How Can You Get Single Status Certificate in US?
The first thing that you need to know is that the Single Status Certificate or No Marital Status Certificate is called the Certificate of No Impediment in the US.
This Certificate is for Divorced & Widowers Also
It is the certificate stating that you are eligible for marriage. However, it’s not necessary that you’re unmarried or bachelor. You may be married before, but should be single when you are likely to apply for it. There are people who are single because their spouse is no more or they area divorcee.
In short, this document is must if you want to get married in the US because the competent authorities update that detail in their records.
There are some cases of foreigners, let’s say NRIs, who want to settle down with the US-based spouse in life. Such people must have to provide this paper a month prior to their marriage. Otherwise, their marriage won’t be allowed there.
Why this certificate?
Certainly, the government wants to know about your intention if it’s purely about settling in life or making some benefits out from it. A few people do it for gaining green card or visa or citizenship of this country.
The wedding with the US citizen makes them eligible for citizenship even if they haven’t spent the required years living there. With this certificate, the concerned authority determines the truth. Apart from that, it helps in avoiding polygamy in the society.
Get Ready with Documents
The single status certificate verification will need these documents to support yourapplication.
· Passport
· Valid Driver's Licence
· Birth Certificate
· Social Security number
· If divorced, Decree Absolute
· If widowed, Death Certificate of previous spouse(and Marriage Certificate)
· The relevant fee
· I-94 (if came as a refugee in united states)
How can an NRI get it in the US?
People often wonder where they should apply for it there.Embassy guides you to consult in your County/Town/City Clerks’ Office. Or, you can go to your Federal Government to have this affidavit. But,you must be a citizen of this country.
Here is how you can get that certificate, which is actually an affidavit.
· Visit physically to County/Town/City Clerks’Office.
· Or, you may apply online by visiting their official website.
· Get the application form with the title Certificate of Non-Impediment and fill it up.
· Once completely filled, submit it online.
· You will receive a Confirmation Number once your application is successfully submitted.
· Then, visit the County/Town/City Clerks’ Office.
· Take along the proper proofs of identification,payment and confirmation number.
· Pay its fee.
· Once verified, the office will issue a statutory letter or an affidavit.
· Go to the embassy or consular office to have it signed in front of the officers there.
· The embassy will attest or apostille it. Both differ, but valid and legally acceptable. Apostille service is required if you come from the member country of the Hague Convention. India & USA, for example, are its member. So, NRIs have to get their affidavit apostilled from the Embassy.
· Pay fee for apostille or attestation also.
A statutory letter is issued to the citizens of New York inAmerica. Living in some other county there would certainly require anaffidavit.
The statutory letter may not require any notarization. But,the affidavit should be notarised. It would be legalized this way and all country or town or city offices will accept it.
Does it have any validity? How long is it valid?
Yes, it has a validity of six months from the date of issuance.
In the nutshell, the non-residents like NRIs can also follow the step by step procedure, which starts from the County/ Town/City office where the application form is available. Fill it up and receive a confirmation number after its submission. Then, visit the office with it and other supporting documents. It will verify and then, issue the statutory statement and an affidavit. You can straightaway take it to the embassy for getting it apostilled or attested.
