Marriage in Nigeria

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Phase 1, your petition, front load it ! = http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

Phase 2, NVC = http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/486029-nvc-guides-faqs/

Phase 3. interview, go to the sub-saharan for support and details on what is embassy specific for Lagos.

No 21 days waiting needed to post the wedding but have your fiance post it for 21 days anyway, you don't have to be there when it's posted.

Many got by with much less. Marry where he lives preferably.

It can be all overwhelming so take the first link and take it step by step one item at a time and after you have filed do the same for the

NVC phase. This research isn't to be rushed but read and read again until it's digested. One mistake can cost you an approval.

Best wishes !

[Moustafa/Crystal 65]

The links listed above provide lots of great information, but are not completely update with the current practices. Be sure to chat with people who have recently completed the process as it is changing all the time.

[D.Ba 85]

Do try to find out whether K-1 or CR-1 is better for Nigeria.

I seem to have read that in some countries the chances for approval of a K-1 are better than for a CR-1.

[Socialwork4god 11]

The guides on here are great

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

Thank you!!

[Socialwork4god 11]

I would start getting the initial petition package together. First filling out the I-130 and both you and your future husband's G-325A. You will need his signature on his G-325A.

Other things that you will need....

$420 check made out to US Department of Homeland Security

G-1145 e-Notification

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (mentioned above)

Proof of your citizenship....copy of birth certificate or passport

Your G-325A and passport style photo of you (mentioned above)

Spouse's G-325A and passport style photo of spouse (mentioned above)

Certificate/Statement of Translator if needed

Copy of Marriage Certificate and Translation if needed

Other proof of bona fide relationship...Western Union money transfers, common credit card, affidavits of third parties having personal knowledge of bona fide relationship, holiday cards, flight itineraries, passport stamps, hotel receipts, receipts/pics of gifts, pictures of you and your spouse together and with each others' families, brief summary of relationship and ongoing relationship.

Two hole punch the package at the top. Then use an ACCO binder to put the whole package together. I included a cover sheet explaining everything that was in the package as well as the number of pages.

Wow! Thank you so much!!! Very helpful!

[Socialwork4god 11]

There is a requirement to post a ban at the registry 21 days before you marry, both parties do NOT have to be there. It can all be done by one party. http://www.nigeria-law.org/Marriage%20Act.htm read this to know exactly what is required. Be aware that a traditional marriage only can fall into the not married enough for a CR1 too married for a K1 in the silly ways of the Lagos consulate.

That link is a bit confusing to me but, thank you! I will definitely look into it and see what is required to make the marriage legal.

Wow..thank you so much everyone. This is all very helpful. I'm going to read through it all, digest it and see if I have any further questions.

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

Great advise

you can only file for the ITIN when you file tax returns in the spring / IRS form W 7

getting the ITIN is helpful as it allows you with a POA from him ( I would get him to sign one whille in Nigeria) to add to bank account showing to USCIS you comingle funds. He can not have debit card till he signs in person at your bank.

Take the I 130 as the others said to Nigeria as there is one line (his name and address) that must be written in his native language

[D.Ba 85]

This could be of interest:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/462039-cost-of-lagos-wedding/

[Shauneg 762]

Do try to find out whether K-1 or CR-1 is better for Nigeria.

I seem to have read that in some countries the chances for approval of a K-1 are better than for a CR-1.

She has been thoroughly versed on what she should be doing in past postings. She's got a good plan going forward and I wish her luck.

[Socialwork4god 11]

Great advise

you can only file for the ITIN when you file tax returns in the spring / IRS form W 7

getting the ITIN is helpful as it allows you with a POA from him ( I would get him to sign one whille in Nigeria) to add to bank account showing to USCIS you comingle funds. He can not have debit card till he signs in person at your bank.

Take the I 130 as the others said to Nigeria as there is one line (his name and address) that must be written in his native language

Thank you. His native language is actually English but, perhaps he could add it in Yoruba too...haha.

[Ryan H 3,790]

***Two posts contributing nothing to the discussion removed. Either post constructively or do not post. Thread bans will be imposed for any additional non constructive posts.***

[MrsBeaver 21]

You do not need to be in Nigeria in order to petition for marriage.. I sent everything to my husband and when I arrived we married on May 22nd... We married at the Federal Registry... You will need to send his a statement saying you are single. If you are a mom they don't regard you as single... We didn't run into any problems.. my husband had to pay and I had to send him a picture (passport size) they post your picture for 21 days prior... just in case he is married... I just got married last year in Nigeria, Victoria Island.. My husband will be here in August.. good luck

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Thank you. His native language is actually English but, perhaps he could add it in Yoruba too...haha.

If your name is not in another alphabet then you would not use that section, not necessary in Yoruba.

[shilahjosh 5]

Thank you. His native language is actually English but, perhaps he could add it in Yoruba too...haha.

Hello,

Am a Nigerian (Yoruba Tribe) married to an American and I have just relocated to be with my wife here in the States recently (spent 12days in the States). There are few steps your husband will have to take which will require you both to work as a team when gathering your documents. I will try as much as i can to break things down for your both but more importantly, I will suggest that he follows trends here on visa journey, there's is no better website where you can get the informations you need than this website.

A. Marriage

To get married in Nigeria, there are just 2 marriage registry in Nigeria that are recognised by the US Embassy both in Lagos & Abuja center and that is

I. Ikoyi marriage registry, Lagos Island

II. Abuja marriage registry.

Documents Required

I. Passport Photo (2copies for the couple)

II. Both of u will need affidavit of Bachelorhood and Spinsterhood or Divorcee certificate/Letter

III. Birth certificate or age declaration for both of you

IV. You will need to pay for the marriage certificate, snapshots etc. Those guys working in the marriage registry are extortioners who want to grab anything and everything from you for financial gain, so be very tactical when dealing with them. (Tell your husband)

V. The workers at the registry will tell you to wait for 21 days to upload your pictures on the notice board, please don't mind them...they just want you to come up with good amount of money simply because they know you ain't going to stay for that much time.....

During my time, i went to the registry months before my wife arrived in Nigeria, i kick started the process and when she came, we didn't have to wait for nothing, we had our wedding 5 days after she arrived (within our own timeframe)

WARNING!!!

Please go with your own photographer or a family member who will help you cover all the scene at the registry during the ceremony and DONT depend on those photographers at the registry, they will extort you seriously if they notice that you don't have your own photographer or anyone covering your event.

B. Wedding Ceremony

On the day of the wedding, try all you can to get there very early because there will be a lot of persons there for the same reason and the registry attends to people based on "first come, first serve basis". The registry opens at 7am and the ceremonies starts at 8am, if you get there as early as 7am, you are likely to be one of the person they will attend to so you can get out of the registry early enough.....there are no comfortable seats there so you really don't want to be on a long queue.

I got there by 8am and wasn't attended to till 10:30am...my wife was really stressed out cos the sun was extremely hot that morning and she didn't find that funny.

Take a lot of pictures both with family and friends after your ceremony at the registry because you will be needing that for the interview.

B (I) Traditional Wedding

Ask your husband to tell you more about the traditional wedding rights in Nigeria according to his tribe, culture and tradition. I was asked if i had an Engagement Ceremony with my wife and the consular requested to see pictures. you might want to consider doing something like that too...its not compulsory, but i think it spoke volume during my interview. I was really nice to see an American dressed in Nigerian native attire, with friends and family all dressed up in beautiful and colorful Yoruba attire so there were little doubts that the wedding was arranged or faked to get a visa. Please note that you might need to go through the process to get good scores while your husband is been interviewed.

C. Filing A Petition

Filing a petition is where your journey starts with the USCIS and NVC after your petition has been approved. I wouldn't talk about that because there are a lot of topics here on visa journey to guide you through that process......but when it gets to the interview stage, I have posted a well detailed experience of my interview at the Lagos US Embassy, you wanna read that within your spare time....

I wish you both all the very best in your journey......Cheers

[General Buhari 46]

Hello,

Am a Nigerian (Yoruba Tribe) married to an American and I have just relocated to be with my wife here in the States recently (spent 12days in the States). There are few steps your husband will have to take which will require you both to work as a team when gathering your documents. I will try as much as i can to break things down for your both but more importantly, I will suggest that he follows trends here on visa journey, there's is no better website where you can get the informations you need than this website.

A. Marriage

To get married in Nigeria, there are just 2 marriage registry in Nigeria that are recognised by the US Embassy both in Lagos & Abuja center and that is

I. Ikoyi marriage registry, Lagos Island

II. Abuja marriage registry.

Documents Required

I. Passport Photo (2copies for the couple)

II. Both of u will need affidavit of Bachelorhood and Spinsterhood or Divorcee certificate/Letter

III. Birth certificate or age declaration for both of you

IV. You will need to pay for the marriage certificate, snapshots etc. Those guys working in the marriage registry are extortioners who want to grab anything and everything from you for financial gain, so be very tactical when dealing with them. (Tell your husband)

V. The workers at the registry will tell you to wait for 21 days to upload your pictures on the notice board, please don't mind them...they just want you to come up with good amount of money simply because they know you ain't going to stay for that much time.....

During my time, i went to the registry months before my wife arrived in Nigeria, i kick started the process and when she came, we didn't have to wait for nothing, we had our wedding 5 days after she arrived (within our own timeframe)

WARNING!!!

Please go with your own photographer or a family member who will help you cover all the scene at the registry during the ceremony and DONT depend on those photographers at the registry, they will extort you seriously if they notice that you don't have your own photographer or anyone covering your event.

B. Wedding Ceremony

On the day of the wedding, try all you can to get there very early because there will be a lot of persons there for the same reason and the registry attends to people based on "first come, first serve basis". The registry opens at 7am and the ceremonies starts at 8am, if you get there as early as 7am, you are likely to be one of the person they will attend to so you can get out of the registry early enough.....there are no comfortable seats there so you really don't want to be on a long queue.

I got there by 8am and wasn't attended to till 10:30am...my wife was really stressed out cos the sun was extremely hot that morning and she didn't find that funny.

Take a lot of pictures both with family and friends after your ceremony at the registry because you will be needing that for the interview.

B (I) Traditional Wedding

Ask your husband to tell you more about the traditional wedding rights in Nigeria according to his tribe, culture and tradition. I was asked if i had an Engagement Ceremony with my wife and the consular requested to see pictures. you might want to consider doing something like that too...its not compulsory, but i think it spoke volume during my interview. I was really nice to see an American dressed in Nigerian native attire, with friends and family all dressed up in beautiful and colorful Yoruba attire so there were little doubts that the wedding was arranged or faked to get a visa. Please note that you might need to go through the process to get good scores while your husband is been interviewed.

C. Filing A Petition

Filing a petition is where your journey starts with the USCIS and NVC after your petition has been approved. I wouldn't talk about that because there are a lot of topics here on visa journey to guide you through that process......but when it gets to the interview stage, I have posted a well detailed experience of my interview at the Lagos US Embassy, you wanna read that within your spare time....

I wish you both all the very best in your journey......Cheers

You can get married at any local registry in Nigeria, you can get your police clearance at any state police command.

The only thing you have to do in Lasgidi is the medical.