Obtaining Temporary Certificate of Marriage in Hawaii

[Stevephoto 230]

Aloha!

I am not sure if this is better here or in the K-1 section. We had a discussion a while ago in the Philippines sub-forum about getting the Certificate of Marriage early enough to file for AOS. Some states make this process very easy while others, like Hawaii, are (were) not so easy. The DOH website states that it will take 60 to 120 days to receive the "official" certificate! So much for filing within the 90 day I-94 period (I know that it is "OK" to go out of status once we were married, but we don't want to). Here is the work-around: Your wedding performer needs to be registered with the State's new online system. He/she can then enter the wedding details electronically. You can then obtain and print a temporary certificate that states "This copy serves as prima facie evidence of marriage in any court proceeding."

However...in typical fashion it is not easy to find the certificate online! Go here: https://emrs.ehawaii.gov/emrs/public/application-search.html?tab=app and enter your ID and last name...then click "Print Certificate." Save the certificate as a pdf and print as many copies as you need (i.e., we printed one for the bank to change Joan's name on our account).

Good luck!!

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

You just have to be married within 90 days, as long as you can prove that, you're golden. Sucks that it takes so long to process the certificate, but "Hey bruddah, you know da kine??"

You will be out of status anyways on day 91 even after you are married. You will remain out of status until you 1) Have a NOA for AOS filing, or 2) Your GC, depending on the state's rules. But you can remain out of status indefinitely, provided the immigrant doesn't need to leave the US border. Some don't file for AOS for more than 2 years after the I-94 expires.

Edited August 28, 2013 by DavenRoxy

[Stevephoto 230]

Thanks Dave! Yes I know, but we want to stay "in status." The good news is that the temporary certificate was available within 2 working days...

[Pitaya 2,577]

I have only a couple of questions?

Is "..prima facia evidence in any court proceeding" the same thing as accepted by USCIS for AOS purposes? Has this been tried and proven by going through USCIS procedures?

I hope that it works out okay.

[Stevephoto 230]

I have only a couple of questions?

Is "..prima facia evidence in any court proceeding" the same thing as accepted by USCIS for AOS purposes? Has this been tried and proven by going through USCIS procedures?

I hope that it works out okay.

I honestly don't know, but it is what we have so we have to send it. I am also going to send a printout of the DOH website citing a 60 to 120 day wait for the original. We will have the "official" certificate in time for the interview or any RFE. I would rather file all we have, stay "in status" and face any RFE rather than wait and go out of status (I know that this does not really matter). I'll let you know in 6 to 8 months!

[lbounds 16]

We stopped in Hawaii from Philippines for a few days and had our civil ceremony there. We got a souvenir certificate signed and in a few weeks when we were back in California we got the marriage certificate and also 2 certified copies. Our wedding was basic and legal there to satisfy the requirements. A year or so later we did a full church wedding with all the family in the Philippines.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Thanks Dave! Yes I know, but we want to stay "in status." The good news is that the temporary certificate was available within 2 working days...

Unless you can get a GC before the I-94 expires, that is impossible. You fall "out of status" the day after your I-94 expires. We all did, it's no big deal. Doesn't mean anything. Then you get the GC, and become CPR, wait two years, file for ROC, get a letter for another year, then become LPR for 10 years.

[April-n-Gary 17]

Thanks for the info Steve, It'll come in handy in a couple months after April gets here, and we get hitched! By the way, one of my friends recently got married, after the ceremony the wedding performer entered the details on-line and he went down to the Dept of Health downtown and he requested duplicate copies and got them in about 2 weeks.

[aleleka 1]

Steve, did the USCIS accept the temporary certificate to apply for AOS?

Aloha!

I am not sure if this is better here or in the K-1 section. We had a discussion a while ago in the Philippines sub-forum about getting the Certificate of Marriage early enough to file for AOS. Some states make this process very easy while others, like Hawaii, are (were) not so easy. The DOH website states that it will take 60 to 120 days to receive the "official" certificate! So much for filing within the 90 day I-94 period (I know that it is "OK" to go out of status once we were married, but we don't want to). Here is the work-around: Your wedding performer needs to be registered with the State's new online system. He/she can then enter the wedding details electronically. You can then obtain and print a temporary certificate that states "This copy serves as prima facie evidence of marriage in any court proceeding."

However...in typical fashion it is not easy to find the certificate online! Go here: https://emrs.ehawaii.gov/emrs/public/application-search.html?tab=app and enter your ID and last name...then click "Print Certificate." Save the certificate as a pdf and print as many copies as you need (i.e., we printed one for the bank to change Joan's name on our account).

Edited September 15, 2015 by aleleka

[Stevephoto 230]

Steve, did the USCIS accept the temporary certificate to apply for AOS?

Yes they did. We had no problem at all. No RFE. We brought the certified copy to the interview, but I don't think they asked for it. We HAVE needed the certified copies for other things, but we had them for those things. We ordered 5 certified copies...and just ordered 5 more because we used them all!