Spousal visa, marriage occurred over internet, but then validated in person in country

[Hassan Raza 3]

Hello all, I am asking this question for someone else. He got married to his now-wife over video call. He was in Saudi Arabia and she was in the US. After this, the religious official (who was physically present in the US with the bride), wrote them a religious marriage certificate (holds no legal standing in the US to be registered as a marriage).

 

She then brought this certificate with her to Saudi Arabia when the two of them finally met. They took this certificate to the American consulate in Saudi Arabia and had it attested there and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Based on the USCIS website, it seems like this should be valid:

 

Quote

Exceptions:  Only the Saudi government is authorized to create legally-binding marriages that are valid for immigration purposes.  In the cases of third country nationals who get married outside of a Sharia Court in Saudi Arabia,  that marriage must be endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  There are MOFA offices located in most major cities.  For example, a third country national who performs his/her wedding ceremony at his/her country’s embassy in Saudi Arabia must have their wedding certificate and/or marriage contract endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will affix a small stamp with two crossed sabers and a tree on it when they endorse the document.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/SaudiArabia.html

 

The question I had was, will the USCIS still accept this document even though the marriage was done online? I know surrogate marriages are only allowed if you later show proof that you consummated the marriage but I thought that was only for fiance visas.

 

Thank you!

Edited February 27, 2022 by Hassan Raza

[JeanneAdil 6,540]

Is this a Utah zoom marriage?

If so,  it is recognized  by immigration when consummated by a visit after the marriage

and the couple do not need saudi to be a part of the process

they only need the marriage certificate from Utah

[Hassan Raza 3]

No, the Zoom marriage was done with the bride in Florida, groom in Saudi Arabia.

[Redro 4,611]

25 minutes ago, Hassan Raza said:

Hello all, I am asking this question for someone else. He got married to his now-wife over video call. He was in Saudi Arabia and she was in the US. After this, the religious official (who was physically present in the US with the bride), wrote them a religious marriage certificate (holds no legal standing in the US to be registered as a marriage).

 

She then brought this certificate with her to Saudi Arabia when the two of them finally met. They took this certificate to the American consulate in Saudi Arabia and had it attested there and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Based on the USCIS website, it seems like this should be valid:

 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/SaudiArabia.html

 

The question I had was, will the USCIS still accept this document even though the marriage was done online? I know surrogate marriages are only allowed if you later show proof that you consummated the marriage but I thought that was only for fiance visas.

 

Thank you!

If the US doesn't recognize the religious marriage certificate why do they want to submit it?

They're probably too married for a K1 now and not married enough for IR1/CR1. 

They should marry in Saudi or get married via Utah (and if they marry via Utah make sure the wife visits Saudi after they marry online).

Then they can file an I-130. 

[Hassan Raza 3]

In this case, they did exactly that. Consummated the marriage after a visit. But, the Zoom wedding was done in Florida. But the US consulate in Saudi Arabia AND the Ministry of Foreign Affairs DID attest and stamp the document. So is this enough? Or will they run into issues w/ USCIS for doing the marriage over Zoom?

[iwannaplay54 985]

It will be accepted.  Amazing they caught someone actually in an office at the ministry 😂

[Hassan Raza 3]

Just now, Kor2USA said:

If the US doesn't recognize the religious marriage certificate why do they want to submit it?

They're probably too married for a K1 now and not married enough for IR1/CR1. 

They should marry in Saudi or get married via Utah (and if they marry via Utah make sure the wife visits Saudi after they marry online).

Then they can file an I-130. 

They tried to get married in Saudi Arabia but reportedly it was too much of a hassle, where the brother of the bride had to be present or something but couldn't. So that's why they were trying to attest their Zoom marriage certificate in Saudi Arabia which they successfully did.

 

They are now considering flying to Pakistan to get married over there because they're having difficulty getting married in Saudi Arabia.

[Hassan Raza 3]

1 minute ago, iwannaplay54 said:

It will be accepted.  Amazing they caught someone actually in an office at the ministry 😂

Ok, but would it be OK to mention to USCIS that the marriage was done over Zoom originally?

[Redro 4,611]

5 minutes ago, Hassan Raza said:

They tried to get married in Saudi Arabia but reportedly it was too much of a hassle, where the brother of the bride had to be present or something but couldn't. So that's why they were trying to attest their Zoom marriage certificate in Saudi Arabia which they successfully did.

 

They are now considering flying to Pakistan to get married over there because they're having difficulty getting married in Saudi Arabia.

Who issued the marriage certificate? Was it a county in Florida? An official in Saudi, a religious institution ???

 

If they are together in Saudi right now they should research Utah marriage online.

Edited February 27, 2022 by Kor2USA

[iwannaplay54 985]

3 minutes ago, Kor2USA said:

Who issued the marriage certificate? Was it a county in Florida? An official in Saudi or ???

 

If they are together in Saudi right now they should research Utah marriage online.

Sounds like a religious wedding held not legally by zoom in Florida

5 minutes ago, Hassan Raza said:

Ok, but would it be OK to mention to USCIS that the marriage was done over Zoom originally?

Oops Florida doesn’t recognize zoom marriages

No matter how many stamps on the document USCIS won’t accept a marriage that was not legalized in the state it was held.

Seems they wasted their time, they’re not actually married.  Oops

 

 

”Tales of the Green Card” material 

Edited February 27, 2022 by iwannaplay54

[Redro 4,611]

1 minute ago, iwannaplay54 said:

Sounds like a religious wedding held not legally by zoom in Florida

Oops Florida doesn’t recognize zoom marriages

No matter how many stamps on the document USCIS won’t accept a marriage that was not legalized in the state it was held.

Seems they wasted their time, they’re not actually married.  Oops

Zoom is red herring then... correct?

Doesn't matter if they got married via Zoom or in person.

If it's a religious marriage and not recognized by the US it doesn't count as a legal marriage?

[iwannaplay54 985]

3 minutes ago, Kor2USA said:

Zoom is red herring then... correct?

Doesn't matter if they got married via Zoom or in person.

If it's a religious marriage and not recognized by the US it doesn't count as a legal marriage?

They are recognized in the US if they are legal in the states they take place in.  They are not legal in Florida.

 

Guess they’re playing house, they’re not married in the eyes of USCIS

 

hmmmm Spent 8 years in Saudi.  Playing house isn’t legal there either.  Interesting situation.

Edited February 27, 2022 by iwannaplay54

[iwannaplay54 985]

13 minutes ago, Hassan Raza said:

They tried to get married in Saudi Arabia but reportedly it was too much of a hassle, where the brother of the bride had to be present or something but couldn't. So that's why they were trying to attest their Zoom marriage certificate in Saudi Arabia which they successfully did.

 

They are now considering flying to Pakistan to get married over there because they're having difficulty getting married in Saudi Arabia.

Why is it so difficult to get married in Saudi Arabia anyway?

[iwannaplay54 985]

47 minutes ago, Hassan Raza said:

Hello all, I am asking this question for someone else. He got married to his now-wife over video call. He was in Saudi Arabia and she was in the US. After this, the religious official (who was physically present in the US with the bride), wrote them a religious marriage certificate (holds no legal standing in the US to be registered as a marriage).

 

She then brought this certificate with her to Saudi Arabia when the two of them finally met. They took this certificate to the American consulate in Saudi Arabia and had it attested there and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Based on the USCIS website, it seems like this should be valid:

 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/SaudiArabia.html

 

The question I had was, will the USCIS still accept this document even though the marriage was done online? I know surrogate marriages are only allowed if you later show proof that you consummated the marriage but I thought that was only for fiance visas.

 

Thank you!

Saudi Arabia cannot endorse a marriage in Florida.

[iwannaplay54 985]

@Crazy Cat