QUOTE(mikeleighb @ Nov 21 2007, 04:13 PM)

HI. I got married in China this last august and i am currently waiting for my first NOA for form 1-130. Anyway, I know exactly what you are talking about. What I did was visit the U.S. consulate nearest my wife's city, which was Guangzhou. As a divorcee, I had to show my passport and the decree of divorce. Then I just signed a statement swearing that I was free to marry. If you have never been married, you only need to be an American and sign the document swearing your freedom to marry.
To be honest, they probably would have had no idea if i was married previously or not. But I think telling the truth is always the best route.
With that paper, we were married a few days later. I hope this helps a little.
It might help if the single paper in question is for getting married in China. There are actually three distinct methods for obtaining the needed affidavit of single status required for a foreigner to marry in China. You've described what can be the easiest one if travel itineraries allow.
If there are three ways to do this in China, take a wild guess on how many ways there are to do it throughout the world. And then multiply that by at least two for how many ways there might be for a foreigner to document their current marital status.
The OP hasn't been back to answer any questions. Maybe they found their answer elsewhere.