Question: “I just got married in South Korea. Do I need to report this to someone in the United States?”
Answer: Unlike South Korea, the United States with a federal type of government does not maintain a central registry of family relationships. This responsibility largely falls to the states most of which maintain their own records of birth, death and marriage when these take place within their borders. The Department of State maintains records related to American citizens who are born or die abroad, but there is no organization or department in the United States that tracks marriages involving U.S. citizens that take place outside the U.S.
The general recommendation we make in the American Citizen Services Unit is that American citizens who are married overseas maintain an original or certified copy of their foreign marriage document along with a notarized translation or authentication. While there is no requirement to report your overseas marriage to U.S. authorities, you may be required to submit evidence of the marriage for tax purposes, to petition for immigration status for your spouse, or for a variety of other official purposes.
It can be difficult to obtain replacements for foreign documents and many countries do not have high standards for the maintenance and upkeep of their records, so special care should be taken to retain and preserve your marriage certificate since it will be the primary evidence of your marital relationship. It is also recommended that American citizens obtain good contact information for foreign authorities should they require a replacement. As always, living, working, and even falling in love in a foreign country can present unique challenges. By taking these recommended steps you will be better prepared to prove you are married once you return to the United States.
What about the other way around? I am an american citizen who married a korean citizen but we were married in the United states. We are now here in korea trying to work out our legal marriage and my visa however, the gu-chang wants our original marriage license for their records and have said we wont get it back. We need that for our return to the states. They akso said to go to the US Embassy where they wilk give us a certificate authenticating we have been married abroad. But the embassy said they dont do that so were stuck in a circle of nobody who cares ….. please has anyone gone through this does anybody kniw what to do
Please help?
A) Thank you for your inquiry. As you are aware, the U.S. Embassy is unable to authenticate U.S. documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, death certificates, etc. However, we can notarize an affidavit for U.S. citizens. You might ask Korean authority if your sworn affidavit notarized by the Embassy would suffice or substitute. An affidavit is a sworn statement, made by you. You can write out the statement, using our blank affidavit form, you may wish to make, but do not sign the form. You will need to sign it in front of the consular officer.
Another option for you to contact the Vital Records office to request a certified copy of your marriage certificate, so that you could submit it to the Korean authority for their records.
Thank you.
Thank you for your reply and information.did recieve a noterized affidavit when we went to the embessy however. It was not accepted by the gu-chang office they said there was a “certifacate” issued by the embessy that would suffice however they still wanted the original marriage license.
Is there a possible way to receive a certified copy of our license without leaving korea.
Seems like this process has not been clearly decided between korean and american government or someones not doing their job.
Causes enough stress and debt to make you pray for world peace and no borders
Thank you again….
All ears…
A)Thank you for your follow-up question. Unfortunately, the U.S. Embassy cannot assist you with obtaining vital records; unlike the Korean government, the U.S. federal government has no central registry of marriages. For detailed information about obtaining a certified copy of your marriage license, you need to contact the vital records office in the state where you report your marriage. Requirements vary from state to state. Contact information for the vital records offices of the U.S. states can be found here. We regret that you are experiencing communication difficulty with the Korean authority and hope you get the issue solved soon.
Thank you.
Thank you any and all who have any advise for us on our marriage and visa
hi good morning . i have a question . I got married in Dominican Republic with a united state citizen . I just found out he divorced me without my knowledge . I live with him in the united state . my question is ; is that divorce valid here too in the united state if my marriage was performed in that country ? what can i do here in order for preserved my legal rights as his wife ?
A)Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately the U.S. Embassy is not authorized to provide legal advice or assistance. We suggest you to seek advice from a competent immigration attorney.
Thank you.