What is certified copy of marriage certificate?

[anup08 0]

Hi,

Can anyone please explain what a "certified copy of marriage certificate" means? Does it mean that I have to notarize the photocopy of my original marriage certificate?

Thanks in advance.

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Hi,

Can anyone please explain what a "certified copy of marriage certificate" means? Does it mean that I have to notarize the photocopy of my original marriage certificate?

Thanks in advance.

Certified copy of marriage certificate means the copy is given by courthouse with a raised seal.

[anup08 0]

Thanks a lot for your reply. But I got married outside US and I only have the original copy of my marriage certificate with the raised seal. Any suggestion about what I should do?

[ricnally 259]

What you are calling the "original copy" is actually a "certified" copy since there is only one "original" and it is kept at the office that issued it. Not sure of the steps for the F-1, but generally, you can submit just a plain old photocopy of your certified copy with your app and then BRING your certified copy to the interview for them to examine. They will give it back to you.

[KayDeeCee 4,895]

There is confusion over this often. You just need a photocopy of the marriage certificate you receive back from the court after your marriage has been registered. It would be certified by the court with a stamp or seal(not all have raised seals) and/or signature by judge or clerk of courts. You do not certify or notarize it yourself. Just make a photocopy of what you received and take the 'original' with you to your interview. As stated above, the only true original is filed with the courts.

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

[anup08 0]

Thanks everyone for all the responses. Can't be grateful enough! Just to re-confirm, a plain photocopy of my marriage certificate will suffice? Sorry for being repetitive, but can't take a chance to make a mistake at this stage

Appreciate your help!

[Dave&Roza 748]

What you are calling the "original copy" is actually a "certified" copy since there is only one "original" and it is kept at the office that issued it. Not sure of the steps for the F-1, but generally, you can submit just a plain old photocopy of your certified copy with your app and then BRING your certified copy to the interview for them to examine. They will give it back to you.

It could be the original. I have the original Marriage License and now Marriage Certificate with the wirness signatures and signature of the judge. After everybody signed the document, the judge handed it to me to take to the County Clerk to be recorded. I also paid for 6 certified copies of the Marriage Certificate. Five days later the original Marriage Certificate that was recorded in the County's Clerks office arrived in the mail. So I have the original Marriage Certificate. Not all counties within the US give back the original.

OP: You can take the original to some one and have them stipulate that the copy is true and exact of the original that they have inspected. Some Notaries will do this, but I would find some one that can attest to the fact that the copy is true and correct--maybe your local County Clerk's office can do this for you for a fee. Otherwise you will have to get copies from the issuing agency in the country that produced the original. If this is for the AOS (adjustment of status) or ROC (Removal of Conditions), a standard ordinary copy is valid, but you should take the original to any interview you have.

Dave

Edited February 18, 2015 by Dave&Roza

[KayDeeCee 4,895]

Thanks everyone for all the responses. Can't be grateful enough! Just to re-confirm, a plain photocopy of my marriage certificate will suffice? Sorry for being repetitive, but can't take a chance to make a mistake at this stage

Appreciate your help!

Yes. The I-130 instructions simply state to provide a copy of your marriage certificate. And under General Instructions on how to fill out the form it states :

Copies. Unless specifically required that an original document be filed with an application or petition, a legible

photocopy may be submitted. Original documents submitted when not required may remain a part of the record, and will

not be automatically returned to you.

[anup08 0]

Thanks for confirming Jay-Kay! May god bless you!

[M&R<3 10]

You have to get it certified by the foreign ministry of your country as a true document.

[Leo7777 243]

You have to get it certified by the foreign ministry of your country as a true document.

This is not correct.

[M&R<3 10]

This is not correct.

Sorry, that's how it's done in my country (Sri Lanka) .

[Leo7777 243]

For processing in USA, the foreign documents need not be certified.

The documents do need to be translated however, and the translator must declare that they are competent in both English and the foreign language.

It might well be that a foreign country routinely certifies such documents, but USA does not require it.

It is interesting however, that while USA does not require certified foreign documents, many other countries of the world require certified and apostiled documents from citizens of USA who wish to marry in those countries.

[anup08 0]

Thank you everyone for your valuable comments!

[FherJess 15]

Yes. The I-130 instructions simply state to provide a copy of your marriage certificate. And under General Instructions on how to fill out the form it states :

Copies. Unless specifically required that an original document be filed with an application or petition, a legible

photocopy may be submitted. Original documents submitted when not required may remain a part of the record, and will

not be automatically returned to you.

Do I have to go to the courthouse to get a copy or can I purchase the marriage certificate copy at the currency exchange?