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How do you get married? Can you just go down to courthouse??

#1 FormelyCA

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 04:32 PM

I am totally confused on this.

Upon arrival, how do we get married?? I know we go to the courthouse, get a marriage license but then it says "you have 60 days to use it". HUH?? I thought that was it? Use it how?? We aren't having a ceremony because we already did that (non legal a few months ago). Do we still have to get someone to do a ceremony with the legal certificate now????

ANyone have any tips?? I will be in Virginia. I'm so confused!!! I'm also hugely confused on the definitions. What is "marriage" and "married". Is that the CEREMONY???
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#2 Sprailenes

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 04:36 PM

You need to get a marriage license, just because you have one doesn't mean you're married. Call the courthouse in your area and ask them what day you can come in and get married, you bring the license and then the certificate will be ready to pick up at a later date.

Marriage and married are the same thing.. you get married so you can be in a marriage. The ceremony is the event you have in order to become married.

Edited by Sprailenes, 29 March 2009 - 04:37 PM.

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#3 FormelyCA

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 04:42 PM

QUOTE (Sprailenes @ Mar 29 2009, 05:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You need to get a marriage license, just because you have one doesn't mean you're married. Call the courthouse in your area and ask them what day you can come in and get married, you bring the license and then the certificate will be ready to pick up at a later date.

Marriage and married are the same thing.. you get married so you can be in a marriage. The ceremony is the event you have in order to become married.



See that's where I am confused. We had a ceremony, but we aren't "married".

Ok, so there is a difference between a license and a certificate? Are BOTH obtained at the Courthouse?? Whats the point of coming back then? Why not just do it all at one place? Can we do it the same day?

How long does it take roughly? A week?

THanks good.gif
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September 11th, 2004 - Met in Asia
May 2007 - Engaged in Hawaii!!
June 2008 - I-129F Petition
June (I think) 2008 - NOA1
October 2008 - NOA2 (P3 sent to wrong consulate by accident)
December 2008 - NON-legal wedding ceremony in Honduras
January 19th, 2009 - P3 finally arrives to correct consulate AND me!!
January 19th, 2009 - "Overnighted" P3 back same day. I am so efficient!!
January 23rd, 2009 - Montreal finally gets it. "Overnight" my a**!! Money refunded to me from Canada Post...ASAH!
March 27th, 2009 - Notified by phone call of interview date
March 31, 2009 - Interview Letter received in mail (P4)
April 6th, 2009 - Medical
April 17th, 2009 - Interview!!!
April 27th 2009 MOVED POE - Buffalo Peace Bridge
May 1st 2009 - Married!!
May 18th - SSN arrived in mail

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May 22nd, 2009 - NOA1 for AoS, AP, EAD - California Service Center. ASAH
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July 2nd, 2009 - AOS Transferred to California
August 7th, 2009 - Green Card production ordered. WoohoO!

#4 Sprailenes

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 04:47 PM

You may have had a ceremony but you have to have another one at the court house.. the term: "Ceremony" is flexible. It doesn't necessarily mean "a big event"

The license is what you need before you're married and in order to get married. You get the license at the city hall in the town/city in which you are living. You get the certificate after you're married, usually at a city hall as well of the town/city in which you married.

It takes about a week or two but again it depends on where you live.
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#5 childress_london

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 04:47 PM

The license is your permission to marry. Then you get married by someone who is certified to marry people. This person will sign your papers, you and your new spouse will sign and your witnesses will sign. The person who married you will then submit this paperwork to the courthouse for them to then issue the marriage certificate which states that you are legally married. The certificate is what you need to prove that you are legally married.

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#6 Kathryn41

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 05:07 PM

QUOTE (childress_london @ Mar 29 2009, 05:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The license is your permission to marry. Then you get married by someone who is certified to marry people. This person will sign your papers, you and your new spouse will sign and your witnesses will sign. The person who married you will then submit this paperwork to the courthouse for them to then issue the marriage certificate which states that you are legally married. The certificate is what you need to prove that you are legally married.


Nice explanation, Childress smile.gif .
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#7 SuperDuper!

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 05:19 PM

QUOTE (carrieandadrian11 @ Mar 29 2009, 02:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Sprailenes @ Mar 29 2009, 05:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You need to get a marriage license, just because you have one doesn't mean you're married. Call the courthouse in your area and ask them what day you can come in and get married, you bring the license and then the certificate will be ready to pick up at a later date.

Marriage and married are the same thing.. you get married so you can be in a marriage. The ceremony is the event you have in order to become married.



See that's where I am confused. We had a ceremony, but we aren't "married".

Ok, so there is a difference between a license and a certificate? Are BOTH obtained at the Courthouse?? Whats the point of coming back then? Why not just do it all at one place? Can we do it the same day?

How long does it take roughly? A week?

THanks good.gif


Having a cheesy, fat Elvis impersonator at your ceremony always helps! wink.gif



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#8 John and Camie

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 06:20 PM

QUOTE (itzallgood @ Mar 29 2009, 03:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Having a cheesy, fat Elvis impersonator at your ceremony always helps! wink.gif



rofl.gif

I actually asked for an Elvis wedding in Vegas. Fortunately, my other half is the one with the common sense. He said no.
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#9 childress_london

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 06:32 PM

Elvis wedding??? LOL. laughing.gif

QUOTE (Kathryn41 @ Mar 29 2009, 05:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (childress_london @ Mar 29 2009, 05:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The license is your permission to marry. Then you get married by someone who is certified to marry people. This person will sign your papers, you and your new spouse will sign and your witnesses will sign. The person who married you will then submit this paperwork to the courthouse for them to then issue the marriage certificate which states that you are legally married. The certificate is what you need to prove that you are legally married.


Nice explanation, Childress smile.gif .



Thank you. star_smile.gif
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#10 SapphireDreams

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 06:48 PM

Find out exactly how it works in Virginia.

In New York, we go to the courthouse and get the marriage license giving us permission to marry. We can then actually go back and get married 24 hours later at the courthouse. They'll marry us and then give us the marriage certificate at the end of the quick "ceremony".
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#11 Udella&Wiz

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Posted 30 March 2009 - 09:08 AM

I'm in Virginia (Fairfax county) - you go and apply down at the courthouse for your marriage license (you each fill out a form) - you stand in line, pay a fee and they give you the marriage license.

You need to bring id - I brought my Cdn passport, and Cdn birth certificate (probably I brought the long - just in case). My husband is the USC, he brought his drivers license (which shows address) and his birth cert or passport I forget which)

There is no blood test or anything fancy - took us about ½ hour tops

I googled marriage license and the county name and it came up with a hit

http://www.fairfaxco...icense_info.htm


Once married, the minister signed it and it was submitted back to the courthouse - This is where you're going to get a notiarized copy of your marriage license which you will need for the AOS package. I got a few extra copies for other things too. They notarize it on the spot if you pay.

We took it in ourselves to speed the process

Edited by Udella&Wiz, 30 March 2009 - 09:10 AM.

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#12 FormelyCA

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Posted 30 March 2009 - 05:49 PM

QUOTE (Udella&Wiz @ Mar 30 2009, 10:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm in Virginia (Fairfax county) - you go and apply down at the courthouse for your marriage license (you each fill out a form) - you stand in line, pay a fee and they give you the marriage license.

You need to bring id - I brought my Cdn passport, and Cdn birth certificate (probably I brought the long - just in case). My husband is the USC, he brought his drivers license (which shows address) and his birth cert or passport I forget which)

There is no blood test or anything fancy - took us about ½ hour tops

I googled marriage license and the county name and it came up with a hit

http://www.fairfaxco...icense_info.htm


Once married, the minister signed it and it was submitted back to the courthouse - This is where you're going to get a notiarized copy of your marriage license which you will need for the AOS package. I got a few extra copies for other things too. They notarize it on the spot if you pay.

We took it in ourselves to speed the process



Good to know!

I guess I am confused because we already HAD our wedding. So, after we get the license I wasn't sure where to take it, since we weren't having a minister or anything like that.

Do we have to have a mini ceremony somewhere??? We were just hoping to get the certificate, like graduating university or something tongue.gif Just go, shake a hand and they give it to you biggrin.gif

I dont wanna have another hookey ceremony just because. I mean, I will if we have to.

Anyone do this??
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September 11th, 2004 - Met in Asia
May 2007 - Engaged in Hawaii!!
June 2008 - I-129F Petition
June (I think) 2008 - NOA1
October 2008 - NOA2 (P3 sent to wrong consulate by accident)
December 2008 - NON-legal wedding ceremony in Honduras
January 19th, 2009 - P3 finally arrives to correct consulate AND me!!
January 19th, 2009 - "Overnighted" P3 back same day. I am so efficient!!
January 23rd, 2009 - Montreal finally gets it. "Overnight" my a**!! Money refunded to me from Canada Post...ASAH!
March 27th, 2009 - Notified by phone call of interview date
March 31, 2009 - Interview Letter received in mail (P4)
April 6th, 2009 - Medical
April 17th, 2009 - Interview!!!
April 27th 2009 MOVED POE - Buffalo Peace Bridge
May 1st 2009 - Married!!
May 18th - SSN arrived in mail

AoS:
May 14th, 2009 - Filed for AoS - Come on NOOOO RFE'S!!!
May 22nd, 2009 - NOA1 for AoS, AP, EAD - California Service Center. ASAH
May 30th, 2009 - Biometrics appointment letter received for I485, I765 (where is the I131????)....date June 12th. 2009
June 2nd, 2009 - Biometrics completed
June 15th, 2009 - EAD Card production ordered!!
June 20th, 2009 - AP, EAD arrives in mail! (no email from CRIS)
July 2nd, 2009 - AOS Transferred to California
August 7th, 2009 - Green Card production ordered. WoohoO!

#13 Sprailenes

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Posted 30 March 2009 - 06:16 PM

You lost me. huh.gif
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#14 Tankgurl38

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Posted 30 March 2009 - 06:44 PM

You said you had your ceremony already, but it wasn't legal. Since you said your ceremony wasn't legal, in everyone's eyes you aren't married yet. If you are legally married already, your K1 Visa will be void, as you can't use it if you are already married, that is why it is called a Fiance Visa.

So to be legally married......you need to go get a marriage licence once you get in the US and go and have someone marry you down there. Once you get married, they will give you a marriage certificate, which you need to prove you are married and for your AOS.

You need to get your licence and either go get married in the City Hall or Courthouse, or go find a Justice of the Peace or Minister that will marry you legally. Or make a trip to Vegas and go through the drive through and get a quicky married, but you still need to go get a marriage licence to be legally wed before you do so.

Which is what everyone has been telling you on this thread. smile.gif

Sorry if I sound a little blunt.




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#15 Udella&Wiz

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Posted 31 March 2009 - 09:17 AM

QUOTE (carrieandadrian11 @ Mar 30 2009, 06:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Udella&Wiz @ Mar 30 2009, 10:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm in Virginia (Fairfax county) - you go and apply down at the courthouse for your marriage license (you each fill out a form) - you stand in line, pay a fee and they give you the marriage license.

You need to bring id - I brought my Cdn passport, and Cdn birth certificate (probably I brought the long - just in case). My husband is the USC, he brought his drivers license (which shows address) and his birth cert or passport I forget which)

There is no blood test or anything fancy - took us about ½ hour tops

I googled marriage license and the county name and it came up with a hit

http://www.fairfaxco...icense_info.htm


Once married, the minister signed it and it was submitted back to the courthouse - This is where you're going to get a notiarized copy of your marriage license which you will need for the AOS package. I got a few extra copies for other things too. They notarize it on the spot if you pay.

We took it in ourselves to speed the process




Good to know!

I guess I am confused because we already HAD our wedding. So, after we get the license I wasn't sure where to take it, since we weren't having a minister or anything like that.

Do we have to have a mini ceremony somewhere??? We were just hoping to get the certificate, like graduating university or something tongue.gif Just go, shake a hand and they give it to you biggrin.gif

I dont wanna have another hookey ceremony just because. I mean, I will if we have to.

Anyone do this??


I'm confused - are you K1 ? If so - you should NOT be officially married yet (ie - you had a ceremoney and then registered the marriage afterwards)

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Naturalization
02/22/11 - Filed
02/28/11 - NOA
03/28/11 - FP
06/17/11 - status change - scheduled for interview
06/20?/11 - received physical interview letter
07/13/11 - Interview in Fairfax,VA - easiest 10 minutes of my life
07/19/11 - Oath ceremony in Fairfax, VA
******************
Removal of Conditions
12/1/09 - received at VSC
12/2/09 - NOA's for self and daughter
01/12/10 - Biometrics completed
03/15/10 - 10 Green Card Received - self and daughter
******************
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