AOS K1 - is marriage certificate the same as marriage license? (and other Qs)

[dynb 17]

Hi, my fiancé and I thought it best to plan ahead regarding the AOS after we get married (K1).

I have been reading this guideline http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-aos.html#6.1At this point, we have only a rough idea of what to do. My questions are the following:

1) If I understand it correctly, after we get married in a Catholic Church, we have to ask the priest for our marriage certificate. Is this the same as a marriage license?

2) During the CFO, K1s were advised to report our marriage within 90 days. Is this part of the AOS? Can this be reported online, or this has to be included together with all the forms to be sent to the Chicago lock box?

3) Some threads also mention about reporting my married name, is that also part of AOS when they get back to us after filing?

As always, thank you.

Edited April 10, 2015 by dynm

[sweet01 39]

Hi dynm,

These are my answers to your questions;

1. A marriage license is a piece of paper that authorizes you to get married and a marriage certificate is a document that proves you are married. Like here in Arizona, before we got married, we went first at the Superior court and get our marriage license. This license is good for 12 months. During our marriage ceremony, the marriage certificate was signed by the judge (or a priest if it's in the Catholic Church) . We went there after a week to get a certified copy.

2. K1s were advised to report our marriage within 90 days. - this is part of K1 visa. We need to get married within 90 days as per rule of USCIS but this is reported or included in all the AOS forms that will be sent at Chicago lockbox. You don't report it online.

3. I reported my married name by using it in all my forms on AOS, EAD and AP. Since you will send a copy of your marriage certificate/license, that is proof for your name change.

Hope this helps and God bless

Edited April 10, 2015 by sweetmarie01

[Al422 221]

No. The license is permission from the government to get married and the certificzte says that you already used this permission and got married.

[sweet01 39]

Well, regarding Marriage license/certificate, you can also check this link too as reference - http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/marriage-requirements-licenses-ceremonies-faq-29142-3.html. I'm just sharing what I know but you can also wait for the opinion of other VJs

[dynb 17]

Excellent! Thanks, guys!

Also, what do you (and other VJs) think about this timeline/procedure (that I got from another thread)?

-After 14 days, get/apply for SSN with my maiden name, before getting married.

-After receiving my SSN, then we get married.

-Then apply for AOS, fill all the forms with my married name.

-Upon receiving my SSN card, we go back to SS office with the marriage certificate and change my name to the new one, my married name.

[Hypnos 6,576]

In some states, the marriage licence, once endorsed and recorded by the county (or appropriate authority) after the marriage, automatically becomes the marriage certificate.

[Cody and Daisy 373]

Excellent! Thanks, guys!

Also, what do you (and other VJs) think about this timeline/procedure (that I got from another thread)?

-After 14 days, get/apply for SSN with my maiden name, before getting married. no you no longer need to wait so long to get your ssn. The I-94 is now electronic so you are in the system after a few hours, many people have gotten one the next day with no problem

-After receiving my SSN, then we get married. you don't need a ssn to get married. They can ask you for one but it is NOT a requirement

-Then apply for AOS, fill all the forms with my married name. yes you can do this anytime after marriage.

-Upon receiving my SSN card, we go back to SS office with the marriage certificate and change my name to the new one, my married name. no. You will need to wait until you have your EAD or green card that shows your married name as the social security offices are not well informed about he k1 and usually require a government ID with your new name. The EAD or green card.

[Hank_ 9,174]

In some states, the marriage licence, once endorsed and recorded by the county (or appropriate authority) after the marriage, automatically becomes the marriage certificate.

exactly.

[Dan&Yvette 15]

Excellent! Thanks, guys!

Also, what do you (and other VJs) think about this timeline/procedure (that I got from another thread)?

-After 14 days, get/apply for SSN with my maiden name, before getting married. - we got married before I applied for my SSN.. I got my SS card with my married name.. I don't know in other states, because here in california, I just presented them my passport and visa, told them that I am K1 visa holder and show them our marriage certificate. I had no problem with the SS office here. I got my SS card within a week by mail..

-After receiving my SSN, then we get married.

-Then apply for AOS, fill all the forms with my married name. - YES

-Upon receiving my SSN card, we go back to SS office with the marriage certificate and change my name to the new one, my married name.

My answers above were based on my experience.. .

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Hi, my fiancé and I thought it best to plan ahead regarding the AOS after we get married (K1).

I have been reading this guideline http://www.uscis.gov...justment-status

http://www.uscis.gov/i-131

http://www.uscis.gov/i-765

Edited April 10, 2015 by Greenbaum

[Cody and Daisy 373]

My answers above were based on my experience.. .

You are so lucky!

I wish I had that experience.

They wouldn't do anything for me, told me I needed to change my name with uscis before I could change it with them as my married name wasn't on the system....

Nightmare!

[Dan&Yvette 15]

You are so lucky!

I wish I had that experience.

They wouldn't do anything for me, told me I needed to change my name with uscis before I could change it with them as my married name wasn't on the system....

Nightmare!

I think people in SS office here in my place were knowledgeable about the K1 visa. I'm lucky I got my SS card with my married name without any hassle.

[dynb 17]

Thanks so much for the responses, guys.

Greenbaum, that's exactly what I mean. I remember something about going online to report the name change. Perhaps Hank's handy-dandy website needs an AOS tab too, just my 2c.

Reporting of Marriage

You do not need to report immediately. You can do it from online. Visit the webpage for the consulate in your area. Go here http://www.uscis.gov...justment-status

http://www.uscis.gov/i-131

http://www.uscis.gov/i-765

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Thanks so much for the responses, guys.

Greenbaum, that's exactly what I mean. I remember something about going online to report the name change. Perhaps Hank's handy-dandy website needs an AOS tab too, just my 2c.

He nor I have added that to our guides. I know he has thought about it. I'm going to be adding AOS soon.

[Hank_ 9,174]