Affidavit of Single Status in Russia?

[Chadderbaby 0]

Hello all, 

 

I just proposed to my longtime girlfriend who is a Russian citizen. We both live in Moscow but want to marry here and then apply to immigrate back home to the US. 
 

It seems like we need an affidavit of single status (marriage letter) to apply, but the embassy doesn’t offer them anymore. 
 

Has anyone here been in similar situation? What did you do about it? Is there any way to get this letter in a way that ZAGS will accept while we are still here in Russia or is the only option to fly home to America? 
 

I would really appreciate any feedback you guys have. This has been a big stress on us. 

[Crazy Cat 42,986]

***Moved to the RUB regional forum as OP is asking a regional question***

[millefleur 5,048]

  On 1/11/2024 at 3:06 PM, Chadderbaby said:

It seems like we need an affidavit of single status (marriage letter) to apply, but the embassy doesn’t offer them anymore. 

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Are you sure they no longer offer it? The US embassy in Moscow says they're offering US citizen services now, which includes affidavits.

 

You can get it from any US embassy then have it translated into Russian. Consider travelling to a nearby country and making an appointment to get it, if Moscow is not offering.

[Chadderbaby 0]

Is citizen services different than the official embassy? Because the official embassy says it’s not doing notarial services online and on the phone. 
 

Also, is this a document that they make for you or is it something that I can make and have them notarize and verify? I’m getting a lot of different opinions on this and I just don’t seem to get anything consistent from anywhere it seems. 

[millefleur 5,048]

  On 1/12/2024 at 1:01 PM, Chadderbaby said:

Is citizen services different than the official embassy? Because the official embassy says it’s not doing notarial services online and on the phone. 

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According to the official embassy site in Moscow:

 

The American Citizen Services Unit is resuming online appointment scheduling for routine passport applications, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and notarial services.

 

And you can make an appointment here: https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.asp?postcode=MOS&appcode=1

 

  On 1/12/2024 at 1:01 PM, Chadderbaby said:

Also, is this a document that they make for you or is it something that I can make and have them notarize and verify? I’m getting a lot of different opinions on this and I just don’t seem to get anything consistent from anywhere it seems. 

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They used to have a template PDF you just downloaded on the site, it was in Russian. The cost was $50 USD. I would just try to make an appointment if possible and email them to see if they still have this PDF somewhere. They still have info about this on the site, just no PDF to download, strange.

 

https://ru.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/marriage/

[millefleur 5,048]

@Chadderbaby I was able to find the document on archive.org. This is the same one I used when I got married in Russia, so it should work for you:

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20211024212452/https://ru.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/138/marriage_letter.pdf

 

If for some reason Moscow isn't offering it, I would just translate this into English and take it to another US embassy in a nearby country and get it notorized there. I found an example of what the one used in Ukraine looks like as well, just for reference it contains an English translation:

[P3ACHY 7]

If you don't want to deal with it. Consider getting married in Georgia. Single status is not required from either party.