Advice please

[js09 0]

So, My boyfriend (UK) and I (US) want to get married. I am not sure if we're going to be living in America, I think I might move over with him, but I wanted to know if it would be easier to get married in America first.

Really what I am asking is if there is a LEGAL way to get married without having to get a visa (especially if he may not even stay)?

People say that getting married is the "easy part" but I don't even know where to begin, please help.

[Welshcookie 17]

Hi! welcome to VJ! I would suggest you read the guides here if you have absolutely no clue about immigration, they are very helpful. I'm sure someone will be along to add more

Good luck!

Edited September 11, 2009 by Welshcookie

[js09 0]

Hi! welcome to VJ! I would suggest you read the guides here if you have absolutely no clue about immigration, they are very helpful. I'm sure someone will be along to add more

Good luck!

Thanks so much.

I do know about the K-1, but what I want to know is if he isn't planning on staying in the US do we need to have a K-1

[Boiler 45,670]

You can marry on the VWP. UK requires a Visa to marry.

[imaisha 1]

If you are planning to settle in the U.K. (or some other country) you do not need a visa to get married in the U.S. As long as he is eligible for the VWP he can enter on that and marry and then leave.

If you are going to settle in the U.K. though you will be needing a visa.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Congratulations on your engagement!!

I think the first step you really need to take is to decide where you two are going to settle, and then where you want to get married (these can be different places). There is a process for (nearly) every combination, but you have to make those decisions first. We'd be glad to help you once you know.

I do think you may be right about it being easier to move to the UK after you're married, because a friend of mine engaged at the same time abandoned the UK fiance visa and did the spouse visa - she was over there in half the time it took us to get the US visa, and she changed course in the middle too!

[Gemmie 142]

I agree. Are you saying that you wish to marry in the US but move back to the UK afterwards?

If so, he can get married in the US on the VWP (visa-free). Be cautious of giving away information at the border though as they have the right to assume that he'll try and stay - and turn him home. Then you can go through the process of gaining a spousal visa to settle in the UK. This is more expensive but quick.

If you wish to marry him in the US, have him leave, and THEN settle there later - you can marry on the VWP as before and then begin the US spousal visa process. This takes a lot longer (up to a year).

[js09 0]

Thank you so much for your help!

I've decided that I want to move over to the UK with him, but after my research it does seem that it would be easier to get married in the US first.

There are just so many laws and conditions and so much paperwork, it's so confusing. Any help at all is amazing. I wasn't even sure if we could get married without having to do a mountain of paperwork and spend tons of time waiting.

[rebeccajo 14]

uk-yankee.com for information on immigrating to the UK.

[usaborn1111 0]

So, My boyfriend (UK) and I (US) want to get married. I am not sure if we're going to be living in America, I think I might move over with him, but I wanted to know if it would be easier to get married in America first.

Really what I am asking is if there is a LEGAL way to get married without having to get a visa (especially if he may not even stay)?

People say that getting married is the "easy part" but I don't even know where to begin, please help.

MArriage is the hard part

[Nik+Heather 121]

Thank you so much for your help!

I've decided that I want to move over to the UK with him, but after my research it does seem that it would be easier to get married in the US first.

There are just so many laws and conditions and so much paperwork, it's so confusing. Any help at all is amazing. I wasn't even sure if we could get married without having to do a mountain of paperwork and spend tons of time waiting.

OK, well, you don't have to do much paperwork for getting married in the US. He can come over on the visa waiver program. Be sure that he brings many "proofs of ties" There are several examples in the visitng FAQ. They include a return ticket, letters from supervisors regarding when he'll be expected back to work, copies of leases, etc. He can stay for 90 days on the VWP. Probably not long enough to do all of the wedding planning, but certainly long enough to help with some of it.

Next, you'll need to make sure that you are eligible to get married in the state where you want to marry (And the church you want to marry in, if you are so inclined - couples counseling etc). Just do a google search for "Marriage License Requirements <yourstate>" Generally it includes some sort of photo identification which includes your date of birth. If it also requires a social security number, you may have to get married in a different state.

Good luck and Happy wedding!

[rebeccajo 14]

Thank you so much for your help!

I've decided that I want to move over to the UK with him, but after my research it does seem that it would be easier to get married in the US first.

There are just so many laws and conditions and so much paperwork, it's so confusing. Any help at all is amazing. I wasn't even sure if we could get married without having to do a mountain of paperwork and spend tons of time waiting.

OK, well, you don't have to do much paperwork for getting married in the US. He can come over on the visa waiver program. Be sure that he brings many "proofs of ties" There are several examples in the visitng FAQ. They include a return ticket, letters from supervisors regarding when he'll be expected back to work, copies of leases, etc. He can stay for 90 days on the VWP. Probably not long enough to do all of the wedding planning, but certainly long enough to help with some of it.

Next, you'll need to make sure that you are eligible to get married in the state where you want to marry (And the church you want to marry in, if you are so inclined - couples counseling etc). Just do a google search for "Marriage License Requirements <yourstate>" Generally it includes some sort of photo identification which includes your date of birth. If it also requires a social security number, you may have to get married in a different state.

Good luck and Happy wedding!

It's better to actually phone the authority in the county in the US you would like to marry in. Online information is often inaccurate, even if it's on the official website of the body.

My husband and I considered marrying in Holmes County, Ohio. At that time their website stated a Social Security number was required for a license. A quick phone call revealed this wasn't necessary at all as long as he had two proofs of ID - they said a birth certificate and passport would work just fine. There's been a lot of evidence on VJ

through the years of similar findings.

[david'sgirl 134]

Thank you so much for your help!

I've decided that I want to move over to the UK with him, but after my research it does seem that it would be easier to get married in the US first.

There are just so many laws and conditions and so much paperwork, it's so confusing. Any help at all is amazing. I wasn't even sure if we could get married without having to do a mountain of paperwork and spend tons of time waiting.

We just got married in July in the UK (Isle of Skye Scotland) and it was a heck of a lot easier for me to get a marriage visa for UK! I applied online the night he asked me and had an appointment for biometrics the same evening. I went to my local consulate office within 2 weeks,answered a few questions,had a photo and fingerprints taken and mailed in my passport and printed copy of appplication and a check to the british embassy in NYC as directed. They had it back to me in a couple days and it would have allowed me to remain for 6 months and come and go as I please. He decided to move here so we are waiting and waiting and waiting but we are married. Best of luck to you.