Thinking of gettin hitched!

[Scotlandsgirl 0]

Hello everyone! Some questions about marrying my UK boyfriend!He is visiting me in the US now but will return shortly to the UK. We had planned to start the K-1 process once he returned home but are considering marriage during this visit.

* If we get married in the US, is there anything stopping him from marrying another girl in the UK even though he is married to me in the USA? Hehe, I have to ask!

* Will being married give us more legitimacy when it comes to immigration making a decision about him living in the US. False hope?

* Last year I tried to visit him but was denied entry at Heathrow and will forever have to apply for a visa when visiting the UK. If we are married will I need to apply for a family visa instead of visitor's visa? With the botch on my immigration past, will marrying now make it more difficult to visit him in the UK? I'm hoping that providing proof that we are in the process of the CR-1 visa ( like receipts for all the money this will cost) will be considered as evidence to my intent to return to the US when the time comes again for me to attempt to visit him.

* My boyfriend first visited me in Feb - May of last year (2012). We considered marriage then but didn't go for it. Then a month later UK immigration laws changed making things more difficult and more expensive for couples who might immigrate to the UK. Part of me feels like if we get married now our relationship will be safer and less susceptible to the changing ways of the world and immigration! Is this a valid thought or immigration paranoia?

We are thinking of marrying now just for convenience. We won't have a ceremony and I probably won't change my last name or make it "official" to us until the visa has been approved and he is living in the US with me.

Any thoughts on these issues would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

[speedwell 224]

Hello everyone! Some questions about marrying my UK boyfriend!He is visiting me in the US now but will return shortly to the UK. We had planned to start the K-1 process once he returned home but are considering marriage during this visit.

* If we get married in the US, is there anything stopping him from marrying another girl in the UK even though he is married to me in the USA? Hehe, I have to ask!

* Will being married give us more legitimacy when it comes to immigration making a decision about him living in the US. False hope?

* Last year I tried to visit him but was denied entry at Heathrow and will forever have to apply for a visa when visiting the UK. If we are married will I need to apply for a family visa instead of visitor's visa? With the botch on my immigration past, will marrying now make it more difficult to visit him in the UK? I'm hoping that providing proof that we are in the process of the CR-1 visa ( like receipts for all the money this will cost) will be considered as evidence to my intent to return to the US when the time comes again for me to attempt to visit him.

* My boyfriend first visited me in Feb - May of last year (2012). We considered marriage then but didn't go for it. Then a month later UK immigration laws changed making things more difficult and more expensive for couples who might immigrate to the UK. Part of me feels like if we get married now our relationship will be safer and less susceptible to the changing ways of the world and immigration! Is this a valid thought or immigration paranoia?

We are thinking of marrying now just for convenience. We won't have a ceremony and I probably won't change my last name or make it "official" to us until the visa has been approved and he is living in the US with me.

Any thoughts on these issues would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

OK, since marriages in one country are recognized in the other, he will be in violation of both countries' bigamy laws if he marries two women, regardless of where.

It doesn't matter whether you are married or not for "legitimacy" in immigration. The forms and rules are a bit different for a fiance than a husband, that's really all.

Being married will probably make it a titch more difficult as you may be seen as wanting to stay. Probably not a huge big deal except you've already tangled with immigration. Providing proof of your intent to return is a good idea.

Immigration paranoia, as this twice-divorced and three-times-married middle-aged woman can attest. A marriage makes it possible to immigrate if you have no other qualifications, and it makes it more expensive to leave the bum if things don't work out.

You are not "marrying for convenience". Don't even breathe that to yourself in your sleep. I am also not changing my name until my husband has his visa and enters the US, because I am not required to and I have a UK work visa that I'd have to replace at significant cost. Your wedding day is the real date of your marriage, no matter what party you want to throw later. Presumably your marriage is a real marriage too, or you'll have too much explaining to do to US immigration.

[Darnell 8,478]

I think is ok for him to marry someone else in the UK after he marries with you. No worries there, life is about conveniences, always.

He will have problems on interview day, at the IV unit in London, though.

[NikLR 13,227]

OMFG Darnell. I think I'll give you my avatar instead. LOL!!!!

@OP - Do you really want to get married or are you trying to visit each other in an easier fashion? Marriage shouldn't be for convenience. And you shouldn't be worried about him marrying some other girl in the UK after marrying you!

[Scotlandsgirl 0]

OMFG Darnell. I think I'll give you my avatar instead. LOL!!!!

@OP - Do you really want to get married or are you trying to visit each other in an easier fashion? Marriage shouldn't be for convenience. And you shouldn't be worried about him marrying some other girl in the UK after marrying you!

No, this isn't a fake relationship or whatever. We have been planning our wedding for months now and together for almost 2 years. He is preparing to move to the US. I simply mean that it may be more convenient to do the CR-1 visa instead of the K-1. Our marriage is happening either way we just want to do what is best and are looking at our options. I'm not actually worried about him marrying another girl in the UK, or I wouldn't marry him! I am just curious about how international marriage works. Should he register his marriage to me some where in the UK? I don't know! Thanks!

[Darnell 8,478]

see, the thing is.....

one can be married in two places and not be discovered

until

one applies for an immigration benefit to another country. Somewhere along the way, during the background checks at each stage, things are learned.

The Visa Unit in any country does a background check in the OTHER country, to ascertain what's what.

Some countries are lax about this, but for UK and USA, is some problem on interview day..

[NikLR 13,227]

No, this isn't a fake relationship or whatever. We have been planning our wedding for months now and together for almost 2 years. He is preparing to move to the US. I simply mean that it may be more convenient to do the CR-1 visa instead of the K-1. Our marriage is happening either way we just want to do what is best and are looking at our options. I'm not actually worried about him marrying another girl in the UK, or I wouldn't marry him! I am just curious about how international marriage works. Should he register his marriage to me some where in the UK? I don't know! Thanks!

It depends. It might be a question you need to ask other people from the UK if the UK has requirements on reporting marriage. I would try the UK sub-forum!

I wish you happy forever together. I'm glad to know that the wedding is a happy thing, not a convenience, not that you had to prove that to me, just to the USCIS and London Embassy. LOL!

[Scotlandsgirl 0]

see, the thing is.....

one can be married in two places and not be discovered

until

one applies for an immigration benefit to another country. Somewhere along the way, during the background checks at each stage, things are learned.

The Visa Unit in any country does a background check in the OTHER country, to ascertain what's what.

Some countries are lax about this, but for UK and USA, is some problem on interview day..

Interesting! Thanks!

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, use that, when needed, when yer busting his chops again !