Marriage Certificate for AOS (Marriage Based )

[MaryLoves 5]

 

Can a marriage license be the same as a marriage certificate? I was thinking a marriage license is kind of like a permit to get married, and a marriage certificate is the proof that you are married.

That is, before the marriage, you have a marriage license, and after the marriage you have a marriage certificate. 

 

I got married in Texas to my USC partner, and we never got a marriage certificate mailed to us. We called the court where we got married, and they said "In the state of Texas, a marriage certificate is the same thing as a marriage license."

Is this really true? Is there anyone who got married in Texas and still have both the marriage license and marriage certificate? 

 

I got married about 6 months ago, but is it still possible to get the marriage certificate? (if it actually exists different from the license?)

Edited October 29, 2017 by MaryLoves

[Villanelle 4,122]

You are correct and also incorrect if that makes sense  

Each state does things differently. In some they consider the marriage license/certificate as you first explained. In others (like TX) they only refer to one document- the marriage license. So in TX you get a license, it gets stamped and signed and then its the "certificate" or proof of marriage. If you need a duplicate copy you would go to the clerks office and get a certified marriage license paper from them.  In other states you have a license (one document) and a separate document that is a certificate. Its confusing. which is why so many people send the wrong document to USCIS. 

Edited October 29, 2017 by Damara

[MaryLoves 5]

I read a post where someone who applied for marriage-based AOS got an RFE because they only submitted a marriage license, instead of a marriage certificate. They also got married in Texas and they did not have a marriage certificate.

USCIS did not accept their marriage license as a marriage certificate even though Texas does not have a marriage certificate as a separate document. 

 

I am planning to adjust my status through marriage, but I am not sure if USCIS will accept my marriage license... I am not sure what to do.