How to marry at Thai Nguyen, Ha Noi of Vietnam.

[Hoi Pham 1]

My son , born and a US citizen, is going to get married soon at Thai Nguyen, Ha Noi of Vietnam in upcoming August,2017.To legally register for the marriage certificate in Vietnam, many law office in Houston stated a single status certificate would be required and be certified/notorized by all 50 stated of United States.This process is quite costly and time consuming.

I don't know whether that statement is true. I also wonder if just only a single status certificate issued from local Houston and/or Texas state is adequate to register for marriage certificate.

Consultation advice from marriage agencies & law office is different from each other and very confusing.

I need help to understand the process....

I appreciate and am grateful for any sharing experiences of anybody who has been through this process with simple and easy tasks.

Many thanks in advance.....

[Ryan H 3,818]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Vietnam regional forum; topic is country specific.

[Petulc 28]

Hello!

I don't know about Vietnam, however, my country also requires a single status certificate. My husband went to get his notarized single status certificate at the embassy one day before our legal wedding. He paid a very small fee for it (I can't remember how much exactly, but it was not more than $50).

I suggest you call the embassy and ask if they provide that service.

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

[Petulc 28]

Hello again,

 

You can find the information here:

 

https://vn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/notarial-services/

[Hoi Pham 1]

Ryan H, thanks a lot for prompt reply.......Please help me how to move "IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Vietnam regional forum" as I am not very good in computer skill.

[neilsqueen 433]

6 minutes ago, Hoi Pham said:

Ryan H, thanks a lot for prompt reply.......Please help me how to move "IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Vietnam regional forum" as I am not very good in computer skill.

He moved it for you.  He is a moderator.  They are the only ones who can override the system and move things.  Best wishes to your son!

[Hoi Pham 1]

11 minutes ago, Petulc said:

Hello again,

 

You can find the information here:

 

https://vn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/notarial-services/

Thanks a lot..... 

[Hoi Pham 1]

16 minutes ago, Petulc said:

Hello!

I don't know about Vietnam, however, my country also requires a single status certificate. My husband went to get his notarized single status certificate at the embassy one day before our legal wedding. He paid a very small fee for it (I can't remember how much exactly, but it was not more than $50).

I suggest you call the embassy and ask if they provide that service.

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

Thanks a lot anyway for your prompt reply.......Really appreciate you hint.....

[Hoi Pham 1]

4 minutes ago, neilsqueen said:

He moved it for you.  He is a moderator.  They are the only ones who can override the system and move things.  Best wishes to your son!

Thank you for your explanation and I am very happy & grateful for your help....

[Hoi Pham 1]

16 minutes ago, Petulc said:

Hello again,

 

You can find the information here:

 

https://vn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/notarial-services/

Thanks a million once more if I failed to reply in previous note......

[frontgear 194]

If you read this sticky (linked below), it tells you right there on item #1 that an Affidavit of Single Status can be obtained directly from the US Consulate in Saigon but I believe the US Embassy in Ha Noi offers the same service and will be much closer to where he will be applying for the marriage license. All he needs is his US passport.

 

I would suggest calling the US Embassy in Hanoi to inquire.

 

 

Edited April 23, 2017 by frontgear

[MLK2016 201]

I obtained an affidavit of single status at the US Embassy in Thailand.  Probably similar procedures in Hanoi.     A few hints - Your son should print out the single status form on the embassy website and fill it out before going to the Embassy.  You have to schedule an appointment online to have the document notarized.    Appointment dates and times are available to select online, maybe a month or two before the appointment you want.  But they do fill up quickly.    Also there was a $50 fee.  I brought US currency and also had foreign currency but they did not want either.  They wanted a credit card for payment.

 

 

[Hoi Pham 1]

2 hours ago, MLK2016 said:

I obtained an affidavit of single status at the US Embassy in Thailand.  Probably similar procedures in Hanoi.     A few hints - Your son should print out the single status form on the embassy website and fill it out before going to the Embassy.  You have to schedule an appointment online to have the document notarized.    Appointment dates and times are available to select online, maybe a month or two before the appointment you want.  But they do fill up quickly.    Also there was a $50 fee.  I brought US currency and also had foreign currency but they did not want either.  They wanted a credit card for payment.

 

 

Form of single status at Ha Noi embassy..pdf

 

Thanks a lot, MLK2016 for your helpful experience sharing. Please take a glance at the attached form, do you think that form looks kind of similar to the form you used in Thailand ?

Couple questions:

1.The purpose of making an appointment at US embassy is to have "Single status affidavit" signed & notarized by officers at US Embassy, right? Is this same day  or couple day service?

2.Documents should be brought with are: passport, ID, driver license & social security card and birth certificate?

3.It is said that the single status affidavit which is signed & notarized at US embassy in Vietnam (Ha Noi or Ho Chi Minh city) is reserved for US citizens who are currently residing in Vietnam on business or work purpose, not for US citizen 

currently living in USA .......... US citizen living in US should obtain single status affidavit in United States prior going to VN for marriage purpose.Is this statement true & valid ?

[MLK2016 201]

The form is similar.

The purpose of making an appointment is notarial services.   They should notarize it while he waits.

All I brought (in Thailand) was my US passport which was sufficient for the US Embassy.

I suggest that you email them and ask them if  they will notarize it for him in Hanoi.  

If they will not do it, then you will have to contact the state government in the state you reside and find out the procedure of obtaining it in the US.

However, I do not see on their website where they are restricting signature to only US citizens working or residing in VN:

 

The U.S Citizen Services unit performs various notarial services, including:

• Affidavit of Single Status for marriage in Vietnam
  (Form: U.S. Embassy in Hanoi (PDF-74KB)  |  U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City)
• Affidavit of Change of Name
  (Form: U.S. Embassy in Hanoi  |  U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City)
• Affidavit of Birth (for lost birth certificates)
  (Form: U.S. Embassy in Hanoi  |  U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City)
• General Affidavit
  (Form: U.S. Embassy in Hanoi  |  U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City)
• Acknowledgement of signature for legal documents
• Power of Attorney
  (Form: U.S. Embassy in Hanoi  |  U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City)

In order to make an appointment for notarial services, please visit our Appointment System.  If you need to request an expedited appointment, you must first schedule an appointment online and then submit an Expedited Request.  When you submit your expedite request, you must include the reason for the expedite request, the date and time of your scheduled appointment, and provide documentation to support your claim.  The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit will consider your request.

Please see our fees page for service pricing.

All consular fees are payable in U.S. Dollars or Vietnamese Dong in cash, or with the following credit cards in U.S. Dollars: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. We cannot accept checks.

In addition, we can only accept bills in good condition. Notes that are taped, washed, torn, damaged, or have excessive marks or blemishes will not be accepted.

Documents of non U.S. citizens that originated from the United States or are to be used in the United States may also be notarized. For notarization, you are requested to bring your passport or other government-issued photo ID for identification purposes.

Please note that academic credentials, commercial documents, and criminal background checks of U.S. origin cannot be notarized or authenticated by the Embassy/Consulate and must go through the authentication process in the United States.

Preparation for a notary appointment

• Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Make sure you understand your document. We are not allowed to explain the contents to you.
• Please complete the document with the appropriate names, places, and dates before you arrive (but do not sign the form; you will sign it at the Embassy/Consulate in front of a Consular officer).
• If your document requires the presence of witnesses in addition to the notarization, you are responsible for providing these witnesses. Consular staff cannot act as witnesses.

[Hoi Pham 1]

1 hour ago, MLK2016 said:

The form is similar.

The purpose of making an appointment is notarial services.   They should notarize it while he waits.

All I brought (in Thailand) was my US passport which was sufficient for the US Embassy.

I suggest that you email them and ask them if  they will notarize it for him in Hanoi.  

If they will not do it, then you will have to contact the state government in the state you reside and find out the procedure of obtaining it in the US.

However, I do not see on their website where they are restricting signature to only US citizens working or residing in VN:

 

The U.S Citizen Services unit performs various notarial services, including:

• Affidavit of Single Status for marriage in Vietnam
  (Form: U.S. Embassy in Hanoi (PDF-74KB)  |  U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City)
• Affidavit of Change of Name
  (Form: U.S. Embassy in Hanoi  |  U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City)
• Affidavit of Birth (for lost birth certificates)
  (Form: U.S. Embassy in Hanoi  |  U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City)
• General Affidavit
  (Form: U.S. Embassy in Hanoi  |  U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City)
• Acknowledgement of signature for legal documents
• Power of Attorney
  (Form: U.S. Embassy in Hanoi  |  U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City)

In order to make an appointment for notarial services, please visit our Appointment System.  If you need to request an expedited appointment, you must first schedule an appointment online and then submit an Expedited Request.  When you submit your expedite request, you must include the reason for the expedite request, the date and time of your scheduled appointment, and provide documentation to support your claim.  The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit will consider your request.

Please see our fees page for service pricing.

All consular fees are payable in U.S. Dollars or Vietnamese Dong in cash, or with the following credit cards in U.S. Dollars: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. We cannot accept checks.

In addition, we can only accept bills in good condition. Notes that are taped, washed, torn, damaged, or have excessive marks or blemishes will not be accepted.

Documents of non U.S. citizens that originated from the United States or are to be used in the United States may also be notarized. For notarization, you are requested to bring your passport or other government-issued photo ID for identification purposes.

Please note that academic credentials, commercial documents, and criminal background checks of U.S. origin cannot be notarized or authenticated by the Embassy/Consulate and must go through the authentication process in the United States.

Preparation for a notary appointment

• Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Make sure you understand your document. We are not allowed to explain the contents to you.
• Please complete the document with the appropriate names, places, and dates before you arrive (but do not sign the form; you will sign it at the Embassy/Consulate in front of a Consular officer).
• If your document requires the presence of witnesses in addition to the notarization, you are responsible for providing these witnesses. Consular staff cannot act as witnesses.

Thanks once more for your prompt reply..... Your explanations are very clear & concise.

I will follow them.......