Dominican marriage certificate (inextensa) for USCIS

The Dominican marriage certificate for USCIS is the acta de matrimonio issued by the civil registry office (oficialía del estado civil) where the wedding took place, under the Junta Central Electoral (JCE). Many people search for it as the “acta inextensa de matrimonio,” and for good reason: until 2025, that was the full version. Today the JCE issues it in a new format, so it is worth knowing which document you hold before you have it translated.

From the inextensa to the single format

Since July 1, 2025, under Resolution 9-2025, as amended by Resolution 14-2025, the JCE has issued birth, acknowledgment, marriage, divorce and death records in one standard format. The “extracto” and “inextensa” labels are gone, each new record costs RD$600, and the rule also applies at the JCE’s offices abroad. Older records with a QR code issued before that date remain valid (official JCE notice).

The State Department’s Reciprocity Schedule for the Dominican Republic adds an important detail. We checked the copy the Wayback Machine archived on July 1, 2026. For immigrant and K visas, the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo still requires the inextensa for older versions issued before July 1, 2025, because it provides more information. Records issued after that date, without either label, are also accepted.

In practice:

• If your record predates July 2025 and reads “Extracto de acta de matrimonio,” request a new one.
• If it is an old inextensa, check that it has a QR code.
• If you request it today, it comes in the single format and you don’t need to ask for any particular version.

What the State Department lists

The same schedule names the document Acta de Matrimonio, issued by the Oficialía del Estado Civil, with no special seal or color. It is available at the registry office where the marriage took place or the one with jurisdiction over that area, and at any service center of the Central Civil Registry Office. The schedule also notes that Dominican civil documents do not need legalization for visa purposes.

The schedule is not just for consulates. The USCIS Policy Manual (Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 4) tells officers to consult it before issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) for a civil document.

Where a Dominican marriage certificate gets complicated

A church wedding. The JCE recognizes two kinds of marriage, civil and canonical. A canonical marriage, performed by the Catholic Church, has the same legal effect as a civil one as long as it is transcribed into the civil registry of the municipality where it took place. The parish certificate does not replace the registry record: what you file is the record of that transcription, issued by the civil registrar.

Prior marriages. To marry, the JCE asks for a divorce or death record if either spouse was married before. USCIS asks for the same thing: the Form I-130 instructions call for copies of documents showing that each prior marriage was legally terminated. If that applies to you, that document needs a translation too; we cover it in the Dominican divorce certificate guide.

Witnesses and names. The JCE requires at least two adult witnesses for a civil wedding, and the record identifies them. If a name is spelled differently than on your passport or cédula, the translation keeps each spelling exactly as written, without merging them.

Separate property. If the spouses chose that regime, the JCE requires a notarial deed, registered and served before the wedding. When the record mentions it, that reference is translated in full, because it is part of the document.

Old records without a QR code. An old, handwritten record or one without a verification code raises questions you can avoid by requesting a new one. The JCE runs a public lookup of validated record issuances on its data portal.

How to request it from the United States

The JCE has service offices within the Dominican consular network in the United States. Its services abroad page lists New York, Paterson, Jamaica Plain (Boston), Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Glendale (Los Angeles), Miami and San Juan. It also mentions satellite offices in the Bronx and Chicago, and fixed points in Freeport and Houston. Appointments are booked at citas.jce.gob.do.

If you have family in the country, they can also request it at the registry office where the marriage took place or at any JCE service center.

About the apostille. The Dominican Republic has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since August 30, 2009, according to the Hague Conference, and the apostille is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX). USCIS regulations do not require it, and the State Department says legalization is not needed for the visa. Check whether another procedure asks for it before you get one.

Before you send us the document

Look at the issue date. If it predates July 2025, check that it says “inextensa” and has a QR code; if it says “extracto”, request a new one. If you married in the Church, make sure you have the registry office record and not only the parish certificate. And if either of you was married before, send us the divorce or death record too so we can translate them together.

Official source

Review the applicable federal requirement directly at 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) on eCFR .

Fidelis Certified Translations is an independent translation service and is not affiliated with, authorized, or endorsed by USCIS or any U.S. government agency. Final acceptance of any document rests solely with the receiving agency or institution.