cases (there is no strict PCC requirement law followed in same manner across the country) where Indian husband denied to get PCC just because they did not updated their passport with wife's name in it. They were asked to first update their passport and then apply for PCC (i.e. Passport Clearance Certificate). Even if you bypass marriage registration in India, he may get a hard time to update his passport with your name if PSK office asks for passport update to get PCC. FYI, PCC is mandatory for any Indian immigrants to get IR-1/CR-1 visa approval by US Consulate.

Edited August 19, 2012 by sunshine_84

[aprilflower 0]

That's great news . Think happy thoughts!

[TimeTravel 78]

An update: I called USCIS today and they told me I should be safe to proceed with the paperwork for the CR-1 . They did warn me about a possible RFE for the missing marriage registration but he seemed confident that I had enough evidence to show proof of our marriage. We will keep fighting to get our marriage registered in India. I hope the Indian consulates will grant me the document. My only fear is that these officials will come up with another ridiculous request just so they can create another obstacle for us.

Are you submitting I-130 without marriage certificate? Marriage certificate is mandatory. You can't skip this step. Consulate wont recognize your marriage without marriage registration. Even now a days, Indian gov doesnt recognize marriage without registration. This rule came in India ( around 10 yrs back ).

In I-130, you have to fill the date of your legal marriage registration as your marriage date. Any mismatch date, etc etc can be big hassle at time of interview. Any mistake which was not caught by USCIS/NVC, but it will be caught with Indian Embassy, and can be big trouble.

I believe, some registrar offices are simply rude! If they are giving hard time, then better to get registered in different city/state! If it is questioned at the time interview, then just explain the real experienced that you guys had to face in that local office.

Edited August 19, 2012 by iwaiting

[catknit 144]

Look up user July15. She had very similar issues due to a court marriage in Srinagar, J&K where the marriage could not be registered. If memory serves, USCIS had no issue with her paperwork but NVC gave her an RFE. She countered back with more info and went ahead to the interview stage rather quickly from what I recall. I believe she used affidavits and court records to prove her marriage.

[RnS 0]

Thank you RnS! I presented originals of everything to the officials, including my passport, birth certificate, driver's license, pay stubs, lease agreement, and social security card. This should be more than enough to prove my address, identity, citizenship, right? Well the officer did not accept these. He said, "How am I to know these are authentic documents? I cannot verify this information." I told him my birth certificate was issued by the state and stamped with an official seal of the Department of Health. I even offered to show him my original original certificate. The one issued to my parents when I was born as they still have this. I have also offered to give credit card statements and utility bills as proof as my address. He said the same thing about these documents. "I have no way of verifying your address"

Now he wants the Indian consulate to write a statement saying that they know who I am, what my address is, and what my citizenship status is? #######!????? I don't see how the Indian consulate has anything to do with me as I am not an Indian citizen, nor have I ever been an Indian citizen. The only way I am affiliated with India at all is being married to an Indian citizen. I called the consulates again and they are clueless and seem to be in a hurry to cut the phone with me.

As for the Distict Collector/DM, she was one of the first people we went to after the first registrar threw our paperwork in our faces. She was of no help. She is the one who showed the least understanding of the law and told me my marriage was not legal because I am not an Indian citizen. My husband angrily retorted at her that Sonia Gandhi was not an Indian citizen either at the time of her marriage. Then she said she would need time to review the law. Typical bureaucratic nonsense.

Thank you for your help though. I hope we are able to proceed with the CR-1 because I seriously doubt these people will ever register our marriage.

Any updates? what happened after court ordered for registration?

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

Any updates? what happened after court ordered for registration?

No progress. The registrar ignored the court document stating that he needs a statement from the Indian embassy in the U.S. proving my identity, citizenship status, and address in the U.S. The Indian embassy is clueless and says that in order to provide me with this document, I need an official statement in writing from the registrar in order to consider the request. It's a huge circle I'm being forced to enter.

Currently, the marriage registrar has not been present in his office or he refuses to see my husband for the past 3 weeks. A lot of excuses have been given why he cannot give K the time of day. I wish the BS would end.

We are sending out our CR-1 next week.

[Darnell 8,478]

suggest you include a letter of attestation about this broo-ha-ha with that office.

Good Luck with the I-130 submittal !

[usagirl12 3]

Maybe offer more bribe?? Thats the only way these people do work. Sad but true.

I guess keep proofs of your case and the whole wedding registration thing . you can show it at the interview.

[Aschenbecher 16]

U.S. Embassy in India may not answer the question. Because they are yet to file their I-130 petition with USCIS. The best bet will be get the blessings from USCIS office in USA. (once USCIS bless their marriage, they will get some positive solution to the complicated issue w/Marriage Registration/Certificate).

and if USCIS refuses their application ? they lose all the money.