Certified copy of Marriage certificate

[binjijiloo0 0]

I am in the process of filling out the I-130 and I saw that on the checklist is a certified copy of our marriage certificate. I currently live in the state of California and based on the research I did, California Notaries may only certify copies of powers of attorney, or copies of the Notary's own journal entries if requested by the Secretary of State or a court. Also, out marriage certificate is in Thai since that is were we registered the marriage. I think I need to get it translated but I am kind of worried about the certified copy of the marriage certificate. Any advice? Thanks in advance

[shumway1756 304]

I just went through the official USCIS instructions for the I-130 and I-130A and nowhere is the marriage certificate copy said to require certification. A regular copy will do. I sent in a regular photocopy of mine and it worked perfectly fine.

 

Out of curiosity what checklist are you using? Did a service or attorney provide it to you?

 

As far as translation, yes, it needs to be translated to English. Per USCIS the translator should include: "A formal statement in which a translator shows that they have accurately translated a foreign-language document into English. Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that they are competent to translate the foreign language into English." (Note that the "certification" referred to here is just a statement, not an official seal or notarization).

Edited May 12, 2018 by shumway88

[binjijiloo0 0]

Oh really? I was going off the checklist that was on this site. Do you happen to have a link to the official USCIS instructions and what is needed for the I-130 and I-130a? I can't seem to find it online.

Edited May 12, 2018 by binjijiloo0

[shumway1756 304]

4 minutes ago, binjijiloo0 said:

Oh really? I was going off the checklist that was on this site.

Unless there's something there that I don't know about, but here are the instructions for the I-130/I-130A that I'm referring to: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-130instr.pdf

 

If there is something else then it's not consistent with their form instructions. At any rate, my simply photocopy of the marriage certificate passed with flying colors.

[binjijiloo0 0]

Awesome, thanks for the help.

[Abies 1,713]

4 hours ago, binjijiloo0 said:

Oh really? I was going off the checklist that was on this site. Do you happen to have a link to the official USCIS instructions and what is needed for the I-130 and I-130a? I can't seem to find it online.

We submitted photocopy and it was accepted

[slc12312 11]

Really, I think it depends on where you are processing the IR1. In Thailand, what they meant by "certified" is that it is an official record gov't record. On the US end for example, I have been married twice. I had to provide a copy of the official marriage registration/certificate for both marriages. Then I had to provide copies of both final divorce decree or judgements. Those are stamped by the county that issued them which makes them "certified". Not a notary stamp. It is the county seal. 

On the Thai side, we had to get the Thai copy of our marriage registration from the Amphur (gov't office), stamped with a seal. Then we had to take it to the a company that does translations where they stamped it as being an official translation. 

Originally for us since we did consular filing here in Thailand, we submitted copies... but for the interview, she had to have the originals. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

The Philippines requires a PSA certified marriage certificate.  I was able to upload a copy to NVC and use a copy for the petition but they require the original at the interview.

[pushbrk 12,881]

5 hours ago, John & Rose said:

The Philippines requires a PSA certified marriage certificate.  I was able to upload a copy to NVC and use a copy for the petition but they require the original at the interview.

If married in the Philippines, USCIS and the Consulate in Manila require a PHOTOCOPY of a Certified Copy of a marriage certificate ISSUED BY the Philippine Statistics Authority.

 

For each country, a Photocopy of a Certified Copy of a marriage certificate issued by the applicable government office is what is submitted.

 

A person does not go somewhere to get a copy certified.  They obtain a certified copy, then photocopy that certified copy.

 

China is the only exception I know of where a "Notary" is involved and that is because it is the Notarial Office that actually issues both the certificate and the translation of it.  The actual "certificate" is a "book" like a passport that Bride and Groom both have.  

[Madison S. 48]

Under direction of our attorney, we used a photocopy of our marriage certificate. The certificate was in Portuguese, however, and we needed to have a translation that was completed by a third-party (not my husband or any family members). So long as the copy of the certificate is legitimate, it will be fine -- no need to certify or Apostille it. We were advised for the interview, however, to bring an original copy (such that the raised seal or stamp on the certificate can be seen/authenticated).

 

Hope this helps!