The single status certificate is known as with another name in the United States. It is called the Certificate of No Impediment. This is not a single name. There are some more ones to refer it.
Here are a few more ones:
- Eligibility to Marry
- Affidavit of Civil Status
- Affidavit of Single Status
- Affidavit of Marriageability
- Certificate of No Public Record
- No Record of Marriage Apostille
- Certificate of No Record – Marriage
- Certificate of Freedom to Marry Apostille
Why do you need it?
Like birth proof, it is evidence of one’s bachelorhood. The foreign ministry of the United States requires it from a non-resident when he or she is likely to solemnize marriage with its native. This is to ensure that there is no wrong intention, like getting citizenship of this country, associated with the prospective marriage.
Besides, the employer here may also request it from the non-resident employee. It is simply to discover how many dependents he or she has.
But mostly, it is required for matrimony. So, the applicant has to apply for it three months prior to the marriage. This can help him/her to get verified before marriage. Else, it can be delayed. Without prior submitting this document, the marriage is not permitted.
How can you get it in the USA?
This document is basically issued as an oath or a sworn statement. It ensures that you are genuinely the person you claim to be and free to get married.
You may visit a notary public for drafting this single status certificate as an affidavit and get it notarized. Or, you have an alternative to meet a matter expert in this regard. He can guide you through the entire process of how to get a single status certificate in the United States. His guidance can help you to include or exclude important details like information about your fiancé and his/her parents in the document. This can help you to get it attested in a go. You face no rejection or refilling for it.
What all you can do is to follow these steps:
- For citizens, it is a must to submit the “no record of marriage” before “certificate of no impediment”. Or, you may talk to the County Clerk, or supervisor to guide you.
- Once issued from the County Clerk’s office, you won’t need any notarization.
- NRIs visit the US embassy website: “usembassy.gov” to get through a full list of addresses, phone numbers, and websites for each consulate. Find the nearby one from the list.
- Schedule an appointment online at the website.
- Go to the nearest American Consulate or Embassy in the country where you are located.
- Get there for your appointment and show your passport & other documents.
- The U.S. consular officer will ask you a number of questions, like for your passport and the names of your parents, about your birth certificate, and other details.
- Once satisfied, the competent person will write the affidavit and have you sign it. Then, he himself signs & attests it to make it valid.
- Then, get it apostilled or attested from the Washington DC embassy office.
Checklist of Documents to Enclose
Before visiting there, you should have all documents ready. Here is the list of all of those certificates and papers:
- Passport
- Valid Driver’s License
- Birth Certificate
- Social Security number
- If divorced, Decree Absolute.
- If widowed, Death Certificate of previous spouse (and Marriage Certificate).
- I-94 (if came as a refugee in the united states)
About Fee
Once done, you have to pay out the relevant fee. This can be revised over time.
Obtaining an apostille service for this certificate can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals. They do not fully understand the apostille process and the associated requirements/documents of certain countries. Consequently, your paperwork could be rejected. It may cost you time and money also. So, avoid this happening and hire a professional consultant or legal advisor to guide you through this process.
