How long does it take to receive Certified copy of Marriage Certificate?

[whosdaman 0]

Hello everyone,

Sorry for all these questions and if they have been asked before. I did a quick search and nothing answered my specific questions.

I recently got married in Los Angeles, California, and would like ot get the certified copy as soon as possible. After the marriage was finalized, the official who wed us told me to go to the window (since I had originally ordered only one copy when we got the license). When I went there, the clerk told me she couldn't do anything and that I had to wait upwards of 4 to 6 weeks until I could make the request.

The problem is that I would like to get my wife's immigration papers sent in as soon as possible but now I can't because of the wait. Is it possible to wait for a week after our marriage and then go in personally to have them print it out on the spot? I only ask because I saw on some other sites (almost 4 years to 8 years ago) some people recommending it rather than waiting the 6 weeks.

You may wonder why I need to do the papers quickly. My wife is here on an F1 student visa on a D/S and I would like to send these papers in so she does not have to enroll another semester at the school. I do not want to jeopardize her legal status within this country so I am thinking it is better for her to enroll for another semester if I have to wait 6 weeks for the copies.

Also, I need two copies for the immigration I-130 and I-485 packets. Can I just photocopy one Certified copy twice and send that in or do I need to send two original Certified copies? If I do need two, does that mean that after the 6 weeks, I have to wait another 6 weeks for the second one?

Thanks for your time!

[Hypnos 6,578]

A copy of the marriage certificate is only required for the I-130, not the I-485, so you would only need to submit one copy. You can submit a photocopy of an original certified copy and then take an original certified copy to the interview, but you will need at least one original first before you can make a photocopy of it.

[ricnally 259]

You should have done a search before getting married in LA county. I started a thread about this subject a couple of months ago, saying that if you get married in Santa Barbara County, you can get the certified copies of the marriage cert on the same day. San Diego is also fast. Having said that, it probably won't take the full 6 weeks that they are claiming.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to AOS from Work, Student & Tourist Visas ~

[D N Medellin COL 75]

We were married in LA County (Long Beach) end of October 2012 and it took us about 8 to 9 weeks. You know the records office in Norwalk, I still cringe every time I think about that place.

Hope they got quicker in the process.

Hello everyone,

Sorry for all these questions and if they have been asked before. I did a quick search and nothing answered my specific questions.

I recently got married in Los Angeles, California, and would like ot get the certified copy as soon as possible. After the marriage was finalized, the official who wed us told me to go to the window (since I had originally ordered only one copy when we got the license). When I went there, the clerk told me she couldn't do anything and that I had to wait upwards of 4 to 6 weeks until I could make the request.

The problem is that I would like to get my wife's immigration papers sent in as soon as possible but now I can't because of the wait. Is it possible to wait for a week after our marriage and then go in personally to have them print it out on the spot? I only ask because I saw on some other sites (almost 4 years to 8 years ago) some people recommending it rather than waiting the 6 weeks.

You may wonder why I need to do the papers quickly. My wife is here on an F1 student visa on a D/S and I would like to send these papers in so she does not have to enroll another semester at the school. I do not want to jeopardize her legal status within this country so I am thinking it is better for her to enroll for another semester if I have to wait 6 weeks for the copies.

Also, I need two copies for the immigration I-130 and I-485 packets. Can I just photocopy one Certified copy twice and send that in or do I need to send two original Certified copies? If I do need two, does that mean that after the 6 weeks, I have to wait another 6 weeks for the second one?

Thanks for your time!

[whosdaman 0]

Thanks for all the responses guys. It seems like this is going to be a painful wait!

A copy of the marriage certificate is only required for the I-130, not the I-485, so you would only need to submit one copy. You can submit a photocopy of an original certified copy and then take an original certified copy to the interview, but you will need at least one original first before you can make a photocopy of it.

On the VSJ guideit mentions (if filing for spouse) regarding the I-485. What does that mean?

Also thanks for answering my quesition. I wasn't sure if the photocopy was good enough or if I needed to send the original.

We were married in LA County (Long Beach) end of October 2012 and it took us about 8 to 9 weeks. You know the records office in Norwalk, I still cringe every time I think about that place.

Hope they got quicker in the process.

How is it that it takes so long to process and file these papers? Can I not just go in after 2 weeks and have them print it out on the spot rather than wait for it in the mail?

Looks like she has to enroll in another semester in school....

You should have done a search before getting married in LA county. I started a thread about this subject a couple of months ago, saying that if you get married in Santa Barbara County, you can get the certified copies of the marriage cert on the same day. San Diego is also fast. Having said that, it probably won't take the full 6 weeks that they are claiming.

I wish I did...

[Dave&Roza 748]

Looks like she has to enroll in another semester in school....

Why? She is now married to a USC and if you file the AOS or not before her current visa expires she will only accumulate over-stay days that will be forgiven when her AOS is approved. Once you file for AOS she is granted a period of authorized stay until the AOS is approved or denied. So she does not need to enroll in another semester for immigration reasons. Maybe there is a class she wants to take.

I would have made a photocopy of the original Marriage Certificate and sent that in with the AOS package. Of course I did not need to as I received 6 certified copies when I submitted the Marriage Certificate to be filed and received the original back 3 days later. Must live in a more efficient county than LA county.

Good luck,

Dave

[Franciscus 32]

On the VSJ guideit mentions (if filing for spouse) regarding the I-485. What does that mean?

That is not correct in the guide, you simply don't need to include that for the 485, you can look at the 485 instructions. The guide actually includes some other things that are not needed. An exception to this is the following: I think that if either of you changed your names, then the copy of the marriage certificate is the only document you have that shows that, so I think the copy should be included in that case.

How is it that it takes so long to process and file these papers? Can I not just go in after 2 weeks and have them print it out on the spot rather than wait for it in the mail?

My guess is that every place has different rules, so what I would do is to call and see if you can get it earlier in some way.

[GVMack 9]

We got married in Norwalk, and had to wait 4-6 weeks as well! Finally arrived a month exactly!

My husband says it takes for ever to get anything done round here lol

Boooo! Good Luck!!!

[whosdaman 0]

Hi guys,

Why? She is now married to a USC and if you file the AOS or not before her current visa expires she will only accumulate over-stay days that will be forgiven when her AOS is approved. Once you file for AOS she is granted a period of authorized stay until the AOS is approved or denied. So she does not need to enroll in another semester for immigration reasons. Maybe there is a class she wants to take.

I would have made a photocopy of the original Marriage Certificate and sent that in with the AOS package. Of course I did not need to as I received 6 certified copies when I submitted the Marriage Certificate to be filed and received the original back 3 days later. Must live in a more efficient county than LA county.

Good luck,

Dave

Her I-94 has a D/S status and her Visa does not expire until 2014 (or 2017, I forget). She also has a Social Security number because she came here (the first time) as an Intern.

If I submit the AOS, can I do so without the Certified Marriage Certificate? Should I just photocopy the "Customer Copy" and send that with it and wait for a response from them? I never was able to hold the original Marriage Certificate. The official took it himself!

On the VSJ guideit mentions (if filing for spouse) regarding the I-485. What does that mean?

That is not correct in the guide, you simply don't need to include that for the 485, you can look at the 485 instructions. The guide actually includes some other things that are not needed. An exception to this is the following: I think that if either of you changed your names, then the copy of the marriage certificate is the only document you have that shows that, so I think the copy should be included in that case.

How is it that it takes so long to process and file these papers? Can I not just go in after 2 weeks and have them print it out on the spot rather than wait for it in the mail?

My guess is that every place has different rules, so what I would do is to call and see if you can get it earlier in some way.

Ah I see. Luckily you answered my question here. Any other things that I should be aware of that is different from the site?

Here's a new question (and sorry if this is not allowed). Since I am a student and only work part-time, I am a little short on the required 125% poverty level. My friend is going to do a joint sponsor. I read that in the past, we would have to get it notorized but not anymore. Is this true? Also, do I need to submit his recent tax forms too with the packet (or is it just my tax forms)?

We got married in Norwalk, and had to wait 4-6 weeks as well! Finally arrived a month exactly!

My husband says it takes for ever to get anything done round here lol

Boooo! Good Luck!!!

I actually went to Norwalk because it had a good rating on Yelp! with people saying how fast it was there.

Thanks for the well wishes guys!

[pete_falcone 7]

If I submit the AOS, can I do so without the Certified Marriage Certificate? Should I just photocopy the "Customer Copy" and send that with it and wait for a response from them? I never was able to hold the original Marriage Certificate. The official took it himself!

I'm about to find out because I just sent my packet with only the notarized "Customer Copy" as well. The JotP who married us said that the CC is a legal document that can serve as a substitute for the CoM while we wait for the 2 months for the certified CoM to process. I kept checking the internet request section of the lavote.net site and most weddings dated before August 1 are not available. The kiosks at the Norwalk facility reflected the same information.