USCIS Won't Recognize Valid Marriage Certificate

[riversurf58]

Hello, and thank you for any help with the following issue:

At our interview at the Chicago USCIS office for change of status for my wife (I'm US citizen), everything seemed fine except the officer told us our Georgia Marriage Certificate was not a legal document, just a "souvenir" and we needed to submit the "real" one within 30 days. (We're in Chicago because of move after filing I-485). But the probate court that issued the certificate told me that what I have is the only document to prove a marriage that they issue. The officer refuses to accept that claim, even though the probate court official sent an email verifying what I said. the (very unhelpful) USCIS officer refuses to call the court official and said it is up to us to get the document.

The county probate court suggested I go there and get another certificate signed by the judge, not the clerk, and get an apostille from the State of Georgia, which will state the document is authentic.

A. Has this happened to anyone else and what did you do?

B. Is the apostille likely to do the trick? (We don't really trust this USCIS officer)

C. If she rejects the next document again, what do we do next?

Any help would be greatly welcomed. We are really worried about this.

[catgismo]

When we got married in the city hall, the court gave us a certificate instantly and they told us that marriage certificate was only a souvenir and we needed to go collect the real one in the county office 2 weeks later and pay $25 for it, i suspect if you took the souvenir one, one that is issued right away at the court when u get married.

[riversurf58]

Thanks your your response.

But the thing is, the certificate we have is the authentic one. It is the one and only official marriage certificate that the county issues, not a souvenir as the USCIS officer so smugly told us. The court clerk even wrote an email stating that it was the official document. USCIS is asking us to provide what we've already provided.

[karan888]

Like catgizmo said.WE also got a souvenir copy on the spot signed by the judge and got two copies of the real cerficate in the mail bcz we paid for two copies.it was all fancy and golden borderd etc.so the one u have is a paper hand signed by judge, or a nicely printed actual certificate.????

[riversurf58]

It is the real, authentic marriage certificate ink signed by the clerk of the court (who have the authority in my county to sign marriage certificates). The USCIS has no issue with the signature. She just claims (wrongly) that the certificate is not a valid legal document. But it is, we have verified that with the county. We do not have the "souvenir." So how do we prove to this unreasonable USCIS agent that she's flat wrong? The probate court that issued the certificate said they could not write a letter on county letterhead & signed by head of probate because it's just not a policy they can follow. They will issue us another one with an ink signature by the judge, but it will be the very same certificate. Catch 22.

[catgismo]

you probably should make an appiontment by infopass to talk to the local office

[riversurf58]

Yes, we actually did that about 5 minutes ago. Do you happen to know if you can request specifically to see a supervisor when you to the USCIS office? We don't want to deal with the original officer anymore.

Maybe I'll check the FAQs or start a new thread for that question.

Thank you.

[catgismo]

when u book an appointment with infopass, i dont think u will be meeting the original officer, alternatively i also heard people who have problems and cant get resolved with USICS, they write letters to local mayor or congressman and they have their case immediately taken care of, if i were you, i would probably book the appointment and also write a letter to ur local mayor and congressman at the same time, keep us posted. really hope u guys will find a solution

[nichole]

An interesting case I've never heard of before. Can you explain the process?

Got a marriage license where?

Who married you? Did that person sign the license?

After the wedding, did you return to the office to get the marriage recorded at the county?

For example we got a license at the county courthouse. We were married by a judge friend at another friend's house. The officiant (judge or pastor or priest) would sign the license that he performed the marriage on a specific date. The officiant often mails in the signed license to the county. In our case, we said we would take it in. At that point it wasn't a marriage certificate. The county had to record the details of the marriage in the county records. Then they added notation like "recorded 10/10/2008 in Smith County, state of Texas." Then the county official signed the notation and embossed the corner with the county seal. At that point it became a certified marriage certificate. So I was wondering if your marriage is actually recorded in the State of Georgia? Maybe that's what the immigration is looking for--some indication that it is recorded and a seal, embossing, or stamp.

[riversurf58]

Thank you for your reply.

The problem isn't with the marriage certificate. It is absolutely, unequivocally authentic and a legal document issued and recorded by the court of the county that issued it. No question about this. We checked, double-checked, triple-checked, and even got an email from the clerk of the probate court (which issues and maintains all marriage records in the county) attesting to its authenticity and that there is no other marriage document issued by the county.

The IO for some reason has decided she won't accept anything we submit with the marriage certificate. She's as unreasonable and unhelpful as I've ever encountered in a government agency; She refuses to call or email the clerk because "I don't have time for this, this is your problem."

I am going tomorrow to get yet another copy of the certif signed by the judge,and then get something called an apostille from the State of Georgia that will also attest to the legality and authenticity of the marriage certif. But we feel that the IO has such ego issues that she will reject that too. I think a letter from the Pope and all of the Supreme Court members wouldn't be enough for her.

We really need to talk to a supervisor, but don't know how to get to one.

It's sooo frustrating.

Thank you for your reply

[seshajay]

Hi,

Can you please tell me how you managed to resolve this eventually? I am in a similar situation. I got married in India and submitted all the documents to USCIS for family based green card. I got an RFE saying the document (the marriage certificate I submitted) is insufficient proof for immigration purposes and they want a marriage certificate that states after the marriage it was registered or recorded by the appropriate civil registrar.

The state I got married in issues marriage certificates only in this format, there is no other format available. I am also thinking of getting an apostille done.

Thanks,
Ajay

[Claudia Costa Alcantara]

Hey,

I remember they gave me 2 copy of marriage certifiates and 1 was with a blue signature and they told me that this one was for immigration the other one was black.I got married in atl.