Single Status Certificate

The Single Status Certificate is a mandatory document confirming that a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident is currently unmarried when registering a marriage in Vietnam. Many applications are rejected by local ward or commune authorities due to missing or incorrect information in this document, causing significant delays and additional costs. Even a small mistake can slow down the entire immigration sponsorship process later on. With more than 23 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful cases, First Consulting Group helps you prepare accurate documentation from the beginning, minimize risks, and save valuable time.

What Is a Single Status Certificate in the U.S.? Advice from First Consulting Group – Choosing the Right Option to Avoid Rejection from the Start

U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who wish to return to Vietnam to register a marriage with a Vietnamese partner must provide a Single Status Certificate.

You may need this service if you fall into one of the following situations:

U.S. Citizen / Permanent Resident Getting Married in Vietnam

When submitting a marriage registration abroad, you must prove your legal marital status and provide documents that are notarized, translated, and legalized. The Single Status Certificate issued by the U.S. Consulate is used specifically for submitting a marriage registration at the local People’s Committee in Vietnam where the Vietnamese partner resides.

What documents are required to request a Single Status Certificate for marriage in the U.S.?

From the U.S. citizen or permanent resident:

• Passport or other identification documents
• Green Card (for permanent residents)
• Proof of previous marital status (if previously married): divorce decree or death certificate of a former spouse

From the Vietnamese partner:

• Vietnamese Citizen Identification Card

Where to obtain a Single Status Certificate when living in the U.S.?

Our immigration law office will assist you throughout the entire process.

We will:

• Collect and verify all necessary information from you
• Contact and work directly with the U.S. Consulate on your behalf
• Handle administrative procedures for you to save time and effort

Common risks: If documents do not match or lack sufficient proof of marital status, the application may be delayed or rejected.

Vietnamese Citizens Living Abroad but Registering Marriage in Vietnam

If you are living in the U.S. but want to register your marriage in Vietnam, you must obtain a Single Status Certificate from the Vietnamese Consulate in your country of residence.

Special Cases: Divorce, Children Together, Change of Nationality

Common question: If I lose my divorce decree, can I request another copy?

Answer: Yes, you can request a replacement.

Replacement process:

For U.S. citizens: Contact the Court that issued the divorce judgment to request a certified copy.

For Vietnamese citizens: Contact the Court in Vietnam that issued the divorce decision.

Important note: The divorce certificate must be reissued and added to the complete file before submitting the marriage registration application.

U.S. or Vietnamese citizens who were previously married and registered their marriage abroad must provide confirmation from the relevant foreign authority that the marriage has legally ended.

Required supporting documents may include:

• Divorce decree (original or certified copy issued by the Court)
• Birth certificate of children (if applicable)
• Documents confirming change of nationality (if applicable)

Note: All documents issued abroad must be legalized and translated into Vietnamese before submission.

Conditions – Process – Time – Cost

The Certificate of Single Status is valid for 06 months from the date of issuance. If it expires, you must apply again from the beginning.

If the process of requesting a Certificate of Single Status in the United States is denied due to incorrect personal information, missing divorce documents, or suspicion of a sham marriage.

Conditions for Issuance of a Certificate of Single Status

The main conditions for issuing a Certificate of Single Status include:

• Nationality: The applicant must be a foreign citizen (for example: a U.S. citizen).
• Age: Must be of legal marriage age according to Vietnam’s Law on Marriage and Family (men from 20 years old, women from 18 years old).
• Marital status: Must be single, divorced, or widowed.
• Health condition: Must have a health certificate confirming the person does not have mental illness or other conditions that impair awareness and behavioral control.

Standard 4-Step Process

Step 1: Prepare documents

You provide personal background information and the following documents to the office:

From the U.S. Citizen / Permanent Resident

• Passport
• Divorce decree / previous marriage certificate if applicable

From the Vietnamese Partner

• National ID card (CCCD)
• Birth certificate (original or certified copy)
• Divorce certificate (if previously married)
• National ID card or passport (scanned original)

Step 2: Submit the application

• Abroad: Vietnamese Consulate in the United States

Step 3: Wait for processing

Step 4: Receive the result and complete consular legalization

• Receive the original document with the red stamp

Common Reasons Authorities Reject Applications

• Missing documents or failure to present originals
• Incorrect personal information (name, date of birth, place of birth do not match)
• Marital status not updated in the VNeID system
• Application has exceeded the validity period (> 6 months)

First Consulting Group provides full support throughout the entire process, from preparing documents and scheduling appointments to consular legalization. We have assisted more than 100,000 Vietnamese families in completing marriage procedures and spousal immigration to the United States. Are you feeling unsure about where to start? Contact us today for a free consultation and receive a detailed document checklist tailored to your situation.

FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, PLEASE CALL:

– Garden Grove Office: (877) 348-7869
– San Jose Office: (408) 998-5555
– Houston Office: (832) 353-3535
– Vietnam Office: (028) 3516-2118

Note: All information in this article is for reference purposes only, not legal advice, and the data was updated at the time of writing. If you need detailed consultation, please contact First Consulting Group for further assistance.