Browsed by
Month: August 2022

How Can I Get Single Status Certificate in the USA
How Can I Get Single Status Certificate in the USA?

How Can I Get Single Status Certificate in the USA?

Comments 0 Comment

Proof of Being Single

A single status certificate is legal proof of your unmarried status. Simply put, it helps authorities to discover if you’re married to another person in the USA or anywhere.

A married person can apply for it, provided that he or she is previously married, but has divorced now. This can be proved easily with a document called a decree absolute. The court issues and attests it, which makes it acceptable across the world.

Where Can I Get an Unmarried Certificate in the USA?

The local County Clerk is the place where you can obtain this single status affidavit from. There is another alternative authority to issue or, which is the Court or State Registrar.

These two options are for natives.

If you’re not an American or an outsider like NRIs, the local US Embassy or US Consulate office can help you. The federal notary will draft an affidavit, stating that you’re single, your date of birth, and where you put up.

How Does the Single Status Affidavit Look Like?

The proof of your single status is an affidavit or a sworn document. The applicant has to write or get it written from an experienced attorney.

It’s true that you may draft it on your own. But, it’s better to consult someone who is experienced in drafting this legal document. It basically states the name, address, parents’ details, and single status details.

In many Asian countries, this document may include the details of his or her fiancé.

Once drafted, get it attested or apostilled from the aforesaid authorities.

Apostille can be challenging. An unprofessional agent can make mistakes. So, prefer professional agents or consult with Services 2 NRI to fully understand the apostille process. He can also help you with the unique requirements of certain Asian or European countries.

Seeking professional support can save you time and money because an untrained agent can face challenges. It may end up in delays or rejections, costing you more time and money.

Now that it has been apostilled, get it counter-attested from the US Department of State in Washington, D.C. Its stamp would legalize this document.

Finally, visit the Embassy or Consulate office to submit it.

How Can I Get It?

The process has already been discussed above. But, let’s get through it one more time in a more defined way.

  • First, visit the nearest American Embassy in the country where you live. If you don’t have any idea of its whereabouts and contact details, explore the embassy section of the website of the U.S. Department of State at usembassy.gov.
  • It will ask to schedule an appointment to visit there for verification. Schedule it online to visit an appropriate US embassy. Without appointments, the embassy won’t entertain or welcome any walk-ins.
  • Ensure to visit on the appointment day. Carry your passport. The consul will ask for it and the names of your parents, birthdate, and address.
  • Show your original documents and the satisfied consul will draft the affidavit. You have to sign there. Once done, the consul signs and stamps it to legalize this document.
  • Certainly, it’s a paid service. You have to pay the fee for this certificate, which is $30. It may vary if revised over time. You may pay it in cash or through your credit card.

Remember that the applicant has to confirm if he or she comes from a member country of The Hague Convention. If yes, apostille will work. It authenticates that document.

What Documents Should I Have for It?

  • Passport
  • Birth Certificate
  • Valid Driver’s License
  • Social Security Number
  • Death Certificate if You’re a Widowed
  • Decree Absolute to Prove You’re a Divorcee
  • The relevant fee
  • Form I-94 if You’re a Refugee in the USA

Benefits of Hiring a Consultant

The consultant can guide you throughout the document legalization journey. There are 50 US states. He can help you find the best fit consulate office.

Later on, he can make it easier to get the document attested from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., the Secretary of the District of Columbia (D.C.), and select Consulate / Embassy offices in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, CA.

End-to-End Steps to Get a Marriage Certificate
End-to-End Steps to Get a Marriage Certificate

End-to-End Steps to Get a Marriage Certificate

Comments 0 Comment

Do you likely to register your marriage in India?

Certainly, we have a different set of rules in our legislation. They allow marriage registration after solemnizing it. These are the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and the Special Marriage Act, 1954. These two acts define the criteria and how to register your marriage in India.

The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 is applicable in case the spouses are Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, or any converted religion cases. On the other hand, the Special Marriage Act, 1954 is applied if either of them is not Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, or Sikh.

End-to-Steps to Getting a Marriage Certificate

Step 1: Visit the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office, as it comes to his jurisdiction. Be there between 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM on any working there.  Or,

If you are an NRI, visit the embassy website and get registered there.

Step 2: Make your papers or documents ready for verification. Even if you’re a non-resident of India, you should have original proofs to show and verify your marital status.

Here is the list of all papers to consider and prepare yourself:

  • Marriage Registration Application form duly signed by both husband and wife
  • Documentary evidence of the date of birth of both spouses, such as Matriculation Certificate / Passport / Birth Certificate) to show that both are not minor or above 21 years
  • Ration card of husband or wife
  • Documentary evidence to verify the address where they have been living for 30 or more days, such as a ration card or a report from the SHO in that area
  • A sworn statement or affidavit by both the spouses, which mentions the place and date of marriage, date of birth, marital status (single/divorcee/ separated) at the time of marriage, and nationality
  • Two passport-size photographs of both the spouses and one marriage photograph
  • Marriage invitation, if have
  • A certificate from the priest if the marriage is solemnized in the temple or any religious place
  • A statement or affirmation that the spouses do not relate within the prohibited degree of relationship as per the Hindu Marriage Act or Special Marriage Act
  • Divorce papers of the former spouse (if divorced), or a death certificate of the deceased life partner (if widowed)
  • (As per the Hindu Marriage Act) a conversion letter or document from the priest who solemnized that marriage if either of the spouses is other than a Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, or Sikh by religion
  • Three witnesses’ nationality cards or legal proofs

Note: All of these documents should be attested by an A-gazette officer.

Step 3: Processing Fee

Certainly, it’s a paid service. You are supposed to pay INR 100 in case of the Hindu Marriage Act and INR 150 for the marriage registration under the Special Marriage Act.

This fee may be more or variable in different states. So, you are advised to visit the website for the information or inquire with the cashier at the SDM office. Once paid, receive a receipt.

Step 4: Verification Process

  • Hindu Marriage Act

Here in this case, the verification day is scheduled when you apply for the marriage certificate. A day is decided or fixed by the authority and sent the schedule to the spouses for registration. On the fixed day, both should be there. Show up the documents listed above for verification. The gazetted officer should also be present before the Sub-divisional Magistrate.

Upon verifying, he issues the marriage certificate the very same day.

  • Special Marriage Act

Under this act also, both spouses should be present with their documents before SDM. Send one copy of all documents to the embassy if one is an NRI or foreigner. The consul will issue the notice of registration through a post on the shared address.

Validation Criteria

  • The timeline of the marriage registration under the Special Marriage Act is 30 days from the day when the notice is issued by the concerned authority. The motive is to see if either of them faced any objection or problem during a month.
  • Once found that both are happy, the SDM issues that certificate. Here, the witness’s proofs are also important. They should be there on the date of registration.
  • Both spouses must be there after submitting the documents of the issuance of the notice of the intended wedding. A copy of the notice should be pasted on the SDM office notice board.
  • Either of the spouses can raise an objection within 30 days of its receipt.
  • If the SDM rejects your application, either of the spouses may appeal to the district court within 30 days.
  • If there is no objection, the SDM will issue the notice for solemnizing the marriage. Both spouses should be present there with 3 witnesses.
  • The name of the witnesses should be sent to the SDM a day prior.

Step 5: In correspondence to the provisions of the Act, SDMs/ADMs/Deputy Commissioners can be authorised as Marriage Officers. Simply put, any of them can sign your marriage certificate.

Forms to Fill Up

  • Affidavit
  • Application form for marriage certificate under the Hindu Marriage Act
  • Application form for marriage certificate under the Special Marriage Act
  • Identification Certificate of a witness having PAN of income tax or, any officer of the Central or State government or, UT Administration or PSU/ Autonomous bodies whose identity can be as per criteria

When to Get Notification from Authority

Whether you apply online or physically, the authority will respond within 15 days if your case of the Hindu Marriage Act. The number of these days will be 60 if you are married under the Special Marriage Act.

whatsapp this is link