The American partner to a marriage in China will generally be asked to submit the following:

• a current passport
• a Chinese residence permit
• a health certificate from the local hospital designated by the civil affairs office
• a “certification of marriageability” which can be prepared at the U.S. Embassy on the basis of an affidavit in which the American citizen swears or affirms before a Consul that he or she is currently legally eligible to marry (persons who have previously been married need to show a certified divorce decree, annulment decree, or death certificate both to the Embassy when preparing this certificate and to local authorities. Since proof of termination of all previous marriages will again be required when you file an immigrant visa petition on your spouse’s behalf, we recommend that you do not surrender the certified copies of death certificates or divorce or annulment decrees to the civil affairs office. You should take a good photocopy with you when you go to register the marriage. Generally, if you present the certified copy with the copy for their review, the Chinese authorities will accept the copy. This is also true for your spouse if he or she has previously been married.)
• three photos of the marrying couple, taken together
• a registration fee

 For legal assistance, visit our law firm’s website at [1] www.myfianceevisa.com