Can you get married without a K1 visa?

[lmihler 23]

Thank you all so much for your help i really appreciate it.

With what I do for work, I'll always need to spend about half of my time in the UK anyway, so based on what everyone has said I think it should be all ok. Phew.

Thank you everyone!

Once you receive your green card you will need to LIVE in the US. You cannot spend more time outside of the US or you aren't fulfilling the residency requirement.

[Hank_ 9,172]

Hello,

I'm getting married in June in the states, I'm from the UK and my fiance is from the US. I was told ages ago that I didn't need a fiancee visa to get married.

Is this true? Will the marriage be legal? I believe it is from what I've read. I started looking into the K1 visa, but with the time frame, I'm worried that I'm too late.

I'm not planning on staying in the US straight away, because I have work commitments back in the UK, but I will need to apply for a green card at some point fairly soon after we get married. Is applying for a green card when you're outside of the country more difficult?

Thanks in advance for any help

Of course you can get married in the USA without a K-1 visa, and yes the marriage will be legal... everywhere. The fiancee visa is only for those staying in the USA, which you are not doing at this time. Later you two can apply for a spousal visa.

[Cathi 5,609]

There might be probs in the future, although someone with more insight will be able to answer in detail.

What kind of visa are you coming over on at that time? From similar threads that I've read, if you are coming to the states on a "tourist visa" with full intention of getting married that is a form of visa fraud/visa abuse. Like mentioned, this is what I've seen elsewhere on this form, so anyone correct me if I'm wrong

There's a reason why they have a fiancé visa option. It may actually go faster than you imagine if you have all your ducks in a row. It did for me :-) From the time I filed til visa approval was 65 days (a lot better than the projected 6-8 months)

In any case, after marriage you would file a spouse visa (CR-1 I think) and THAT can take up to a year or more from the time you file until you get approved. The advantage being that you get a green card right away instead of filing AOS and waiting for that

There are absolutely no problems. She can come to the US and marry with the VWP or a visitor visa and marry, as long as she doesn't stay and try to adjust status. Her plan is to return home and have her spouse apply for the proper visa for her in the future. Have you never heard of the millions that fly to Vegas from all over the world every year and return home?

[tomriesgo 39]

Hello,

I'm getting married in June in the states, I'm from the UK and my fiance is from the US. I was told ages ago that I didn't need a fiancee visa to get married.

Is this true? Will the marriage be legal? I believe it is from what I've read. I started looking into the K1 visa, but with the time frame, I'm worried that I'm too late.

I'm not planning on staying in the US straight away, because I have work commitments back in the UK, but I will need to apply for a green card at some point fairly soon after we get married. Is applying for a green card when you're outside of the country more difficult?

Thanks in advance for any help

You can get married yes, anyone can get married without a visa. BUT if you are coming to get married and then have the intent of staying and Adjusting Status you're committing visa fraud as it was your intent before entering the country. If you entered the country without the intent of getting married but then do so you can Adjust your status.

[JFH 12,189]

OP we are in a similar situation. We got married when I was visiting using the VWP, I came home three days later and went back to work. I have been back to see my husband several times since then and we are now in a position for me to make the move so we are on the CR-1 spousal visa journey.

Someone further up the thread mentioned going to the US, getting married and staying. I just wanted to point out that is illegal without a K-1 visa (to go with the intention of staying on after the wedding). I can see that you won't be doing that anyway as you need to get back to Blighty for work.

When the time is right, your husband will file a petition for you to be apply to apply for a spousal visa and about a year and dozens of forms and pieces of paper later you will have your visa to go for good. The Green Card is for people who are moving to the US. If you are maintaining your residence here and going back and forth to visit your husband then you don't need a green card. Only if you intend to live there. If your husband wants to move to you in the UK, that's a whole other game.

Edited February 5, 2016 by JFH

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

***** One post edited to remove illegal immigration suggestion. Be careful how you word your advice. *****