Marriage Certificate or Marriage License difference?

[vermontcostarica 0]

Hi guys-

I've been married now for 3 months. Am I wasting time waiting for the national registry in Costa Rica to issue us a formal document? Can I file our I-130 with the paperwork that was drawn up upon the date of our marriage by the lawyer?

I'm unclear what is the "Marriage Certificate" that is asked for in the I-130 package.

Also assuming I find out what this certificate is, what are the guidelines for having it translated from spanish?

Thanks all!!!

[amy83 0]

We were married in the US. For the I130 we submitted a form that we got from the court house (it said marriage certificate on it) that the wedding officiant filled out. We never got anything else. Our I-130 was approved without anyproblems.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

I am assuming that the certificate you are waiting on will be similar to what you signed when you got married. That should be proof enough. I just got married and i waited on the certified copy of the certificate from the philippines. The certfied copy is identical to what we signed except it is on fancy paper that only the NSO uses.

[Married2aTico 0]

I totally feel your pain because my husband and I went through the same exact situation.

You do need the offical certificate in order to file the I-130. Once it is issued by the Registry, your lawyer or spouse can pick up a copy. You will need to get it certified, translated by an approved tranlator and have the translation certified. Your lawyer will probably be able to do this for a fee or you can do the legwork (a bunch of rounds in Chepe).

My husband and I were going crazy waiting for our marriage certificate (almost four months!). In the end, a friend of ours who knew people in the Registry told us if we bribed them through him, we would get the cert. right away. Obviously I was annoyed about having to bribe gov't officials to do their job, but, less than three days after the bribe, (I think it was about $50) our cert. was issued. I am 100% convinced we would have waited another month or two or longer otherwise. Maybe you can ask your lawyer if he has any contacts at the Registry? We have various friends that have waited over six months for their marriage certs. Another thought is to try the Consulate of Costa Rica in NYC. They may be able to send a communication on your behalf. Good luck!

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Hahaha, that is funny because we paid "extra" so they would actually personally take the papers to manila for the NSO certificate. they told us it would be about a month to get them. that is exactly what it took. Basically my wife told me what we were paying for was the expressway fees and lunch of the person that dropped the forms off. I think we paid 2000 pesos...so yeah right about $50 or so.

[Married2aTico 0]

woohoo bribey. I am sorry it took us four months to realize that was what was needed to get things done. We would have coughed up the dough much earlier! haha.

BTW- VTCR, feel free to PM me with any specific questions you have. My husband and I have been through it all and have friends that have too.

[pushbrk 12,979]

Hi guys-

I've been married now for 3 months. Am I wasting time waiting for the national registry in Costa Rica to issue us a formal document? Can I file our I-130 with the paperwork that was drawn up upon the date of our marriage by the lawyer?

I'm unclear what is the "Marriage Certificate" that is asked for in the I-130 package.

Also assuming I find out what this certificate is, what are the guidelines for having it translated from spanish?

Thanks all!!!

A marriage license gives you permission to marry. A marriage certificate indicates both that you married and that the marriage has been officially registered with the government after the fact. You need the government issued marriage certificate to file the I-130.

[vermontcostarica 0]

Thanks Everyone-

Just found out that it's processed...THE CERTIFICATE that is. We're going to go get it and get 'er done.

Preciatch'all!

Hi guys-

I've been married now for 3 months. Am I wasting time waiting for the national registry in Costa Rica to issue us a formal document? Can I file our I-130 with the paperwork that was drawn up upon the date of our marriage by the lawyer?

I'm unclear what is the "Marriage Certificate" that is asked for in the I-130 package.

Also assuming I find out what this certificate is, what are the guidelines for having it translated from spanish?

Thanks all!!!

A marriage license gives you permission to marry. A marriage certificate indicates both that you married and that the marriage has been officially registered with the government after the fact. You need the government issued marriage certificate to file the I-130.