Can I Use a Church Certificate with an Affidavit from Priest as My Marriage Certificate?

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Use a Church Certificate with an Affidavit from Priest as Marriage Certificate?

Hi William:

I am going to submit our Form I-485 applications, including my wife and 2 sons. What is the best substitution for the marriage registration certificate? Can I use a church certificate with an affidavit from a priest as my marriage certificate?

Answer:

A church certificate with affidavits should be helpful. An affidavit from the priest who performed the wedding or another priest who can attest to procedures for the issuance of the church certificate should help.

Sometimes, some USCIS officers are suspicious about a person not having a marriage certificate, so it can help to indicate in your Form I-485 application cover letter that the U.S. government acknowledges that, in certain countries, it is not necessary to obtain a marriage certificate for a marriage to be valid and legally binding.

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