RFE for marriage Certificate

[mathewr 0]

Hi All,

My Marriage certificate was issued from Kerala,India.This certificate issued by the government is in English.

Attested copy of the same was attached with my i-130 application.

But I got an RFE for marriage certificate, stating that they need the certificate in my native language.

Kindly suggest on how to respond to this RFE?

Thanks in Advance.

[Sukie 1,439]

It is possible to respond to an RFE explaining that a document cannot be submitted. What you need to do is write an explanatory letter that details:

1) that your marriage certificate was issued in English, and there is NOT a marriage certificate in your native language

2) some sort of "proof" (copy of webpage, paper document) from Kerala that shows that they only issue original certificates in English.

Then state that you have provided your original certificate, which is in English, and that it is impossible to present a certificate in your native language, because it does not exist.

It would really be helpful if you can show that Kerala does NOT issue certificates in something other than English.

We had to do a similar thing for a police certificate for our case. I photocopied numerous web pages from official web pages that explained why we could not produce a particular Police Certificate. We were approved.

Good luck to you!

Sukie in NY

[mathewr 0]

Thanks Sukie,

Will try to collect some proof and explain it to them in my response.

[CowBoE 429]

Hi All,

My Marriage certificate was issued from Kerala,India.This certificate issued by the government is in English.

Attested copy of the same was attached with my i-130 application.

But I got an RFE for marriage certificate, stating that they need the certificate in my native language.

Kindly suggest on how to respond to this RFE?

Thanks in Advance.

I know India is not China, but in China GongZhengChu (government office) issues

the certificates (marriage, birth, police) in both Chinese and English.

Does India only offer English only certificate? Or are you able to get both

Indian and English (translated) certificate?

Certainly, they process many visa requests for India,

and for them to ask for this, they must know that this is available?

You might want to confirm with other India visa filers,

and perhaps even check with the place where they issued the certificate

and see what's available.

I wouldn't be too quick to just to reply to RFE with explanation

without looking into this.

Last year, I went through dozens of rejection reasons on USCIS web site somewhere

(which I can't find now), and I was surprised to see many rejections were due to

people sending in same (or insufficient) evidence to the RFE twice in a row.

Not trying to scare you...but do some more digging before you just jump to replying to them...

[akpak 0]

mathewr, I was married in kerala as well and like you stated, my marriage certificate was in English. USCIS (Texas) didn't RFE for that (or anything else) in my case.

I think if you explain that the certificate is only available in English they will understand. I'm not sure what you included as bonafides in your original application- it may help to add some more bonafides in your follow up. Best of luck!

[Sukie 1,439]

mathewr, you probably have just run into a CO who has looked up the information for "India" and hasn't ever dealt with someone who married in Kerala. Unfortunately, it happens like this.

For us, even though there could not be a police certificate for us from a particular state in Australia, I was told I still had to reply to the RFE. Even though it was NVC's misinterpretation of the Australian rules.

Good luck!

Sukie in NY

[mathewr 0]

I know India is not China, but in China GongZhengChu (government office) issues

the certificates (marriage, birth, police) in both Chinese and English.

Does India only offer English only certificate? Or are you able to get both

Indian and English (translated) certificate?

Certainly, they process many visa requests for India,

and for them to ask for this, they must know that this is available?

You might want to confirm with other India visa filers,

and perhaps even check with the place where they issued the certificate

and see what's available.

I wouldn't be too quick to just to reply to RFE with explanation

without looking into this.

Last year, I went through dozens of rejection reasons on USCIS web site somewhere

(which I can't find now), and I was surprised to see many rejections were due to

people sending in same (or insufficient) evidence to the RFE twice in a row.

Not trying to scare you...but do some more digging before you just jump to replying to them...

Yes, i am checking with the local municipal corporation if i can get me some document to prove that they only provide document in english.

mathewr, I was married in kerala as well and like you stated, my marriage certificate was in English. USCIS (Texas) didn't RFE for that (or anything else) in my case.

I think if you explain that the certificate is only available in English they will understand. I'm not sure what you included as bonafides in your original application- it may help to add some more bonafides in your follow up. Best of luck!

Yes, some even one of my friend who applied didnt get an RFE on this, thats why i was confused when i got it.

[mathewr 0]

mathewr, you probably have just run into a CO who has looked up the information for "India" and hasn't ever dealt with someone who married in Kerala. Unfortunately, it happens like this.

For us, even though there could not be a police certificate for us from a particular state in Australia, I was told I still had to reply to the RFE. Even though it was NVC's misinterpretation of the Australian rules.

Good luck!

Sukie in NY

Yes, might have . Just wanted to find out if someone else have encountered similar kind of an RFE.

[KierenHby 897]

States have different rules in India. There are two marriage-related documents; marriage certificate (religious), and marriage registry (govt).

When I married in Chandigarh last year, the temple issued a native language marriage certificate, which was required to register our marriage by the state govt.

Our I-130 was recently approved with just the copy of the state govt-issued english marriage registry, without any RFEs.

[mathewr 0]

Thanks Everyone..

Our Case was approved based on the RFE response that we gave.

In the response we explained that the state issues certificates only in english and also attached screenshots from kerala state goverment as a proof.

thanks,

mathewr

[Sukie 1,439]

Thanks Everyone..

Our Case was approved based on the RFE response that we gave.

In the response we explained that the state issues certificates only in english and also attached screenshots from kerala state goverment as a proof.

thanks,

mathewr

Congratulations, mathewr!!! Great job in helping NVC understand the process!

Sukie in NY