Helpful Information

Marriage in Kyrgyz Republic

General Information

The following is for the information of an American citizen who has officially registered his/her marriage in the Kyrgyz Republic with a national of the Kyrgyz Republic, or plans to do so. 

American diplomatic and consular officers are not permitted to perform marriages.  International marriages in the Kyrgyz Republic are performed by “ZAGS”(tel.: 287996, 287808) , marriage registration office (corner of Ivanitsina and Sovetskyaya Streets, Bishkek).  Marriages which are legally performed and valid in the Kyrgyz Republic are also legally valid in the United States.

In order to perform a marriage between an American citizen and a national of the Kyrgyz Republic, ZAGS requires their
• valid passports, 
• birth certificates, 
• divorce decrees/death certificates if applicable, and 
• an affidavit from the U.S. Embassy stating that an American citizen is free to marry. 

This affidavit can be acquired at the Consular Section; the fee for the American consular officer’s certification of the affidavit is $30.  The affidavit obtained from the U.S. Embassy must be authenticated at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic at 10 Togolok Moldo Street, Bishkek.  The authentication service fee is 50 soms and is available from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday, except Wednesday (ask for Chief or employee of Legal Section).  The fee is to be paid at “Kyrgyzstan Bank” affiliate at the intersection of Erkindik Prospect and Ivanitsyn Street.

I-130 INS Form, Petition for Alien Relative

After the valid marriage has been concluded by ZAGS and the Marriage Certificate has been issued, an American citizen who is a resident of the Kyrgyz Republic may file a petition, the I-130 Petition For Alien Relative, with the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek.  Those U.S. Citizens who are not residents of the Kyrgyz Republic have to file a petition, I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, with a USCIS office in the United States.  For adjudication of the petition, both the petitioner and the beneficiary must appear personally for the interview and present their passports, valid marriage certificate, if applicable, divorce decree or death certificate and $ 355 petition fee.  You may be asked to submit proof of your relationship with the beneficiary.  It is, therefore, useful to bring with you letters, photographs, or other evidence of relationship. 

U.S. Immigrant Visa

The U.S. citizen’s spouse needs to get a U.S.  immigrant visa to be able to enter the U.S.  Immigrant visa applications for nationals of the Kyrgyz Republic are processed by the American Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan.  As soon the I-130 Petition is approved and the applicant has all necessary documents listed below, Consular Section in Bishkek will make an appointment with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Almaty for a spouse of an American citizen for an immigrant visa interview.  It is not necessary that the American citizens be present at the immigrant visa interview of their spouse. However, if they prefer to be present, they are welcome.  Below is the contact information for the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Almaty:

Tel.:001-3272-504802
Address: 

• Form DS-230, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration.  All questions on the Form must be answered.  It can be completed on day of interview.
  
• Form G-325A,  Biographic Information.  This form should be completed for each, a petitioner as well as a beneficiary.      
  
• Passport.  A Kyrgyz passport of 2004 design which is issued at a “passportny stol,” a regional branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.   Children under 16 are also required to have new Kyrgyz passports of 2004 design.
  
• Birth Certificate.  Birth certificates for each applicant are required.  Birth records must be presented for all unmarried children under age 21, even if they are not applying for a visa at the time.  The certificate must state the date place of birth and names of both parents. 
  
• Police Certificate.  In the Kyrgyz Republic, police certificates are issued by the office of Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs, where the applicant resides or has resided for at least 6 months since attaining the age of 16.  A police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has lived for more than six months or has been arrested for any reason, regardless of the length of residence.  Persons convicted of a crime must obtain a certified copy of each record and any prison record, regardless that they may have benefited from an amnesty or pardon. 
  
• Military Record.  A certified copy of any military record is required, if applicable.
  
• Photographs.  Two photographs are required, 50x50 mm in size, with no head covering, and showing a full, front-face view against a light background (see sample of the photograph).  Either color or black and white photographs are acceptable.  The applicant must write his/her full name on the reverse side of each photograph.
  
• Marriage Certificate.  If applicable, it is required to present documents about previous marriage and/or divorce decree, or death certificate to prove the dissolution of any prior marriage.
  
• Evidence of Support.  I-864 Form, Affidavit of Support, must be submitted to show that the applicant and his/her children, if any, are not likely to become public charges in the United States.  Copies of last three years federal income tax returns must be submitted with the affidavit.
  
• Evidence of Relationship.  Applicants may be asked to submit proof of his/her relationship with the petitioner.  It is, therefore, useful to bring with them letters, photographs, or other evidence of relationship.
  
• Medical Examination.  Each applicant should bring his/her medical examination results to the interview.  The cost of the medical results to the interview.  The cost of the medical examination is $200 for each applicant, including each minor child.  This exam is conducted in Almaty by panel physicians of the U.S.  Embassy.  The contact information for the Panel Physician is available at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek.

Translation Of Documents

Applicants should present to the interviewing consular officer both an original and a xerox  copy of each document mentioned above.  All documents must be accompanied by English translation.  The translation and copies of documents do not necessarily have to be certified by the U.S.  Embassy.
 
Note: These forms should be completed and documents acquired for the immigrant visa interview in Almaty, not for the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek.  The Consular Section in Bishkek is happy to check that documents are completely and correctly filled out.  Do not send documents to the U.S.  Embassy.  Applicants should bring all of the above pertinent documents with them to Almaty for the interview.  Please also note that applicants should arrive in Almaty 2-3 days before the immigrant visa interview to have their medical examination. 

Immigrant Visa Processing Fees
(For each applicant)

• I-130 Petition Application - $355
• Immigrant Visa Application- $380
• Medical Examination - $100
  (including vaccinations) - $137

                                 TOTAL - $767

U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa for Spouses (K-3 Visa)

Since November 2001 Legal Immigration and Family Act (LIFE Act) Act created new categories of nonimmigrant visas, which benefit certain spouses and children of U.S. citizens (K-3, K-4).  Under this act, holders of a K-3 or K-4 visa may enter the United States as nonimmigrants to rejoin family members, pending approval of an immigrant visa.  The applicant may later apply for adjustment of the status in the United States, or for an immigrant visa at the appropriate consular office abroad.
 
The applicant must be the spouse or child of a U.S. Citizen;  the U.S. citizen spouse must file an I-130 petition with the BCIS (in the U.S.);  the applicant must not yet have been scheduled for an immigrant visa interview at a consular post abroad or with BCIS for adjustment;  the U.S. citizen spouse must file an I-129F petition with the Missouri Service Center (MSC).
 
Please note:  If an applicant has already been scheduled for an immigrant visa or adjustment interview, either with a consular office or BCIS, the applicant may not apply for a K-3 visa.  He or she must continue processing the immigrant visa.
 
For further information on filing an I-129F for K-3 (or K-4) status, please contact the Missouri Service Center (MSC)
U.S. INS
P.O. Box 7216
Chicago, IL 60680-7216
 
Customer Service Telephone: (800) 375-5283
 
Information is also available through the USCIS website at: http://www.uscis.gov

If your marriage took place in the Kyrgyz Republic, the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek is authorized to process your K-3 application.  We will commence processing and contact you regarding the steps to take for final issuance when the approved I-129F is received from NVC.

The following documents are required to process K-3, K-4 visas:

1)       two copies of the DS-156 application form;
2)       two copies of the DS-156K fiancé(e) visa application form;
3)       local police certificates (for each K-3/K-4 applicant);
4)       local birth certificates (for each K-3/K-4 applicant);
5)       local marriage certificate for the principal applicant;
6)       divorce/death certificates for any previous marriages (if applicable);
7)       medical examination results, and affidavit of support (Form I-134) or a letter from the petitioner’s employer.

For more information, please contact:
U.S. Embassy Bishkek
Consular Section
171 Prospect Mira
Bishkek, 720016, Kyrgyzstan
Tel.: 996-312-551 241
Fax: 996-312-551 264
E-mail: consularbishkek@state.gov