RFE for MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE?!

[Tota 2]

I just got a RFE stating -

An appropriate civil authority should issue the marriage certificate In order for the marriage to be considered valid, for immigration purposes, it must have been registered with a civil authority from the location where the marriage took place. A religious authority, such as a priest, minister, or rabbi is not considered to be a civil authority.

IM REGISTERING THIS AS TWO THINGS.

1) THE CERTIFICATE ISNT VALID, MEANING... FAKE?!?!?!?!

2) ITS NOT REGISTERED?! WHEN WE DID REGISTER IT.

[apple21 953]

Where did you get married?

[Tota 2]

Where did you get married?

In Cairo.

I dont think the lady whos helping me out with the papers sent out a copy of the arabic certificate. I think she only sent the English translated one. Not sure if that makes any difference but really it doesnt even sound like they need the Arabic copy. FML I dont even know.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

It seems to have to do with the civil authorities vs. the religious authorities. Where in Cairo did you get married? Did you get married at the civil authorities office where a marriage between a foreigner and an Egyptian is recognized by the United States or did someone else officiate your marriage such as a lawyer or holy person?

See the US Embassy in Cairo's webpage on Marriage in Egypt.

Edited October 25, 2013 by ॐ

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

1) THE CERTIFICATE ISNT VALID, MEANING... FAKE?!?!?!?!

2) ITS NOT REGISTERED?! WHEN WE DID REGISTER IT.

1) If the marriage was done by a lawyer or a holy person then the marriage is recognized only in Egypt - and on paper only. If that paper isn't also registered with the civil authorities it can be torn up and there will be no record of the marriage otherwise.

2) If #1 was done then that paper should be taken to the Egyptian Ministry of Justice Annex (Office of Marriage of Foreigners), 4th floor, Lazoughly Square, Abdin, Cairo and registered by your attorney on your behalf. Otherwise it's not recognized by the United States. If you did this step then it's possible it wasn't registered when you say you registered it. Basically your marriage paper should have the official stamp of the Ministry of Justice on it which means it's registered and that's what the US Embassy in Cairo is looking for. Both the Arabic version and the English translation version have to have this stamp.

My information comes from what I know others did in similar cases in years prior. Things may have changed since the revolution. The US Embassy in Cairo website says in there marriage in Egypt section that you can contact them with any questions. I'd see how they'd want you to proceed.

Edited October 25, 2013 by ॐ

[Tota 2]

1) If the marriage was done by a lawyer or a holy person then the marriage is recognized in Egypt - and on paper only. If that paper isn't registered it can be torn up and there will be no record of the marriage otherwise.

2) If #1 was done then that paper should be taken to the Egyptian Ministry of Justice Annex (Office of Marriage of Foreigners), 4th floor, Lazoughly Square, Abdin, Cairo and registered by your attorney on your behalf. Otherwise it's not recognized by the United States. If you did this step then it's possible it wasn't registered when you say you registered it. Basically your marriage paper should have the official stamp of the Ministry of Justice on it which means it's registered and that's what the US Embassy in Cairo is looking for. Both the Arabic version and the English translation version have to have this stamp.

My information comes from what I know others did in similar cases in years prior. Things may have changed since the revolution. The US Embassy in Cairo website says in there marriage in Egypt section that you can contact them with any questions. I'd see how they'd want you to proceed.

We got married at the Ministry Of Justice

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

In Cairo.

I dont think the lady whos helping me out with the papers sent out a copy of the arabic certificate. I think she only sent the English translated one. Not sure if that makes any difference but really it doesnt even sound like they need the Arabic copy. FML I dont even know.

If they only sent the English translation then the RFE would request the original Arabic document. If the marriage was registered through the civil authorities then the Ministry of Justice stamp would be on the English translation version and they would know it's properly registered in Egypt by civil authorities as a marriage between a foreigner and an Egyptian and therefore recognized by the United States. The RFE indicates the required stamp is missing.

[Tota 2]

1) If the marriage was done by a lawyer or a holy person then the marriage is recognized only in Egypt - and on paper only. If that paper isn't also registered with the civil authorities it can be torn up and there will be no record of the marriage otherwise.

2) If #1 was done then that paper should be taken to the Egyptian Ministry of Justice Annex (Office of Marriage of Foreigners), 4th floor, Lazoughly Square, Abdin, Cairo and registered by your attorney on your behalf. Otherwise it's not recognized by the United States. If you did this step then it's possible it wasn't registered when you say you registered it. Basically your marriage paper should have the official stamp of the Ministry of Justice on it which means it's registered and that's what the US Embassy in Cairo is looking for. Both the Arabic version and the English translation version have to have this stamp.

My information comes from what I know others did in similar cases in years prior. Things may have changed since the revolution. The US Embassy in Cairo website says in there marriage in Egypt section that you can contact them with any questions. I'd see how they'd want you to proceed.

I'm sure we have all the stamps. We did register it also. There was some confusion about going back to the embassy after everything to get another stamp, but they told him its already registered so nothing needed to be done from there.

[Tota 2]

If they only sent the English translation then the RFE would request the original Arabic document. If the marriage was registered through the civil authorities then the Ministry of Justice stamp would be on the English translation version and they would know it's properly registered in Egypt by civil authorities as a marriage between a foreigner and an Egyptian and therefore recognized by the United States. The RFE indicates the required stamp is missing.

WHAT IS CIVIL AUTHORITY?

If they only sent the English translation then the RFE would request the original Arabic document. If the marriage was registered through the civil authorities then the Ministry of Justice stamp would be on the English translation version and they would know it's properly registered in Egypt by civil authorities as a marriage between a foreigner and an Egyptian and therefore recognized by the United States. The RFE indicates the required stamp is missing.

WHAT IS CIVIL AUTHORITY?

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

We got married at the Ministry Of Justice

If you were married in the Ministry of Justice then you should definitely have a marriage certificate like we have because that is definitely the civil authority they're referring to. There must be some mix up. I'd have the papers double checked at the Ministry of Justice to make sure it's all in order and then resend the marriage certificate and the English translation.

[Tota 2]

If you were married in the Ministry of Justice then you should definitely have a marriage certificate like we have because that is definitely the civil authority they're referring to. There must be some mix up. I'd have the papers double checked at the Ministry of Justice to make sure it's all in order and then resend the marriage certificate and the English translation.

I really hope its a mix up. Is the ministry of justice stamp even in english? Everything i see on here is arabic. We did a lot of running around, getting stamps. Waiting in long lines. Etc Etc.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

WHAT IS CIVIL AUTHORITY?

WHAT IS CIVIL AUTHORITY?

The civil authority is the Ministry of Justice in Egypt on the 4th floor of the building you went to be married in.

[Tota 2]

The civil authority is the Ministry of Justice in Egypt on the 4th floor of the building you went to be married in.

OK, we were there and married. We always took the stairs because it took too long to wait for the elevator.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I really hope its a mix up. Is the ministry of justice stamp even in english? Everything i see on here is arabic. We did a lot of running around, getting stamps. Waiting in long lines. Etc Etc.

The stamp is in blue or black ink and is put in the top left hand corner. It's a circular stamp with the eagle. They put it over folded corners. It has Arabic writing of the title of their office. It should be on both the Arabic and the official translation of the English version.

Edited October 25, 2013 by ॐ

[Tota 2]

The stamp is in blue or black ink and is put in the top left hand corner. It's a circular stamp with the eagle. They put it over folded corners. It has Arabic writing of the title of their office. It should be on both the Arabic and the official translation of the English version.

Yup we got them!!

So what the hell........