Original Nikah Nama is in English, is that a problem?

[tigerqueen 5]

My original nikah nama is in English. I've read a few threads around here stating the officer does not approve the petition unless you provide an Urdu nikah nama, English translation, and NADRA certification. The problem is that my original nikah nama is in English. What can I do about this? 

 

Thank you for any input. 

[pm5k 127]

The Union Council can generate a certified copy in Urdu (it won't have the signatures, but will have some sort of statement saying that this is a certified copy in Urdu)

That is probably the best course of action right now. 

TO ALL OTHERS, IF YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED IN PAKISTAN, DO NOT GET THE ENGLISH NIKAH NAMA

[tigerqueen 5]

4 hours ago, pm5k said:

The Union Council can generate a certified copy in Urdu (it won't have the signatures, but will have some sort of statement saying that this is a certified copy in Urdu)

 

The Union Council is the same as the NADRA thing, right? 

The problem is that they want an Urdu nikah nama, the unofficial document... the Union Council/NADRA already has both languages. 

 

Thank you for your response! 

[pm5k 127]

On 3/21/2021 at 4:02 PM, tigerqueen said:

The Union Council is the same as the NADRA thing, right? 

The problem is that they want an Urdu nikah nama, the unofficial document... the Union Council/NADRA already has both languages. 

 

Thank you for your response! 

No.

 

Union Council is a place.  They register Urdu Nikah Namas, English Nikah Namas, Birth Certificates, etc.  They also generate the "Marriage Registration Certificate" (which is a NADRA-style paper)

 

According to: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Pakistan.html

 

Marriage Certificates

Available

Fees: Fees vary.

Document Name: For U.S. immigration purposes, Pakistani Muslim applicants must present both an original, signed Nikah Nama (with its English translation) and a NADRA-issued marriage registration certificate. Note that while both documents reflect similar information, each on its own does not constitute sufficient proof of marriage.

Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and other applicants considered to be non-Muslim must present only a marriage certificate issued by their respective religious authority (i.e. a church or temple), since Union Councils do not uniformly issue NADRA certificates to these groups.

Citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Afghans living in Pakistan must also only present a marriage certificate issued by religious authorities, as Union Councils do not issue NADRA certificates to these groups.

Issuing Authority: Union Councils register Nikah Nama documents for Pakistani Muslim citizens and issue subsequent NADRA marriage certificates.  Marriage certificates for Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus, Parsis, and other non-Muslim citizens are issued by their respective sectarian registration authority (i.e. church or temple), (Note: Some Union Councils have begun issuing NADRA marriage certificates to Hindus and Christians, though this process has not yet been standardized. As a result, such NADRA certificates are not required for non-Muslim applicants, per the above.)

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: This varies by location and religion.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: For Muslim applicants registering a Nikah Nama, the Secretary of the local Union Council and the Nikah Registrar constitute the appropriate authorities.

For non-Muslim applicants, priests or other religious leaders are considered appropriate issuing authorities.  

Registration Criteria: For Muslim applicants, the marriage registrar signs and stamps each original Nikah Nama, submitting the first copy to the local Union Council and providing the second and third copies to the bride and groom. The registrar keeps the fourth copy. In theory, the Nikah Registrar should register the marriage within two months, but this does not always occur. Upon registration, the Union Council issues a NADRA marriage certificate.

While there are penal consequences for not registering one’s marriage with the appropriate authorities, a signed Nikah Nama alone still constitutes a valid marriage under Pakistani law, according to the MFLO. For immigration purposes, however, the Nikah must be registered with and a NADRA marriage certificate issued by the Union Council.

Ahmadi, Christian, Hindu, and Parsi marriage certificates are issued by church or temple leaders and are not generally registered with the local Union Council).

Procedure for Obtaining: Muslim applicants can obtain and Urdu-language Nikah Nama from the Nikah Registrar. Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus, and other non-Muslim applicants can obtain marriage certificates from their local religious authorities.

Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are available.

Alternate Documents: No alternate documents are available or accepted.

Exceptions: 

Comments: Both the Nikah Nama and NADRA marriage certificate are required for a Muslim marriage to be considered valid for U.S. immigration purposes. 

 

 

 

 

See the RED text above.  You can get a certified copy (in Urdu) which will function as your Urdu Nikah Nama.  You will then need to have an English translation (not English Nikah Nama) of that document.  The third document is the Marriage Registration Certificate (NADRA style)

[tigerqueen 5]

On 3/22/2021 at 4:43 PM, pm5k said:

No.

 

Union Council is a place.  They register Urdu Nikah Namas, English Nikah Namas, Birth Certificates, etc.  They also generate the "Marriage Registration Certificate" (which is a NADRA-style paper)

 

According to: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Pakistan.html

 

Marriage Certificates

Available

Fees: Fees vary.

Document Name: For U.S. immigration purposes, Pakistani Muslim applicants must present both an original, signed Nikah Nama (with its English translation) and a NADRA-issued marriage registration certificate. Note that while both documents reflect similar information, each on its own does not constitute sufficient proof of marriage.

Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and other applicants considered to be non-Muslim must present only a marriage certificate issued by their respective religious authority (i.e. a church or temple), since Union Councils do not uniformly issue NADRA certificates to these groups.

Citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Afghans living in Pakistan must also only present a marriage certificate issued by religious authorities, as Union Councils do not issue NADRA certificates to these groups.

Issuing Authority: Union Councils register Nikah Nama documents for Pakistani Muslim citizens and issue subsequent NADRA marriage certificates.  Marriage certificates for Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus, Parsis, and other non-Muslim citizens are issued by their respective sectarian registration authority (i.e. church or temple), (Note: Some Union Councils have begun issuing NADRA marriage certificates to Hindus and Christians, though this process has not yet been standardized. As a result, such NADRA certificates are not required for non-Muslim applicants, per the above.)

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: This varies by location and religion.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: For Muslim applicants registering a Nikah Nama, the Secretary of the local Union Council and the Nikah Registrar constitute the appropriate authorities.

For non-Muslim applicants, priests or other religious leaders are considered appropriate issuing authorities.  

Registration Criteria: For Muslim applicants, the marriage registrar signs and stamps each original Nikah Nama, submitting the first copy to the local Union Council and providing the second and third copies to the bride and groom. The registrar keeps the fourth copy. In theory, the Nikah Registrar should register the marriage within two months, but this does not always occur. Upon registration, the Union Council issues a NADRA marriage certificate.

While there are penal consequences for not registering one’s marriage with the appropriate authorities, a signed Nikah Nama alone still constitutes a valid marriage under Pakistani law, according to the MFLO. For immigration purposes, however, the Nikah must be registered with and a NADRA marriage certificate issued by the Union Council.

Ahmadi, Christian, Hindu, and Parsi marriage certificates are issued by church or temple leaders and are not generally registered with the local Union Council).

Procedure for Obtaining: Muslim applicants can obtain and Urdu-language Nikah Nama from the Nikah Registrar. Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus, and other non-Muslim applicants can obtain marriage certificates from their local religious authorities.

Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are available.

Alternate Documents: No alternate documents are available or accepted.

Exceptions: 

Comments: Both the Nikah Nama and NADRA marriage certificate are required for a Muslim marriage to be considered valid for U.S. immigration purposes. 

 

 

 

 

See the RED text above.  You can get a certified copy (in Urdu) which will function as your Urdu Nikah Nama.  You will then need to have an English translation (not English Nikah Nama) of that document.  The third document is the Marriage Registration Certificate (NADRA style)

Thank you so much for your detailed response. Does the US have any way of finding out if a signed nikah nama is certified/registered with the Union Council? What do you think would happen if we simply obtained another paper, an urdu nikah nama that is, and just filled it in, have it signed by everyone again, put the date of marriage as the original date, and then ask the same molwi saab to stamp it?

 

Would they detect that it's not registered with Union Council, and would that create issues? 

 

Thank you so much, kind stranger. I cannot express my appreciation! 

 

[pm5k 127]

On 3/24/2021 at 12:01 AM, tigerqueen said:

Thank you so much for your detailed response. Does the US have any way of finding out if a signed nikah nama is certified/registered with the Union Council? What do you think would happen if we simply obtained another paper, an urdu nikah nama that is, and just filled it in, have it signed by everyone again, put the date of marriage as the original date, and then ask the same molwi saab to stamp it?

 

Would they detect that it's not registered with Union Council, and would that create issues? 

 

Thank you so much, kind stranger. I cannot express my appreciation! 

 

It is not recommended to create new documents.  That usually does not end well....

 

You have a registered English Nikah Nama and a NADRA marriage certificate.  The department of state guide says you can get a certified copy of in Urdu (highlighted in red). 

Why don't you just get that? 

 

If you submit that and they dont accept it, you can get a letter from the UC saying that you do not have an Urdu Nikah Nama (don't submit this first, only submit if they reject the certified Urdu copy)

[tigerqueen 5]

On 3/25/2021 at 9:52 AM, pm5k said:

It is not recommended to create new documents.  That usually does not end well....

 

How does it usually end? I am thinking of getting an Urdu nikah nama but not having it registered with the Union Council, just signed and stamped. Bad idea? 

 

Thank you so much for all your help. 

[pm5k 127]

On 3/26/2021 at 11:14 AM, tigerqueen said:

How does it usually end? I am thinking of getting an Urdu nikah nama but not having it registered with the Union Council, just signed and stamped. Bad idea? 

 

Thank you so much for all your help. 

First of all, stamped means registered, so this won't work

Secondly, you are making a separate Nikah Nama that isn't the actual one, and is not a certified copy.  Are you seriously asking if this is a good idea or not? 

 

According to the DOS guidelines CERTIFIED. URDU. COPIES. ARE. AVAILABLE.

What is the issue with getting a certified Urdu copy?

[Iftikhar_A 0]

On 3/26/2021 at 12:14 PM, tigerqueen said:

How does it usually end? I am thinking of getting an Urdu nikah nama but not having it registered with the Union Council, just signed and stamped. Bad idea? 

 

Thank you so much for all your help. 

Hi, What did you end up doing? Please guide me as I am in a similar situation. Thank you