Marriage in Alberta?

[Bern. 3]

This will sound probably really stupid.

But can I, a Canadian get married to my American fiance the next time he comes up to visit me in February? He wouldn't be staying in Canada and he'd be returning to the US because he has orders for deployment to Kuwait in March this year. If we were to get married, it would be in Calgary. Just a civil ceremony, then a dinner with my family and some friends.

Thing is, we were originally gunning for the K-1 fiance visa...but since he's in the military, it would just be a total pain in the butt to get our time lines to add up. >:/ (Fiances aren't allowed to move on base, so yeah...) We were thinking about getting the CR-1 visa instead, that way I could work upon entry and already have permanent residence, etc.

I don't know if this is a factor but we've known each other since 2004/05, and we've been dating since 2007. o_O

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yes you can, and it doesn't sound stupid at all. It sounds realistic. The CR-1 takes time to process also, but you end up with a better visa in the long run; it is also cheaper, and it takes care of those potential problems you would experience with your fiance being deployed when the K-1 timing comes through.

So, congratulations and have a happy wedding and wonderful marriage.

[Bern. 3]

So we could get married here even though he'd just be in the country as a visitor? He would use his passport as identification. But then we'd be kind of stuck at proof of a marriage. We have been communicating for years, and when he's overseas, our snail mail way of communication will be back in order. As well, I'd have access to his bank account but I would have to transfer it to myself using Paypal.

Anyone with Paypal experience as far as finances go?

[raymaga 25]

It's perfectly legal to marry in Canada the way you describe. You should get a copy of your marriage certificate to prove that you are married for the CR-1 process.

Best wishes for a smooth immigration process.

[Bern. 3]

Thank you

Where would I get a marriage certificate? Just a registry or should I go to city hall? (I'm young and ignorant. ):!)

And we wouldn't be filing for the CR-1 until he get's back from his deployment. So by that time, we would be married for a year, or almost a year.

Gosh...this whole thing is so complicated Dx

[Bern. 3]

I just read somewhere that you need to be married in the USA for the CR1 to work >_>? I'm sure this is just false information on their part.

[Marilyn. 340]

I just read somewhere that you need to be married in the USA for the CR1 to work >_>? I'm sure this is just false information on their part.

yes that is false information.. it doesn't matter where you got married...

my husband came up to Canada and we got married there and then we filed for the CR1...

[Flames9_RN 358]

Keep in mind in can take close to a tear for a CR-1 to complete, so you would want to file WELL before he gets back from deployment. As well I belive for military members that are deployed, their is an Expedited route they can take!

[Reba 2]

You get the marriage certificate after the ceremony from the county office in which you get married. Same place you'll have to get the license probably in order to get married. GOOGLE your county offices and look for the "license" office, or registrar or whichever does marriage licensing. Your parents or married friends or family at least should be familiar with the process.

Once you have the certificate I'd suggest you get started on the I-130 petition right away while your then husband is deployed. By the time his tour is done, your CR1 should also be completed and you can move right away. If you wait until his deployment is completed to start it, then it'll be another year after that before you'll be together.

[trailmix 77]

'Marriage Licences are available from any registry agent in Alberta' - you both have to be there in person to apply. I can't remember exactly how long it took to get ours.

Basically there are four steps:

1. Obtain a marriage license

2. Get married -

3. Register your marriage

'You will receive a Registration of Marriage form from the registry agent at the same time you receive your marriage licence. Once complete, the Registration of Marriage form becomes a permanent legal record of your marriage. The information recorded on the Registration of Marriage is also used to produce marriage certificates'.

4. Request a marriage certificate at the registry office. You will want to order the - Certified Large Size Certificate of Marriage - 21.6 X 17.8 cm (8 1/2 X 7 in)

After the ceremony the celebrant may give you a copy of a 'marriage certificate', this is not the one required, you will want the one you order from the registry office.

More information here

As someone said, it can take a year to get your CR1 visa in hand, so you may want to start a little sooner, good luck!

Edited January 9, 2009 by trailmix

[TheATeam 0]

Hey there! I worked at a Registry in Edmonton for a year before I moved down here. All you will need is his passport, or driver's license as well as some kind of identification for you. Also, if either of you have ever been previously married you'll need the original divorce certificates!

After you get the marriage licence you can ask at the registry and they should be able to give you a list of all the marriage commissioners in your area. You should also be able to find that list on the Government of Alberta website.

I'll tell you a little trick. When you go to the registry to get your marriage licence, tell them you situation and that you need a certificate as soon as possible. Normally the commissioner just mails in the marriage licence to vital statistics and it takes 2-3 weeks to be registered sometimes. The thing is, if the minister will give you the licence back, or go with you back to the registry, the agent there can register the marriage over the computer, the certificate can be ordered and you can put a rush on it, having it that day if you really need it. That way, if you have the package all ready except for the certificate, you could mail it the same day as you get married. Make sure that the agent you're going to knows what to do. Not everyone knows that you can do that. Trust me though, it can be done!

Also....you said fiance's can't live on base...not even for a day? I may be wrong, but I thought a K1 visa was able to be expedited if the USC was in the military and about to be deployed. You could get the K1 visa expedited, and the day you fly down go to a justice of the peace and get married, so technically you wouldn't be a fiance anymore! It's just a thought. I don't know if it would be viable for you guys or not or if it would even work. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong!

If you have any more questions about the marriage licence process etc...you can always pm me if you like.

[Marilyn. 340]

Keep in mind in can take close to a tear for a CR-1 to complete, so you would want to file WELL before he gets back from deployment. As well I belive for military members that are deployed, their is an Expedited route they can take!

that's for sure ...lol

[Flames9_RN 358]

Keep in mind in can take close to a tear for a CR-1 to complete, so you would want to file WELL before he gets back from deployment. As well I belive for military members that are deployed, their is an Expedited route they can take!

that's for sure ...lol

lol, that was a good slip!!

[Bern. 3]

That's true..o_o But could I mail out the K-1 from Canada for him? Would they care? ):? What we wanted to do was have me send off the the K-1 from Canada in March-Aprilish, then with wait time, blahblahblah, it would be more than likely done before his homecoming.

He will be gone for 6 months to a year, we don't know for sure yet. But once I get the K-1, I'd have 6 months to use it and 90 days to marry, in which he could request leave before I even leave...so we could time it.

And then when he gets home I could go down and we could get married one weekend, then I could live with his mother until everything housing wise gets sorted out.

The CR-1 is really iffy for me, because although we've had a really close relationship for nearly 2 years, we never really documented it?.. I blame technology.

[Bern. 3]

Also, would it be okay to get married first and then apply for a SSN number or should I apply for a SSN first, get married, then change it? >_>