Received a USCIS RFE for marriage proof?
An unregistered Indian marriage is a recognised, common situation, and USCIS accepts affidavit-based secondary evidence.
We do not provide legal representation before USCIS or any foreign immigration authority. What we provide is consultation on the documentation itself, and preparation of everything that needs to be done from the India side, coordinated directly with your relative or contact here.
Why this happens
Many marriages in India, particularly those solemnised by religious or community ceremony, were never formally registered, or the registration is difficult to retrieve years later. When USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) asking for proof of a bona fide marriage, this catches many families off guard. It is a common and well-understood situation.
What secondary evidence looks like
Where a marriage certificate is unavailable, secondary evidence, such as sworn affidavits from people with direct personal knowledge of the marriage (family members, community elders, the officiant), along with supporting documents such as photographs, invitations, and joint records, can establish the marriage. We prepare and notarise these evidentiary affidavits in the correct form and coordinate apostille where required.
Common questions
USCIS accepts secondary evidence, including affidavits from persons with direct knowledge, when primary records are unavailable. The affidavits must be specific, first-hand, and properly executed.
People with direct personal knowledge of the marriage: typically parents, close relatives, the officiant, or community members who attended.
We do not represent you before USCIS. What we do is provide consultation on how the evidentiary documentation should come together, and prepare everything that needs to be done from the India side, coordinating directly with your family or contact here.
Ready to review your situation?
These consultations are designed for clients abroad. We review your documents over a scheduled video call and outline the affidavits and steps needed.
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