Applied for marriage in Bhopal, MP

Rachelhessel

So, after several long hours at the marriage bureau in Bhopal, all of our paper work is complete. I am an American, he is an Indian. I have to go to the American Embasssy in Mumbai to collect a letter saying that they dont object to the marriage. However, the embassy clearly states they do not know if I am single or not... Has anyone else tried to get legally married in Bhopal and faced any of these issues?

Thanks!

curtdfw

I had no trouble getting the same stock letter from the US Embassy in Delhi. They apparently deal with this request regularly as I received a photocopy of the letter with (I think) an embassy stamp on it. It took all of 10 minutes.

I believe it says that as US marriage records are maintained at the city, county or other level, depending on the state, the US government has no objection but cannot guarantee blah blah blah...

In any case, it was accepted as OK by the authorities. We were married under the Special Marriage Act in 2007.

Rachelhessel

Thanks. The Bhopal government seems to have no idea what to do. It was a quite a long drawn out process and I do not want to have any issues when i return on my appointed date with that letter!

curtdfw

Objections and CYA moves by the authorities seem to rise when they're doing something they're not too familiar with, and who knows how many American/Indian marriages happen in Bhopal...

Anyhow, congrats on the upcoming nuptials.

Rachelhessel

Thanks

curtdfw

As this question about an NOC for Americans marrying in India comes up regularly, here's the verbiage from mine -- it was current as of summer 2007:

TO THE MARRIAGE REGISTRAR

This in in response to a request by <full name> for a statement by the Embassy concerning his/her marital status.

The Embassy is unable to certify the marital status of any US citizen. Marriage records are not centralized in the United States and the Embassy has no information about the marital status of US citizens or others who have resided in or visited the United States. Also, on the specific instructions of the US Department of State, the Embassy is prohibited from notarizing affidavits concerning marital status. The US Embassy has no objection to the marriage of the above mentioned US citizen.

We regret we cannot be of greater assistance in this matter.


<signature>
Name
Consul

It's on Embassy letterhead and has a rubber stamp of the Embassy seal over the signature.

curtdfw

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