confidential or public marriage license
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Jackolantern
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You're talking about America? The license may be confidential, but once you get married, the marriage becomes a public record.
Triple Citizen
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Al Southner
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Exactly my question, who issues these confidential licenses and for how much? If they exist, why you anyone want to hide when they exactly got married?
Worst of all, you plan to use a confidential marriage license during AOS? USCIS is a govt entity and public information is their bread and butter..thomas_psu
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I think confidential marriage licenses are issued only in CA. The difference is that confidential licenses are not public records and do not require witnesses. The license can be used only in the county of issuance (i.e., to get married in the same county). I don't think there is any difference in the validity of license for governmental purposes.
thomas_psu
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It is perfectly legal as far as USCIS or any federal agency is concerned. The difference is this: if you use a confidential license, you get your marriage license immediately (but you have to go to specific marriage officiants). In the case of public licenses you have to wait for an extended period (from days to weeks).
Why a couple would not have a public record for their marriage is beyond me
. Law is sometimes quirky..
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Triple Citizen
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Jackolantern
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But that's just the marriage license. The marriage certificate is a different thing, and the information on it will become a public record. Or are you saying that in California they even allow the marriage records to be hidden, in addition to the marriage license?
Al Southner
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It is perfectly legal as far as USCIS or any federal agency is concerned. The difference is this: if you use a confidential license, you get your marriage license immediately (but you have to go to specific marriage officiants). In the case of public licenses you have to wait for an extended period (from days to weeks).
Why a couple would not have a public record for their marriage is beyond me
Thomas,
I would like to take a second wife, can I use this confidential license NOT to arouse USCIS suspicion that I have two wives?
After all, Utah isn't only successful by coincidence, two wives can be good for the heart and soul, plus no off days in bed...thomas_psu
Registered Users (C)
The confidentiality is for the license. To the best of my knowledge, even records are accessible only to the married couple. I am not sure if it is in the public records. To the best of my knowledge, it is a legal document and is valid for immigration purposes. I am NOT an expert on CA marriage laws and the OP should consult (even phone) an attorney before making the final decision.
thomas_psu
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LOL @ Al. I didn't think of it that way. Opens up a lot of opportunities apparently
Jackolantern
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The standard practice in the US is that marriage records are public. I would be surprised to learn of anywhere in the US that kept the actual marriage records private (not the license, but the record of the marriage itself).
Confidential Marriage Licenses
I am authorized by the Los Angeles County Clerk/Recorder to issue Confidential Marriage Licenses, and am also a Reverend so that I can perform the required ceremony (California is a ceremonial state) and sign off on the ceremony portion of the license. To clarify, California is the only state in the union that offers both Public and Confidential marriage licenses. Each carries the same legal weight. A Public license requires one (optionally two) witness(es). A Confidential license requires no witnesses. A Confidential license requires that the couple is already living together. A Confidential license is recorded at the county level as a sealed record... the only people that can request a copy is either the bride or groom, law enforcement or anyone with a court order. A Public license is public record and recorded at the state level. I use the term "license" somewhat loosely... the title at the top is "Confidential License and Certificate of Marriage" whereas a Public license has the same title less the word Confidential. Marriage is a 2 step process - getting the license is the 1st step, having the ceremony or having the proper person sign off on the ceremony portion is the 2nd step at which point it becomes the certificate of marriage.
Once the license/certificate is turned in and recorded at the county or state level, the couple can request (and pay for) a certified copy (aka "official certificate"). The official certificate can then be submitted (by the couple) to immigration or to any other government agency that needs it... that certificate is required during an immigration interview.
Los Angeles County is one of the only California counties that authorizes independents such as myself to issue confidential licenses. There's about 400 of us currently, of which only a handfull of us are actually doing it (there's fines and rejections of marriages for making mistakes, so most authorized agents quickly discover they want no part of it - I've been doing it 6 years and have a zero percent rejection rate). I can issue the license and sign off on the ceremony portion in as little as 20 minutes, but more typically about 40 minutes with a ceremony (if you have guests). We do a lot of marriages for couples going through immigration. For more information, and/or to schedule your marriage appointment, see my website at RevChuck dot com.
I hope this clears up any confusion about Confidential marriage licenses. I am not an immigration person or an attorney, and what I've stated above is not to be construed as legal advice. I'm merely an authorized agent of the county to issue Confidential marriage licenses and to perform/sign off on the ceremony portion of the license.
I am authorized by the Los Angeles County Clerk/Recorder to issue Confidential Marriage Licenses, and am also a Reverend so that I can perform the required ceremony (California is a ceremonial state) and sign off on the ceremony portion of the license. To clarify, California is the only state in the union that offers both Public and Confidential marriage licenses. Each carries the same legal weight. A Public license requires one (optionally two) witness(es). A Confidential license requires no witnesses. A Confidential license requires that the couple is already living together. A Confidential license is recorded at the county level as a sealed record... the only people that can request a copy is either the bride or groom, law enforcement or anyone with a court order. A Public license is public record and recorded at the state level. I use the term "license" somewhat loosely... the title at the top is "Confidential License and Certificate of Marriage" whereas a Public license has the same title less the word Confidential. Marriage is a 2 step process - getting the license is the 1st step, having the ceremony or having the proper person sign off on the ceremony portion is the 2nd step at which point it becomes the certificate of marriage.
Once the license/certificate is turned in and recorded at the county or state level, the couple can request (and pay for) a certified copy (aka "official certificate"). The official certificate can then be submitted (by the couple) to immigration or to any other government agency that needs it... that certificate is required during an immigration interview.
Los Angeles County is one of the only California counties that authorizes independents such as myself to issue confidential licenses. There's about 400 of us currently, of which only a handfull of us are actually doing it (there's fines and rejections of marriages for making mistakes, so most authorized agents quickly discover they want no part of it - I've been doing it 6 years and have a zero percent rejection rate). I can issue the license and sign off on the ceremony portion in as little as 20 minutes, but more typically about 40 minutes with a ceremony (if you have guests). We do a lot of marriages for couples going through immigration. For more information, and/or to schedule your marriage appointment, see my website at RevChuck dot com.
I hope this clears up any confusion about Confidential marriage licenses. I am not an immigration person or an attorney, and what I've stated above is not to be construed as legal advice. I'm merely an authorized agent of the county to issue Confidential marriage licenses and to perform/sign off on the ceremony portion of the license.
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