[Kiana]

I know you need a marriage licence and birth certificate. I'm assuming that means no photo copies. Do you need to pay for these copies? And how long does it take to get them? Which other documents do you need that a person could perhaps get ahead of time to speed up the dossier process once you start?

[DaveAndKymm]

Kiana,

The key things to get would be any birth certificates, marriage certificate, and divorce decrees (if necessary). These need to have state seals on them so copies aren't good enough.

How long these take depends on the state. My wife's b/c from Pennsylvania came in less than two weeks. For my NJ b/c and m/c it has been 8 weeks and counting. If you can go in person many states offer "same day" service for those who show up in person.

Also, you will need passports for the Dossier so get those now. My wife's took about 6-7 weeks to get.

I think those are the big things.

Dave

[journeytograce]

Originally Posted by Kiana

I know you need a marriage licence and birth certificate. I'm assuming that means no photo copies. Do you need to pay for these copies? And how long does it take to get them? Which other documents do you need that a person could perhaps get ahead of time to speed up the dossier process once you start?

When I called the SOS where my ML was from and my DH BC I found out that they needed to be current. The SOS (Alabama) said it must be signed by a currently commissioned official. I would take that into consideration. Figure out when you would be certifying to make sure the documents were current. You are in Canada right? Are your ML and BC from the states? I don't know if age of the documents would matter in Canada or not.
BTW, where in Canada? I spent every summer for 18 years on a sailboat on Lake Huron in Ontario...what a beautiful part of the world!
Take Care,

[Andi72]

We got our passports, birth certificates, and marriage license. We then put together our past taxes, we needed 3 years.

[cooperbabe]

How current is current? We are looking into submitting our formal app later this year and we had friends (who are going through the process now) to wait to get anything until we officially start. I was hoping to at least get our birth certificates and marriage license (we already have our passports) and get the ball rolling but they said to wait.

[journeytograce]

When I called AL SOS last fall, I believe current meant w/in the last 6 months. I know they said it must be signed by a currently commissioned official. You could call ahead to the SOS of the States you will be getting them certified through and find out what their policies are just to be certain.