Proof of Your Current Marital Status

This is an area that has caused some degree of confusion in the past, so let's make this clear. China is only interested in your current marital status. Therefore, for your dossier, you need only one of the documents listed below as proof of your current marital status.

That being said, the requirements for the INS for your I-171H are different. The INS wants to see your prior divorce decree(s), even if you've remarried. The divorce decree for the INS does not have to be notarized, certified or authenticated, and does not have to be included in your dossier. Only send a copy to the INS as part of the documents required for your I-171H (unless, as described below, it is proof of your current marital status - single due to divorce).

Ok, the dossier requirements for proof of current marital status are as follows:

Single, never married letter:

If you are single, and have never been married, you must type up a letter stating that fact. Have the letter notarized, and then take it through the rest of the authentication process.

Below is a letter you can use as a template.

To the Adoption Officials
China Center for Adoption Affairs

(Date)

I, (adopting parent) am single and have never been married.

I deeply appreciate your consideration of me as adoptive parent, and for helping to make my dreams of a family come true.

Sincerely,

(name)

As an alternative, you can have your homestudy agency write the letter on letterhead paper. If you have children, mention that in this letter.

Marriage Certificate:

If you are currently married, you only need your current marriage certificate, regardless of how many times you have been married and divorced previously.

The marriage certificate must be certified by the state in which the marriage occurred. In some states, you can get the marriage certificate from the town office of the town in which you were married. Other states require the "state" version of your marriage certificate. You'll have to check the office that does certifications in your state to find out which applies.

Divorce Decree:

If you are currently single, but have been previously married, you must provide your most recent divorce decree. Generally, the divorce decree must be notarized by the Superior Court of the county that had jurisdiction over your divorce, and then certified and authenticated.

Death Certificate:

If you are currently single because your spouse is deceased, you must provide your spouse's death certificate.

When you request marriage/divorce/birth records, explain that you are adopting from China so they put the correct seals on your documents.

Important: Marriage certificates, divorce decrees and death certificates can be somewhat difficult and fairly time consuming to obtain if they occurred in another state, or country. Therefore, if that applies to you, start working on these as early in the process as possible.

If you were born overseas and cannot provide a birth certificate, you can replace that birth certificate with a notarized, certified and authenticated statement that you were unable to obtain an official birth certificate from (the country of your birth). Have your naturalization certificate notarized, certified and authenticated, and, in the above letter mention to please see the attached naturalization certificate.