Certificate of Marriage Options

[Stevephoto 230]

Hi Everyone

I just read a few posts about the time delay getting a certified copy of the marriage certificate for AOS. We faced the same dilemma. However, there might be an on-line system in your state now. I was told that there would be a 4-8 WEEK wait to get the "Official" Certificate of Marriage. I then learned that Hawaii had started a system where the wedding officiant could enter the information online. We had an "unofficial" copy available for download in about two days. We chose to submit the unofficial certificate along with a printout from the Hawaii Department of Health showing the posted time frame and risk an RFE. We ordered 5 certified copies. The actual certified copies came long before the 4-8 week window and we had them ready at the interview. The consular never asked for them. The web copies were accepted. We now have several cool souvenirs!

I hope that this option helps some of you. Good luck!

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Nice info. My husband and I are live in Florida. It took more than 3 weeks to get certified certificate marriage came to mail. Nice move how Hawaii government has a new system online. I wish'd Florida would've started this online system as well.

[cazzers 83]

Hi Everyone

I just read a few posts about the time delay getting a certified copy of the marriage certificate for AOS. We faced the same dilemma. However, there might be an on-line system in your state now. I was told that there would be a 4-8 WEEK wait to get the "Official" Certificate of Marriage. I then learned that Hawaii had started a system where the wedding officiant could enter the information online. We had an "unofficial" copy available for download in about two days. We chose to submit the unofficial certificate along with a printout from the Hawaii Department of Health showing the posted time frame and risk an RFE. We ordered 5 certified copies. The actual certified copies came long before the 4-8 week window and we had them ready at the interview. The consular never asked for them. The web copies were accepted. We now have several cool souvenirs!

I hope that this option helps some of you. Good luck!

Yeah, that was pretty handy. I remember using the unofficial copy as well(for something else, not for AOS), and we had no problem, and it was available online 3 days after the marriage. Way to go, Hawaii!

[Stevephoto 230]

Yeah, that was pretty handy. I remember using the unofficial copy as well(for something else, not for AOS), and we had no problem, and it was available online 3 days after the marriage. Way to go, Hawaii!

Nice info. My husband and I are live in Florida. It took more than 3 weeks to get certified certificate marriage came to mail. Nice move how Hawaii government has a new system online. I wish'd Florida would've started this online system as well.

[Anonymous885 44]

Nice info. My husband and I are live in Florida. It took more than 3 weeks to get certified certificate marriage came to mail. Nice move how Hawaii government has a new system online. I wish'd Florida would've started this online system as well.

I think it all depends on your city too. I live in Florida and I was able to get certified marriage certificate less than 30 minutes after the marriage ceremony. The certificate marriage is also online at the same time by using the book and page number to enter in their system. I could not believe it happened so fast and I wanted to confirm that we are married. So they showned me how to check our marriage certificate online . It was indeed the marriage certificate on their system right away.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Depends on the court I would guess. It did not take us 3 weeks to get our marriage certificate either, and we are also in Florida. I think you may have been able to get one sooner if you had tried going in person instead of waiting for it to be mailed to you.

[kehills 217]

In PA, you can take the signed certificate to the county department of wills, and they'll file it for you that day. If the registrar isn't in, it's a 3-5 day delay (time for the registrar to come in, sign things, certify, and mail back to you); if the registrar is in, it's immediate.

[landl 0]

Hi everyone, I picked up our certificate yesterday, only ten days after we got married. I have a quick question, can I send a photocopy of the certificate or do I need to send the original with my AOS app? Thanks!

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Hi everyone, I picked up our certificate yesterday, only ten days after we got married. I have a quick question, can I send a photocopy of the certificate or do I need to send the original with my AOS app? Thanks!

You send a photocopy of it.

[subwayguy 100]

Why do you guys have to wait so long ?!?! My partner and I had a civil ceremony in NYC ( same sex marriage ) and we got the marriage certificate 5 seconds after the "I do " and was told that the paper we had is the official marriage certificate. Am I sending the wrong stuff ?!

[kehills 217]

An official certificate is not the same as a certified copy.

[Tina and Johan 206]

An official certificate is not the same as a certified copy.

Even if that's the case (I disagree), I think either would work just fine.

[subwayguy 100]

Even if that's the case (I disagree), I think either would work just fine.

I did my research and realised that the one I sent in is fine. Pheeeeeeew

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Whatever you receive from the court after your marriage has been registered is a certified marriage certificate and what you need. A certified marriage certificate simply means the marriage certificate you receive from the court, in person or through the mail, that has a stamp/seal and/or the court clerk's signature on it. That is what certifies it as a true copy of your registered marriage certificate.

If you marry at the courthouse, then you may be able to receive your marriage certificate right away after you marry there. Some people also hand carry their signed marriage license to the court to have their marriage registered after their ceremony. They can also possibly get a certified marriage certificate the same day that way as well.

[pete_falcone 7]

The "official copy" that you get from an officiant should be fine. It's very different from the certified copy in that most of them aren't printed on special paper or contain the signature of the county clerk. However, they give it to you anyway because they know you need it for most official correspondences while your certified copy is being processed. Send it with your packet if you don't want to wait for the certified copy. Most AOS applicants (including us) will be fine with the "official copy," but even if you get RFE'd, at least that RFE would come well after you receive your certified copy (6 weeks for us, in California.)