Marriage on tourist visa

[futureexpat 0]

Hi there,

I am a US citizen, and my partner is a Dutch citizen. We met while he was here on a student visa two years ago, and have been in a durable relationship since. He got a job in the UK, and moved for the last few months to begin his job there, and is now back in the US on a tourist visa, and we plan to settle in the UK or EU. We are planning to be married/civil partnered eventually, and are thinking of doing it now while he is here, but it sounds like people have had bad experiences with this.

I spoke with a USCIS officer this morning who indicated that it would not be a problem to get married on a tourist visa while my partner is here: very different than what the immigration forums say! We do not plan on settling in the US, so we are not worried about getting a green card, but don't want to mess up any immigration/travel stuff for us in the future. Any thoughts/experiences welcome.

Thanks!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You can marry in the US on a tourist visa. No problem. People do destination weddings all the time. Take Vegas, for example.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

It's fine if you're just getting married and he's returning to the UK. I did this -- we were over on holiday visiting my parents and we got married, then went back to the UK where we both lived at the time. We later filed an I-130 for him so we could relocate to the US together.

[Ontarkie 14,270]

~~Moved to General Immigration-Related Discussion, from the K1 forum as the OP is not looking to stay in the US after marriage~~

[Ralph and Meghan 19]

Yes you can get married while he's here on a tourist visa. So long he returns after it no problem. It can be a problem when he stays in the states after the wedding. There are people that do that and get there i-485 approved but there also a lot that don't get approved and get a 10 year ban.

So play it safe. Get married and return while the paperwork is in process.

[christeen 966]

You can marry in the USA without any issues... The problem is if you enter on a tourist visa, marry n the USA with the intent to stay file for Adjustment of Status.... But you can marry as long as you leave before your visa expires...

[futureexpat 0]

Great, thanks everyone. If anyone has any other experiences (especially negative ones) please share!

Thanks again.

Edited February 25, 2014 by futureexpat

[blk 87]

Hi you can get married here in the US if you want to it's not illegal in anyway shape or form lots of people do it every year, also it's a lot easer to do here than the UK & other European countries. The only time you would have problems with immigration is if you had preconceived intentions to AOS when you came through your POE as you said that you will be going back after your stay then you are ok. Good luck for the future to you both.

Brian

[Dave&Roza 748]

Hi there,

I am a US citizen, and my partner is a Dutch citizen. We met while he was here on a student visa two years ago, and have been in a durable relationship since. He got a job in the UK, and moved for the last few months to begin his job there, and is now back in the US on a tourist visa, and we plan to settle in the UK or EU. We are planning to be married/civil partnered eventually, and are thinking of doing it now while he is here, but it sounds like people have had bad experiences with this.

I spoke with a USCIS officer this morning who indicated that it would not be a problem to get married on a tourist visa while my partner is here: very different than what the immigration forums say! We do not plan on settling in the US, so we are not worried about getting a green card, but don't want to mess up any immigration/travel stuff for us in the future. Any thoughts/experiences welcome.

Thanks!

I think you are confusing your situation and question with this one: "Can I marry my non-USC SO and have them stay in the US and file for AOS?" That is the question that brings all kinds of wrath from others. There is no problem in getting married in the US. A SSN is not required so the foreign spouse does not have to worry about that issue. The issue with the question I posed is that it appears you are using a non-immigrant visa, i.e. tourist visa or the VWP, to enter the US and get married and stay in the US and file to become a LPR, i.e. immigrate.

Your situation has no immigration consequences other than now your spouse may have issues in coming to the US as a visitor and will need a spousal visa when the time comes that the two of you want to live in the US.

Good luck,

Dave

[Sekhvaruli 74]

Don't get married 60 days after arrival. You have to pretend your decision to marry was impromptu.

Otherwise, there will be a strong suspicion you've entered the country with the immigration purpose and you've broken your visa conditions - to enter with the intention to go back.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Don't get married 60 days after arrival. You have to pretend your decision to marry was impromptu.

Otherwise, there will be a strong suspicion you've entered the country with the immigration purpose and you've broken your visa conditions - to enter with the intention to go back.

This is not true, sorry.

They are not immigrating, just marrying. Not that it is true for immigration either.

[NikLR 13,227]

Don't get married 60 days after arrival. You have to pretend your decision to marry was impromptu.

Otherwise, there will be a strong suspicion you've entered the country with the immigration purpose and you've broken your visa conditions - to enter with the intention to go back.

You're mistaken. The OP is not looking to stay in the USA. They are simply looking to get married. Anyone can get married in the USA.

[Adslip 6]

I married my US Citizen husband whilst on a visit only using my E-passport for entry with no problems at all. I left the country as planned well before the expiration of the 90 day requirement. I left on the Saturday and he sent off paperwork for our I-130 on the Monday. We married on impulse on that visit and I had visited him previously in the USA and simply just using My e-pass on my passport with no problems at all. No SSN required and was easy to marry in the USA as stated by other members above.

I was only back in Australia a mater of about 3 weeks before I got the nightmare news...my husband had taken ill with Legionaries Pneumonia he was critical and on life support...so when I left Australia to be with him again only weeks after returning home after we married...he died the morning of the evening I arrived back...I never had any issues with immigration coming back in so soon and again entered using my e-passport and was asked the reason for my visit as they usually do...told him about m husband being in hospital etc...I really believe that its a case by case basis and I've never had any problems with US Customs. When I had to return last year to deal with my late husbands estate, it was taking longer with issues arising that were unforeseen... I needed to stay beyond the 90 days but very aware of not over staying my visit...so I took a bus trip to Canada so as I left the country etc....wasn't till I was coming back into the USA from Canada it was pointed out to me that I should have gone back to Australia and not Canada...but Customs again were brilliant with me...gave me the waiver and I had plenty of documents to show why I had done what I had done....they gave me a further 90 Days.

But anyways...to go with the question asked..No problem at all Marrying in the USA whilst on Tourist Visa.

[B & G 200]

There is absolutely no problem in marrying in the US. My husband and I did.

I arrived on 05 Apr 2013, got married on 12 April 2013 and left 17 April 2013 and I have been to visit him twice since then. In Sep 2013 and Jan 2014.

As others have mentioned, there is nothing wrong with marrying in the US. It is if you decided to adjust status that things might get alil difficult.

[tehans 52]

My wife came for a visit and we got married while she was on a tourist visa. No problem at all. She returned home to Poland filed all documents and 7 months later she moved here. Never had any problems