U.S. Embassy wouldn’t accept my marriage certificate

[S&Wally 2]

Hi VJ, I had my interview this past week and when my number was called the counselor informed me that my marriage certificate isn’t valid. He didn’t give me no green form or 221g form or didn’t say I was denied or anything. Basically told me once I get the document that is needed email us as soon as you get it. The way I got married was from the embassy of my country of Malaysia. And got married the Islamic way. I know people that got married the same exact way in the same country and was granted a visa for their spouse. And that was like 4-5 months ago. And when I told him that, his reply was “they just recently changed it, this past weekend” because I told him you guys should’ve emailed me or notify me somehow. Because this is not my fault. Which he then said “we just knew this past weekend” which is a lie because I asked around and found out people that got marrrid like me in the same U.S. Embassy told them they don’t accept this marriage certificate- and this was 2 months ago and the counselor told me this is “new”. The problem is I’m not from that country nor is my spouse it would be near impossible for me to get married the way they want me to without being a resident there. His options were to register my marriage at the authority in Malaysia or start a k1 visa which then I told him “don’t say k1 visa because I’m not going to start all over. And plus she’s not my fiancé she’s my wife been married for a year now.” His options were just horrendous, worse than the other. My process has been a year now. Can I reschedule my interview with them or how does it work now? Because honestly I was being polite with him but because when he lied to me I want to reschedule my appointment and talk the right way. Off course without being rude. 

[Redheadguy03 505]

You need to stop posting the same post multiple times. 

 

You have to follow the instructions that the officer gave you. This isn't a simple process and you don't get to pick what you want to do. Follow the rules and do what they tell you. 

[milimelo 4,477]

~ Duplicate topic removed. Don't post more than once on the same topic. ~

[KULtoATL 1,551]

Firstly, please complete your timeline so that members could provide you with more appropriate responses.

 

Secondly, do you mind replying to my questions below because your post is kinda unclear on certain things?

 

1. Which country are you from?

 

2. How come you got married at the embassy, Islamic way or otherwise? 

 

3. Based on your country's law, do you generally have to register a marriage civilly with your country's registrar even if it's a Islamic marriage aka akad nikah?

 

4. Which US embassy was your visa interview at? 

 

If the consular officer is expecting you to register your marriage with the Malaysian National Registration Department (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara), then you need to refer to the following 2 links:

 

https://www.lawyerment.com/library/kb/Families/Marriage/1020.htm

 

https://www.lawyerment.com/library/kb/Families/Marriage/1021.htm

 

You can contact NRD: http://www.jpn.gov.my/en/contact-us/. Better to call than email. Silly Malaysian government departments rarely respond to emails. And if you call, you'll be doing a lot of waiting.

 

ETA: You don't get to reschedule a visa interview that's already done and dusted. 

Edited October 15, 2017 by KULtoATL

[Latonia 29]

Did your wife file the marriage certificate here in the US or did she get it certified sometimes its best but not required but it can help

[Ryan H 3,812]

***Duplicate threads merged and merged thread moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.***

[pushbrk 12,883]

5 hours ago, Latonia said:

Did your wife file the marriage certificate here in the US or did she get it certified sometimes its best but not required but it can help

This is not relevant.  The marriage did not take place in the US.  The Consular Officer will have given instructions as to the documentation they are requiring to be sent after the interview.  All that is needed is to follow those instructions.  There is no point in arguing with the officer, even if the officer is wrong.  There will be no visa until those instructions are followed.

[Latonia 29]

@pushbrk what I stated is very relevant and I was only talking the person that originally posted about marriage certificate because i am aware that the marriage was not in the US but for those of us that go through strict embassies has to also know the law so i was simply asking a question because even though the marriage took place in a foreign country and done traditionally or otherwise the US spouse can bring the marriage certificate to the states and file an apostille with that country that legalizes their union and it will have a government seal and number but only if the country is affiliated (in agreement with) because not all countries accept apostilles and if the US spouse gets it apostille (legalize) he or she should attach that apostille to the legal document and frontload it with the I-130...legalizing a marriage certificate can  also be done in that country if you are having a traditional tribal ceremony not a court wedding etc. Im only addressing the statement about the marriage certificate and not the argument with the CO because everyone should know not to argue in a visa interview you just follow the instructions  they give you and see what happens...at the end of the day they can either approve or deny

[pushbrk 12,883]

3 hours ago, Latonia said:

@pushbrk what I stated is very relevant and I was only talking the person that originally posted about marriage certificate because i am aware that the marriage was not in the US but for those of us that go through strict embassies has to also know the law so i was simply asking a question because even though the marriage took place in a foreign country and done traditionally or otherwise the US spouse can bring the marriage certificate to the states and file an apostille with that country that legalizes their union and it will have a government seal and number but only if the country is affiliated (in agreement with) because not all countries accept apostilles and if the US spouse gets it apostille (legalize) he or she should attach that apostille to the legal document and frontload it with the I-130...legalizing a marriage certificate can  also be done in that country if you are having a traditional tribal ceremony not a court wedding etc. Im only addressing the statement about the marriage certificate and not the argument with the CO because everyone should know not to argue in a visa interview you just follow the instructions  they give you and see what happens...at the end of the day they can either approve or deny

No Apostilles are needed for any documents in this process.  An Apostille of any document does not change the status of the marriage or the marriage document TO legal from some non-legal status.  The OP has instructions to follow, which must be followed, and those instructions have nothing to do with an apostille of ANY document.

 

"register my marriage at the authority in Malaysia" is a process of registration with a government office to obtain a "registered" marriage certificate from that agency, not to apostille the current document.  It's about the correct document after the marriage, not about how they got married.

Edited October 16, 2017 by pushbrk

[Latonia 29]

@pushbrk I was simply asking  the OP a question only because he is the one that posted the situation and there is no need to keep addressing me I was asking the OP....yes the instructions was given by the CO and it has to be done but we here on VJ are allowed to ask questions and share experiences thats why its a public forum...sorry if my question and statement bothers you but I was not asking you but thank you anyway

[pushbrk 12,883]

The discussion is for the benefit of all readers, not just the OP.  You can ask any question you want.  My input is that your question is not relevant to the OP's case.  Readers need to know that.

[Latonia 29]

@S&Wally please send me a private message on the answer to my question above thank you