Marriage Abroad: International Marriage for US Citizens

Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. There is no such thing as a national registration of marriages in the United States, whether they have been officiated abroad or on national territory. That is because marriage is regulated by state law and state and county authorities issue marriage licenses. In this thorough guide, you will get the key facts on getting married in another country and the documents you may need to gather in advance so that you can live happily ever after. Call for Assistance — Once married, we can help to obtain a marriage visa to the U.S.

• The K-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that can be used by the immigrant spouse to come to the U.S. and then adjust status.
• Some couples choose a third option — obtaining the non-immigrant visa to enter the United States as a fiancé and then getting married in the US.
• However, it is worth noting that the road to obtaining citizenship by marriage can be long.
• For instance, if you’ve just met and your partner already wants to get married as soon as possible, it’s a red flag.
• Obtaining a permanent Green Card , giving the right to permanently reside in the United States.

In modern Western culture, it is assumed that someone from an emerging economy marrying a US person or other Westerner is merely seeking a life of opportunity. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, INA Section 204, if a marriage takes place to evade Lovefort United States immigration laws, it’s a sham marriage. But both you and your U.S. spouse must have actually attended your wedding ceremony. CitizenPath provides simple, affordable, step-by-step guidance through USCIS immigration applications. Individuals, attorneys and non-profits use the service on desktop or mobile device to prepare immigration forms accurately, avoiding costly delays. CitizenPath allows users to try the service for free and provides a 100% money-back guarantee that USCIS will approve the application http://ctyvn.net/japanese-women.html or petition. We provide support for the Petition for Alien Fiancé (Form I-129F), Petition to Help a Relative Obtain a Green Card (Form I-130), Application to Adjust Status (Form I-485), and several other USCIS forms.

On the other hand, a U.S citizen living abroad can take about 11 to 17 months for a successful marriage to an immigrant. If you are a green card holder living in the U.S, it could take between 28 and 38 months, while a U.S green card holder living abroad may wait for 27 to 46 months. You may have fallen in love, but how can you be sure your fiancé is just as sincere? If approved for citizenship, your spouse will take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony. This ceremony is presided over by a judge or administrative officer.

FAQs about Marrying a Non-US Citizen

You will have to take an interview and citizenship test to complete the process. It is also worth noting that the marriage green card timeline depends on circumstances like whether you are a green card holder or a U.S citizen and your current location. If you encounter difficulties with the visa and immigration process, consider seeking legal support.

In addition,American embassies and consulates abroadfrequently have information about marriage in the country in which they are located. With that in mind, below is a list of common destination wedding legal requirements that you may encounter in other countries. Visa requirements and fees may vary so it is important that you choose the option that works best for your circumstances and needs. Either way, your fiancé will be required to pass background and health checks, fill out some forms and gather supporting documents, and attend a visa interview. Although many newlyweds do not have to complete bureaucratic processes when returning to the United States with their authenticated foreign marriage license, others have to jump through a few more loops. This is especially true for same-sex couples and foreign citizens who married a US national abroad. As explained above, the documents needed to get https://crickerscorner.com/2023/01/09/how-russian-trolls-helped-keep-the-womens-march-out-of-lock-step-the-new-york-times/ married abroad depend on local regulations.

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Government officials will usually only do the ceremonies at the government offices during usual business hours, as this is their job. In some states, though not in North Carolina, a Notary Public can perform a marriage. Also a “justice of the peace,” made famous in so many Hollywood films, can perform marriages in some states. Generally the U.S. recognizes any marriage that is recognized in another country, and does not permit polygamy in the U.S. If either of you is already married in the U.S. or in another country, you must terminate that current marriage first. Be sure you have legal documents showing termination of any prior marriage.

Over here, Simon has never managed to find bread that he says tastes like the stuff from home. I think that makes a larger point about English food in general. You see, America goes to the games and wins a lot of medals. We’re a ridiculously competitive country with the population and the sporting infrastructure to be great. Britain goes and gives it a good old college try; they really do. But my husband had to explain to me that for his country, the honor is in taking part. In 1984, the British ice dancing duo Torvill and Dean won gold and the country has literally not stopped talking about it since.