Any issues getting married days after POE?

[Paul H 4]

Jenni and I are thinking of having a small wedding a few days after POE then the big wedding a couple of months later. The idea is to get the green card process rolling asap so she can start working in the states sooner. Hopefully just 2 to 3 months versus 5 months or more.

For those that have done something similar did you run into any issues with having a wedding right after POE? The SSN guide talks about waiting 2 weeks after POE so that they can find you in the SAVE db. Are there any similar issues I need to worry about?

Thanks!

-Paul & Jenni

[Channah&Aaron 51]

; I am doing to same exact thing, and I've never heard bad stories about couples whom got a simple court wedding after POE and have an "official" wedding months/year(s) after.

Edited July 13, 2011 by Channah&Aaron

[canadian_wife 1,831]

Married is married, whether is it 30 seconds after POE or 3 months

Get married when it is best for you

Good luck

[Casprd 167]

Just double check the rules for your state and county. Some may have a "cooling off" period where you get the license but you have to wait 48 hours or so before you can get married. If I remember correct, Texas was this way. There may be other requirements also like blood tests or something that will cause things to be delayed, but as long as your good on the local requirements then go for it as soon as possible

[Paul H 4]

Just double check the rules for your state and county. Some may have a "cooling off" period where you get the license but you have to wait 48 hours or so before you can get married. If I remember correct, Texas was this way. There may be other requirements also like blood tests or something that will cause things to be delayed, but as long as your good on the local requirements then go for it as soon as possible

Luckily in Virginia there is no cooling off period and no blood test requirement. They don't even require witnesses. So we could literally get married seconds after POE

Thanks for the replies! Now to figure out what is needed for the green card application, work permit and advance parole so we will be ready!

I heard one way to speed up the process of getting your marriage certificate was to take the forms from the minister and hand deliver them to the court house clerk. I'm hoping they can give us the certificate that same day. Are there any issues I need to be concerned about for filing so soon after POE for green card/work permit or advance parole?

Thanks!

-Paul & Jenni

[TBoneTX 47,420]

one way to speed up the process of getting your marriage certificate was to take the forms from the minister and hand deliver them to the court house clerk. I'm hoping they can give us the certificate that same day.

Si, man -- and order multiple copies while you're there. We ordered 7, and ended up using 5 or 6.

[Jubi & Tony 3]

We are doing her POE on 9 Aug and the Wedding on the beach 11 Aug and then do honeymoon : )

We decided on Hawaii because well its Hawaii ...lol But most of all it was about half-way for both of us and I could meet her after doing POE procedures with Immigrations.

After the Honeymoon we travel back to VA

Check with your State's Health department which over sees marriage licenses in most states as to what that states requirements are. It really varies a lot from state to state. In Hawaii: no waiting period, no blood test. Just proof of ID and eligibility to marry

[BlueBonnet 84]

The only problem I found was that if you marry right away it messes up the SSN for some people, like me. It takes about 3 weeks for the package and the SSN application to find each other. Some people here say that the clerk isnt very educated in the rules when the name changes and thats fine, but the end result is the same. No SSN. So while your thinking you can start the OAS and get the green card quicker, just remember that without the SSN there is no working.

I married within 2 weeks of arriving, and I sit now waiting for my AOS to be approved, once it is, and I have long term legal status then Im off to the SSN office to wait another 4 weeks.