Marriage adventure.

Here's what I've been up to lately. About a month ago, I was in Bogota with my girlfriend trying to get married. I ended up running into a few walls... I went to three Notaries, One of them said that they didn't do Extranjeros. As far as the documents that I have, one said they were fine. The other had a problem that he saw that I was born in Germany, and I needed a german birth certificate. I tryed explaining to him that I was born on a US Military Base and a german birth certificate does not exist for me. I'm not sure if he understood that or if he still wanted it. he also said the birth certificate needed apostilled and not just the translation. (I'm sure I could probably get one from the US Embassy).

Now the bigger problem... The VISA!

I am in Colombia (still) with an Offical Visa. I have heard from many people that I work with that it was possible to get married with it. The Notaries I went to said that the Marriage visa was required and one did mention that a student visa was good too (I remember someone saying that the student visa worked for them).

Well. Left Bogota that trip not too happy. that past week (4th - 10th) I was in Bogota again, this time with the thought and intention so get the marriage visa. I got all the documents I could (I may have missed something, not too sure) for this trip. I went this past Tuesday, to the Minister of Exterior Relations, Office of visas, with papers in hand (and then some), mostly to see if/what I needed in addition to what I had. After waiting in line, the women behind the window told me that I didn't need that other visa. She then took a stack of applications to the back room and asked a guy to take her place for a moment and also to explain what was going on. He asked me where I was from and if I speek spanish. I told him I spoke a litte and from the United States. I think he started speeking french to me and then asked if I prefered English or French (I heard him later on speaking German too). After I told him that I prefered English, he explained to me that I didn't need to have the marriage visa as I already held a Visa for me to be able to work in Colombia. The guy said that the Notaries do not know all the rules/laws concerning that and said that I could have the Notary call the Office of Visas if they have any doubts. The woman returned with a paper stating where the notary could look up something in regards to the visa (I'll find it and try posting in later).

Needless to say, I didn't get the visa, I still couldn't get married as I was leaving to the location that I'm working the next day and my documents expire Saturday. My next Plan is to return to the US, redo the papers I need and return to Colombia ASAP and get married and, hopefully, there is no problems with it all. I'm hoping to return in the middle of January and spend about three weeks with my girlfriend and trying to get married.

Plan A and B fell through, Time for plan C...
Dan

By Dan on Nov 11, 2004, 02:11 in Friendly Talkzone.

Dan says on Nov 11, 2004, 03:19:

Found it... The woman that the Office of Visas made a note about a Circular that the notaries can look up the info. It says "Circular No. 02-02"

I was able to find it online at the supernotariado.gov.co website.

http://www.supernotariado.gov.co/SuperNotariado/Paginas/circular0202.htm

In the document (that I printed to show the notary the next time) it says: "El requerimiento de la mencionada visa es necesario solamente para los extranjeros que no son portadores de alguna de las visas que a continuación se relacionan"
Non-Spanish Speakers: "The requirement of the mentioned visa is necessary only for the foreigners that are not bearers of some of the visas that subsequently are related"

It then lists the other visas. It DOES specifically state that the Visas NOT allowed to be married with are: Negocios (NE), Tripulante (B), Temporal Visitante (TV), and Turismo (TU).

Pretty much everything else seems to be allowed. I'll put this in another Thread so others can see more specifically.

ENJOY!
Dan

God Bless America!

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Lionheart says on Nov 11, 2004, 09:40:

US Military Child Born in Germany Dan, I am also born in Germany in a US Military Hospital. You actually have 2 birth certificates, one US Military and one German. All US children born in Germany must be reported to the German officials. In order to receive a birth certificate from the Federal Republic of Germany you may get in touch directly with the competent German agency (i.e. "Standesamt" - Registrar's Office). Your letter should be addressed to the "Standesamt" of the place (Village, Township, City) where you were born.

The German phrase for asking for an international birth certificate is:

"Ich bitte um Ausstellung einer internationalen Geburtsurkunde für ... (first name/middle name/last name), geb. am ... (date of birth) in ... (place of birth). Eltern: ... (name of father) und ... (maiden name of mother)."

Please do not indicate the month of your date of birth with a number but in letters since it might otherwise lead to a mix-up (e.g. the date 10/12/56 in Germany means December 10, 1956). Please do not forget to mention your name and address. Information on the fee will be sent to you with the certificate. You should also enclose postage of 2 $ (also payable in international postal reply coupons).

For a copy of the US Military birth certificate you need to contact the US Embassy in Berlin. It can be reached as follows:

Botschaft der USA
Konsularabteilung
Clay-Allee 170
D - 14195 Berlin

tel.: 01149-30-819-7454
fax: 01149-30-831-4926

Internet: www.usembassy.de

I am currently doing all this myself and I hope I will have the certificates soon.

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Dan says on Nov 11, 2004, 10:44:

Birth Certificate Thanks for the info. I've asked my parents a few times to make sure whether I have one or not. I keep being told that I do not. I guess I could try finding out what/where one would be at. I sure don't remember much German anymore (not like I knew much to begin with).

As far as the Certificates, My parent said I don't have a german one. When I was asking them for my birth Certificate, they gave me the American one.

As far as getting the American Birth Certificate, I've been getting them at the Vital Statistics office at the State Dept in Washington DC, they handle the Births Abroad Certificates.

If I found that I do have a German Certificate, would I need the Apostille and translations done in Germany? Right now, I'm thinking that this part of it all, if I still required it, would take a lot of time that I don't have and just cause me more headaches to add to what I have already.

Thanks for the info, I'll try researching the info and try and see if I can get one.

Dan

God Bless America!

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Lionheart says on Nov 12, 2004, 14:36:

Thanks as well Getting the US birth certificate in DC is much easier than writing to Germany.

As far as I understand, the Germans send you an international birth certificate, which is already in multiple languages. A professional translating agency and a notary public would be all you need, I assume. If the certificate includes Spanish, maybe you could also take care of it in Colombia.

If you need help with a German translation let me know: Lionheart_Live at hotmail.com

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Dan says on Nov 12, 2004, 15:10:

German certificate After a while of looking, I found a website of the town I was born in that had a little bit of info of the town, the US in the town and lot's of Gov related info.

I found an email address for the office that does birth certificates. (that took a long time looking).

I used an online translation site to try writing a letter to see if I got one available and to see what the cost is. Hopefully that will work to see if I can get any info out of them.

If a notary in Colombia required the German one, Then I'm going to have a big headache. I'll see how my luck holds out.

Thanks,
Dan

God Bless America!

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Dan says on Nov 15, 2004, 07:32:

Certificate Just got a reply from the Civil Registrar's office in Germany. They pretty much confirmed what my parents have been telling me... I don't have a German Birth Certificate.

"The reason why is: The American Hospital has no obligation to give information to the German civil registrars office. So we do not have the papers."

So.. I guess if a Notary required that I need a German Birth Certificate, than I would be out of luck.

Well, it's held out this long, let's see where it takes me.
Dan

God Bless America!

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JT says on Nov 17, 2004, 18:48:

I thankfully have mine I'm so glad that I was able to get my marriage visa at the Chicago Consulate without any problems. The consul was telling how they try to treat us good because in Colombia, the US embassy doesn't. Don't get too discourage guys! Good luck!

Now I have to figure out how to do the spouse visa thing after my marriage this december in Cartagena.

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Atrevido says on Nov 18, 2004, 03:44:

When I married I already had a Temporal TS visa. This visa covers a number of catagories including retirement and marriage among others. The notory said I had to have a specific marriage visa but then I showed a printout of the page that states the above from the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores and the rest went fine.

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Dan says on Nov 18, 2004, 06:16:

JT: Try going to the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores website and find out what papers you need. That way, after you get married, you can go to the Office of Visas (address on website) and try applying from there. It's at least worth a try.

God Bless America!

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lpdiver says on Dec 16, 2004, 04:49:

Marriage visa The Colombian embassy has a detailed explaination of what you need to do in order to get the marriage visa. I studied it and did the research and found it to be fairly easy and straight forward.

The birth certificate has to have been issued recently
(90 days?) and apostilled. In my case I reside in Louisiana and was born in Tennessee. The apostille had to be in Tennessee. The translation was done in Louisiana and apostilled in Louisiana and no problems.

Print out the requirements and list them. Take care of one item at a time and you will find it goes fairly well. It does take time to pull it all together but if you return prepared you will be rewarded with sucess. Print the requirements and bring them with you as well. I found this invaluable in dealing with my notaria.

Good Luck,
Antony

"cook some rice!"

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