Validity of marriage certificates issued in india

[ritbiv 95]

Hello,

Yesterday one of my friends said that the marriage certificates that are issued in Kolkata (India)is only valid in India. To make it valid in other countries it has to be attested by Ministry of external affairs and NRI office. I really don't have any idea about that. Have you any experience about that? Like if it's really needed and when it's needed (at which stage). While submitting the petition we sent the copy of our marriage certificate without the attestation part from ministry of external affairs. Kindly help.

Edited August 9, 2014 by ritbiv

[Ian H. 207]

The important thing about a marriage is that it is valid where it was performed, and of course valid for immigration purposes. The "certification" is only for the document to be legal outside the country.

The US and India are both part of the Hague Convention. This means that legal documents from countries that are part of the convention have to recognize each other's documents if they have what is called an "apostille."

An apostille is an attachment to a legal or public documents that certify the authenticity of the document to be used internationally.

This was implemented as a way for people to have a document certified without having to go to a consulate, or get all kinds of certifications for the document in order to use it abroad.

I will post a link regarding civil documents in India from the NVC, as well as link to the Hague Convention requirements for India, and wiki page on the Apostille Convention.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/reciprocity-by-country/IN.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostille_Convention

http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=states.details&sid=101

[bkghosh 121]

Hello,

Yesterday one of my friends said that the marriage certificates that are issued in Kolkata (India)is only valid in India. To make it valid in other countries it has to be attested by Ministry of external affairs and NRI office. I really don't have any idea about that. Have you any experience about that? Like if it's really needed and when it's needed (at which stage). While submitting the petition we sent the copy of our marriage certificate without the attestation part from ministry of external affairs. Kindly help.

Here is what it says at the NVC site:

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/reciprocity-by-country/IN.html#docs

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.

If the marriage certificate was obtained from the Registrar of Marriage, or the registration took place in the presence of a marriage registrar, it is quite acceptable by the US consulate.

[ritbiv 95]

Thanks a lot for your valuable information. Yes our marriage was registered by a marriage register under hindu marriage act and we both were present at that time.

Edited August 9, 2014 by ritbiv