I have a photocopy our Marriage Certificate. Mel will send me a certified copy before my interview. The certificate is just a piece of paper with typed in information. Is that all it is?

The Marriage Certificates in Canada are quite nice. They almost look a diploma.

Is it just the State of Louisiana, or is that what you get in all States?

My marriage certificate is a form with all the information just hand-written in by the judge that married us (in the U.S.). I also have a Canadian marriage certificate from my first marriage that does look like a very formal certificate, unlike the U.S. I guess every country is different.

Mine, from VA, is just a typed up form with a gold stamped/embossed seal on it.

mines the same, it has our signatures on it, and everything else is typed, and its on legal size paper. its from louisiana too.

Ours is on 8 1/2 X 11 paper, typewriter used, looks chincy and dicey... It looks like something like the 1970's I guess it's supposed to look like that.. In Canada you are right.. they look almost like a "Licence"!!

I was surprised when I went to get our certified copy in Kentucky, because the certificate we received in the mail was "official" and nice looking - but the copy at the clerk's office was actually the license we had filled out, with the certificate at the bottom.

I guess it isn't a big deal, but it would have been nice to have something nicer to frame and hang.

I guess that I'm confused about what is required for the Montreal Consulate. On the NVC Instructions, it says that Certified Documents from the issuing agency are acceptable, but then, in the Montreal addendum, they ask for the "original" document -- however, for Marriage Certificates, the original always remains on file with the Clerk of Courts -- they only document that you can get is a certified copy. This is acceptable for the interview??

An "original" of the certified copy is fine.

the certified copy is what they want.....

cool. thanks!!!

Bring a photocopy of the certified copy too. You want to bring photocopies of any originals (or certified copies) you are bringing to the interview. They just want to see the original and keep a photocopy.

Good to know that now! I have been ordering more copies of everything (Birth Certificate, Divorce Certificates,etc) Thinking I had to keep giving them the Certified ones.

They just want to verify that the information is correct. They'll look at the original certified but will keep a photocopy. If you don't have a photocopy with you, they'll keep the original or certified copy.

this is not necessarily true....

when I went for my interview, I brought my certified copies plus I had photocopies with me too ... the lady asked to see the certified copies and I handed them over and the lady said she just needed to make a photocopy of them and she would return them to me.... She never asked if I had photocopies....

i would still bring photocopies along just in case though...

Hmm... my checklist asks for photocopies of the originals. I guess it depends on how nice the people are that day?

Very good! I was confused re: Original vs. Cert Copy -- there is only one "original" -- usually it stays in a file of the issuing entity. However, the phrase "original" certified copy makes a lot of sense!!! I got duplicate certified copies of everything -- and then got certified photocopies (at the City of MtL) of the "original" certified copies of my documents (the language usage here is crazy! ). But, now I'm relieved -- and I know that I have the documents needed, and I'll bring photocopies of everything for the Consulate to keep on file . . . THANKS EVERYONE!