Hello All,

I was reading the posts here and I am confused about how quickly you can get marriage certificate

I am a Hindu and US Citizen. If I go through traditional Hindu marriage, I was under the impression that I could apply and get the marriage certificate within 2-3 days after marriage. I was reading some posts in this forum which say since I am US citizen I will have to apply 30 days in advance and then be able to get the marriage certificate.

Please let me know how long it takes.

Thanks

For us, it took about a week to get it. I have heard people getting it done much faster. I'm pretty sure that if you're willing fork up some cash, you'll get it faster. Ca$h is king

Hello,

Since I have been dealing with this issue myself and preparing for the worst with my i-130; I would like to say that "cash" isnt' always the king.

One of the vj members was denied visa at Delhi on the basis that the USC didn't stay 1 month in India prior to getting the marriage certificate, I guess they got the marriage certificate within a week's time or something like that and the official requirement for let it be an Indian by birth or a foreigner is 1 month 10 days to be exact.

I do realise that not every case is being scrutinised like this and every case is different, but then it's better to do it proper way than being sorry later on. And also with what all I have read, it feels like you can do things giving out cash in some parts of India but not every part.

So may be asking your fiance to contact any of the local lawyers of her/his district will be a good idea.
Also are you a OCI? Just make sure your fiancé go to any local family based lawyer or registrar office and clear up things beforehand.

Oh another thing which I have seen is, if you have less time and your fiancé doesn't live in any municipal area rather his/her domicile comes under any panchayat raj, then a certificate given by the panchayat holds as much value as registering, since panchayat is part of the Indian government.

Please do more searches and see what all options are available for you and your fiancé and move according to that.

Best wishes for your future

Thanks for your replies, but I am still not sure whether I have to stay in India for a month to get marriage certificate. Hope others can also clarify this issue.

I have heard from a lawyer in India that you have to wait for 30 days if you only get court marriage done. But, if you get traditional marriage then you can get the marriage certificate right away.

Also, reading from the posts in VJ it seems that if you are not Hindu then even if you get traditional marriage, then you will have to wait for 30 days.

silent, could you send the link of the case which got denied in Delhi because the USC didn't stay in India for one month.

I hope to get some clarity on this issue from other VJ members.

Thanks

There is a fine line between, Registered marriage and marriage registration.

Registered marriage is in other words a civil marriage.

With what I have talked with the local lawyer, according to him both takes 1 month 10 days time no matter what. One party has to show domicile of that given district for the past 15 days, both man and woman (let it be you are married or you are intending to get married) go to the court house, signs a few documents infront of the district magistrate and then you will have to come back after a months time, sign some more papers and you will be issued with your registered marriage certificate.

Only significant difference is that, if you are intending to get married then your and your would be spouses name will be projected at courts enquiry board and also you guys have to give a publication at local newspapers saying if anyone has any objection regarding this marriage they can contact with the district court for that matter.

Now, there are ways to get through every thing in India and most of the places will, but at least its not the same from where I come from, I did offer the lawyer any extra money but he said nothing can happen, I do have family members working at the district court but they too can't "speed" up the actual process.

Whichever way you choose do let your fiance contact a local lawyer and get things sorted out.

Also, whenever you do make the trip to India, do make sure to have a notarized statement from USA saying how you are free to get married to any consent adult of any nationality. US consulates in India used to issue these no objection letters which are a requirement with Indian courts, but US consulates have stopped it, however they can help you with notarization for $30 fee I guess.

About that link, sorry I don't have it anymore, I am not sure but I do think it was with the OP laurarajesh's case.

I have found this link http://www.madaan.com/marriage.html which says that if you get married through religious marriage, you can get the marriage certificate right away i.e. no wait for 30 days. Hopefully, it will be helpful to others.

silent,

thanks for your response.

Is there a way to get no objection letter within USA and what is the procedure? I won't have too much time in India to go to US consulate

I couldn't understand your response regarding "but US consulates have stopped it, however they can help you with notarization for $30 fee I guess."

So the US consulate still give no objection letter and what do they notarize? Can you please elaborate?

Yeye,

US embassy/consulates used to give out no objection letters earlier, but they have stopped issuing no objection letters anymore. But what you can do is write out a notarized statement claiming how you are eligible to get married outside of your USA jurisdiction, if you have any prior divorce do make sure to attest those too with your notarized copy.

You can make the notarization copy in USA, at any bank for free or shell out $30 at any of US consulates in India.

Silent,

Can you please state the text for notarized statement that I need to provide?

Thanks.