MandyNi

Hey everyone, quick question. We're getting official and being married on Saturday. We have two paper documents for the marriage license and certificate. So the officiant signs both (as I understand it) and we get the one with "Customer copy" on it.

Is that one ok to copy for the AOS or do we have to request an official copy from the state of California?

Bit unclear on this so Ta in advance!

Rete

In our day, and believe it is true today as well, you needed the registered copy which shows the filing information. Depending on where you are getting married, you might be able as we were to hand carry the signed license to city hall and have them register it immediately and/or return it to you within a few days. We left a prepaid second day mail pouch with them to send it to us.

meauxna

You need to have the recorded version of your marriage certificate, so after it has been to the country office and stamped or whatever they do to it locally.

PS: hope you're planning to post some photos!

MandyNi

Thank you both. Yep will try and post a piccie or two when I can!

M x

SwissMan

We're in the process of trying to get copies of the marriage certificate from the Los Angeles recorders office and they couldn't be less helpful. The will not tell you if you're marriage license has been processed, but they did say that most of the time they'll have the certificate done, but it'll pile up in their 'IN' box for some time before anyone enters it into the system.
No kidding, this is what we were told by a person at the recorders office.

I'm wondering if it doesn't make sense to hedge our bets, as it were, and see if there's a way to extend the date for the AOS. I don't know it for a fact, but I can't help but believe others have been held up waiting for the city red tape machine in the past.

Does anyone know what the process is for getting an extension?

meauxna

How do you mean, extend the date for the AOS?

The K-1 is admitted for 90 days. During that time, s/he must marry the USC petitioner.
Ideally, the AOS application would go in during that 90 days, but curiously, it's not actually mandated. However, until you file AOS, there is no valid immigration status from Day 91--AOS Receipt Date. While there is no consequence to the AOS from filing later, there is no immigration benefit either.

SwissMan

Part of the AOS is submitting a registered marriage certificate from the city.
If we can't get said marriage certificate within the 90 days we can't submit an AOS.

My understanding was that if you didn't send in your docs for the AOS by the 90 day deadline bad things happened. So, is that not true? You can go past the 90 days and nothing happens?

meauxna

I guess it depends.. for some people 'nothing happening' *would* be 'bad things'!
There is no active penalty for not filing AOS within the 90 days. The penalty is that the immigrant is left in limbo. Many people file their AOS after the 90 day K-1 admission.

Rete

I believe you are confusing those who enter under the VWP, marry and then should at all costs file before their 90 days allowed under the VWP expires.

It is not the same for K-1 recipients. The 90 days only applies to the act of marrying not to applying for AOS.

Fatmike85

I think I sent a certificate I got from the county clerks office. The one the officiant gives you is more for show I think. Like a diploma to put on the wall or something! haha!

MandyNi

Hmmmm well I know it says on the documents that it will take weeks. My 90 days are up on 4th October but I suppose if necessary I could always submit the package with a copy of the witness/officiant signed one and say that I will forward the official one as soon as LA county get their act together.

Noorah101

If you submit your AOS package without the marriage certificate, you will receive an RFE for the missing document. Only then can you forward it to USCIS. If you try to send it yourself, later, it will never get matched up with your file over there. Personally, I'd wait until you have all your documents in hand and then file a complete AOS package, and not risk getting an RFE. What if the RFE gets lost in the mail or something, you never respond to it, and your case gets closed? It's happened before. You want to avoid that possibility.

Rene

meauxna

Happy Wedding Day, Ms Mandy!!!
Come let us know when you are Mrs Mandy.

If you do the above, you'll be submitting an incomplete application, and the whole thing is put on hold (AP + EAD too) because that's required evidence.

MandyNi

Thanks Rene and M. guess I'll just have to be patient and wait then. At lest I can get all the other stuff sorted before it arrives I guess.

I am indeed a Mrs. now, we had our fab wedding day on 28th August, it was small but perfectly formed lol! We spent the day of our wedding lounging around on our patio watching the humming birds feed off the flowers, drinking and bathing in the patio fountain. About an hour before I decided I'd better shower and get ready lol. Said our vows overlooking the vineyard and hill in Napa, it was beautiful and I'm hoping to spend some anniversaries there too!

meauxna

It sounds beautiful and relaxed and perfect.. many congratulations!!!