Holding the ceremony outside of the USA?

[Hybrid 0]

I never wanted my first post to be such a simple yes or no question. I don't want to waste anyone's time here but I can't seem to

find an answer to my specific question. If someone could direct me or answer the question for me that would be great.

If I enter the USA on my K1 visa to marry my sweetie can we leave the country to get married? What does the law say about us getting married in, lets say, the Bahamas? Will we have to then go through some sort of extended K3 process or file form I130? And would this count as the one departure/entry from the US because we had to leave to get married?

I apologize if I'm being unclear but I'm looking for some information. We want our perfect tropical wedding, and we want it in the Bahamas but we don't want to wait to be together afterwards.

And does Puerto Rico count as international travel if its a US territory?

[raymaga 26]

With a K-1 Visa, you MUST marry in the U.S. If you want to marry outside the U.S., you will have to apply for a K-3 visa after the wedding and go through the whole process all over again.

After marriage in the U.S. with a K-1 Visa, you will not be permitted to leave the U.S. and re-enter, without first obtaining either AP (Advance Parole with Form I-131) or AOS (Adjustment of Status with Form I-485).

If you want to marry outside the U.S., but want to enter the U.S. with a K-1 Visa, you can have a simple civil ceremony in the U.S., and then plan the big tropical wedding outside of the U.S. for afterwards, when you have obtained either AP or AOS (Green Card).

[randolady 1]

The K1 visa is a single-entry visa, so you wouldn't be able to get back into the States after getting married in the Bahamas.

I would suggest getting married at a courthouse first, apply to adjust status, and then apply for that waiver that lets you travel outside the States while you're waiting for your adjustment of status case to be processed.

[jpine 0]

you can travel to PR and re enter the continental US

[msu17 0]

Another idea (we were considering doing the caribean as well for a bit) would be file for the K1 etc. Meet your fiance in the bahamas once the K1 is approved and have a NON-LEGAL ceremony (not sure on the rules down there, so check) and make sure that immigration does not think you are legally married upon entry. After the NON-LEGAL ceremony, enter the US with your fiance on the K1 and then have a quick courthouse ceremony.

[Hybrid 0]

you can travel to PR and re enter the continental US

Brilliant replies on this board. I appreciate the information. Very intuitive.

So if I enter the USA and we both fly to Puerto Rico to get married will that count as an official USA marriage?

Technically its all the same country, isn't it?

[Yodrak 8]

esjessi,

Point of clarification: "that waiver" is not a waiver, it's Advance Parole.

Yodrak

The K1 visa is a single-entry visa, so you wouldn't be able to get back into the States after getting married in the Bahamas.

I would suggest getting married at a courthouse first, apply to adjust status, and then apply for that waiver that lets you travel outside the States while you're waiting for your adjustment of status case to be processed.

[meauxna 15]

We want our perfect tropical wedding, and we want it in the Bahamas but we don't want to wait to be together afterwards.

And does Puerto Rico count as international travel if its a US territory?

Bahamas = no no

But there are a lot of tropical US destinations. And don't forget, tropics = bugs.

[jpine 0]

100% correct

you can travel to PR and re enter the continental US

Brilliant replies on this board. I appreciate the information. Very intuitive.

So if I enter the USA and we both fly to Puerto Rico to get married will that count as an official USA marriage?

Technically its all the same country, isn't it?

[YuAndDan 153]

NO

K-1 is a 1 time visa, you enter the USA and then it is used, if you leave before marriage you will need to apply for another K-1, or if you marry out of country, you will need to start over and apply for a K-3, or CR-1 Spousal visa in order to re-enter the USA.

Puerto Rico is a US territory and is considered to be domestic travel.

FAQ: 5.12)...Is it okay for us to go to the US Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico on our honeymoon without Advance Parole?

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-enter.html#5.12

Edited April 25, 2007 by YuAndDan

[Hybrid 0]

Puerto Rico is a US territory and is considered to be domestic travel.

FAQ: 5.12)...Is it okay for us to go to the US Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico on our honeymoon without Advance Parole?

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-enter.html#5.12

Beautiful. I appreciate the followup on that one. So our PR or VI ceremony will be legal for this which is perfect. This forum is great.

[patiently_waiting 0]

With a K-1 Visa, you MUST marry in the U.S. If you want to marry outside the U.S., you will have to apply for a K-3 visa after the wedding and go through the whole process all over again.

After marriage in the U.S. with a K-1 Visa, you will not be permitted to leave the U.S. and re-enter, without first obtaining either AP (Advance Parole with Form I-131) or AOS (Adjustment of Status with Form I-485).

If you want to marry outside the U.S., but want to enter the U.S. with a K-1 Visa, you can have a simple civil ceremony in the U.S., and then plan the big tropical wedding outside of the U.S. for afterwards, when you have obtained either AP or AOS (Green Card).

Ditto that.

[Duke 0]

There seems to be a false assumption prevelant. The US Government does not automatically recognize all foreign marriages. Foreign marriages have to conform to certain guidelines, and a specific process has to be followed, to be regognized in the USA. In the absence of such, the marriage does not exist under US law. And if the foreign marriage is not legally recorded with the foreign government, then the marriage definitely doesn't exist under US law. And if the marriage doesn't exist, then one can legally enter the US on a K1 Visa (as my wife/fiance did last week.)

Another consideration is that many countries have residency requirements in order to legally marry. For example, the UK has a 14-day residency requirement. So, in order to legally record a marriage in a foreign country (and begin the process of having it recognized in the USA,) you must meet that country's residency requirement.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

All moot if the CBP officer thinks you are married at POE and say "Sorry your K1 is invalid because I belive you are already married and you can not show me any evidence to show you are not" You will find yourself on the next flight back to where you came from....

Why risk it ?????

Kez

[rebeccajo 14]

Key West would be groovy.