Marriage Requirements

[Emmylou151 44]

Good afternoon all.

Whilst I am far from AOS stage yet, I am trying to clue up.

I have search on the forum and can't find an answer I need, I am wondering if any USC's or current AOS filers can help?

In the UK, you have to APPLY and have approval before you can legally get married.

Our plans for marriage when I am in the US is to have my fiancés Aunt (who can legally marry people) do this for us, but I was wondering if there was anything I needed to do prior to actually getting married? and if we used her, when would we get a marriage cert?

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

The aunt would need to file your marriage details with the county clerk, who would issue the official marriage cert used for immigration. How long that takes and whether anything else is needed will depend on the state, and sometimes even county, you get married in. Your aunt probably knows more about local details than anyone here

[Emmylou151 44]

The aunt would need to file your marriage details with the county clerk, who would issue the official marriage cert used for immigration. How long that takes and whether anything else is needed will depend on the state, and sometimes even county, you get married in. Your aunt probably knows more about local details than anyone here

Thank you! Everything feels so complicated... I'm becoming overwhelmed!

[Emmylou151 44]

Which leads me to my next question, do you need copy of marriage cert when you apply for AOS? I assume so!

[mallafri76 1,012]

You go to the county clerk to have a marriage license issued. You then bring the marriage license to the person performing your marriage ceremony, he or she will sign and date it and then send it to the county clerk. The county clerk's office will also sign and date the form, enter it into their system and send you the official marriage cert.

And yes, when you do AOS, you need to send a copy of the marriage cert to prove that you're now married.

Edit: We have the same in Sweden, that you have to get "approval" before getting married. As far as I know, they don't have that in the US. My husband and I got married in Texas. We had to answer a few questions stating that we were not presently married to anyone and that we were free to get married, that was basically it.

Edited January 12, 2016 by mallafri76

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

Yep!

Our Guides here will help you wiht what exactly is needed; http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

[Emmylou151 44]

You go to the county clerk to have a marriage license issued. You then bring the marriage license to the person performing your marriage ceremony, he or she will sign and date it and then send it to the county clerk. The county clerk's office will also sign and date the form, enter it into their system and send you the official marriage cert.

And yes, when you do AOS, you need to send a copy of the marriage cert to prove that you're now married.

Edit: We have the same in Sweden, that you have to get "approval" before getting married. As far as I know, they don't have that in the US. My husband and I got married in Texas. We had to answer a few questions stating that we were not presently married to anyone and that we were free to get married, that was basically it.

Ahh ok.. I get that.

Basically, get a marriage licence before wedding - could his aunt who is marrying us get that from the clerk?

[yuna628 9,532]

Ahh ok.. I get that.

Basically, get a marriage licence before wedding - could his aunt who is marrying us get that from the clerk?

Most states (not all) pretty much work like this: you and your fiancé go to the clerk of the court in whatever county you wish to marry in. You fill out a form and the clerk has you swear an oath to tell the truth, and confirms everything with you. Once done and you pay the fee they will hand you a packet with your marriage license and instructions. In my state there was also a form copy for the minister to fill out. Once you are married, the minister or officiant will fill out the license and form if given and return it to the clerk of the court directly, or sometimes the couple can return it directly. Within a few days you go back to the clerk and ask for your certified copy of a marriage license for a fee. This will have the details and probably some sort of state seal. Make sure you get a bunch of copies, as you'll need them for lots of things -- including for AOS.

If you know the state and county that you wish to marry in, google the clerk of the court's website for that county and see what their requirements are. You can also generally phone them. Each usually has different requirements.

Edited January 12, 2016 by yuna628

[Dashinka 23,301]

The aunt would need to file your marriage details with the county clerk, who would issue the official marriage cert used for immigration. How long that takes and whether anything else is needed will depend on the state, and sometimes even county, you get married in. Your aunt probably knows more about local details than anyone here

We had our friend marry us then we hand carried the package to the county clerk's office ourselves. We walked out with ten certified copies within ten minutes.

Good Luck!

Ahh ok.. I get that.

Basically, get a marriage licence before wedding - could his aunt who is marrying us get that from the clerk?

You and your fiancé have to go initially for the license.

Good Luck!

[andy78 178]

Ahh ok.. I get that.

Basically, get a marriage licence before wedding - could his aunt who is marrying us get that from the clerk?

The two of you need to go to the county to fill and and answer all the questions on the forms and sign so that the marriage license can be approved and issued.

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Moved from Fam.-based AOS to Moving to the US and Your New Life in America Forum~

~Similar topics are discussed at this forum~

[TBoneTX 43,247]

we hand carried the package to the county clerk's office ourselves. We walked out with ten certified copies within ten minutes.

We did this, but got "only" 7 certified copies of our marriage certificate. We ended up using 5.

Edited January 13, 2016 by TBoneTX

[Emmylou151 44]

Thank you all! I am of understanding now - and thanks for the advice ref getting more than one.. I will certainly be doing that!!! massive help!

[JFH 12,189]

We had to have three seasons of counselling before we could marry. Some places require this.

[Emmylou151 44]

We had to have three seasons of counselling before we could marry. Some places require this.

What does that even mean?!