Marrying in the USA

[MatthewKenward]

Good Afternoon

My fiance and I, after the death of her father have decided to marry in the USA next March

She is a US national, I am a UK national, does anyone have any experience of this? What visas etc may I require?

All help greatly appreciated!

Matt

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by MatthewKenward

Good Afternoon

My fiance and I, after the death of her father have decided to marry in the USA next March

She is a US national, I am a UK national, does anyone have any experience of this? What visas etc may I require?

All help greatly appreciated!

Matt

Where are you intending to live straight after the marriage?

[MatthewKenward]

Originally Posted by Fatbrit

Where are you intending to live straight after the marriage?

We are coming straight back to the UK after the wedding

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by MatthewKenward

We are coming straight back to the UK after the wedding

In that case, your visa issue with US authorities is minimal. You can use the VWP provided you qualify (or the B2 if you don't) but should be prepared to document that you intend to return to the UK after your trip -- home in UK, job to go to or degree to finish, etc. Only provide this information to CBP if directly asked.

Marriage is generally a state issue, and the requirements for marrying are therefore state specific. You need to look up what they require from you at the state's official website.

I have no idea what effect marrying will have on your new wife's immigration status in the UK. You need to check whether she will require a visa to return to the UK in her new status as your wife.

[RICHNTRISH]

We got married in Florida last year (we are both from the UK) and as Fatbrit says all you need in the way of Visas is the VWP but you do have to go to the local courthouse to get the marriage license other than that its all straight forward.
Its the next 40 odd years that arn't so easy .........

[Tiffani]

Originally Posted by RICHNTRISH

Its the next 40 odd years that arn't so easy .........

Ain't that the truth! (or three years, in my case!)

[MisplacedAussie]

I got married in the USA without a visa. I'm Australian, my spouse American but we were living overseas and planned to return overseas after the wedding. Therefore I didn't get any visa.

We had return tickets. We got married in Hawaii - little wait time there - we went and got the licence when we arrived. I bought the wedding dress when I arrived so no wedding stuff in my luggage.

I left the USA on the same passport, obviously wasn't going to change the name of my passport until I got back overseas! Your wife can change her passport at the US Embassy when she returns to the UK, definitely not before!!

If you go on a holiday and during that holiday decide to get married and leave the country, I don't see why you need a visa.

[MisplacedAussie]

Originally Posted by Fatbrit

I have no idea what effect marrying will have on your new wife's immigration status in the UK. You need to check whether she will require a visa to return to the UK in her new status as your wife.

That is a good point. What does the UK re entry form ask you on return re intent to enter the UK? It wouldn't be truthful to say she was a tourist when you're now married, and she's planning to stay permanently.

My husband and I were going to a 3rd country (ie so we were both tourists), so we didn't have this issue.

[Wicket Tigger]

i have a question.. i hope someone can help me with this... my bf and i both live in New Mexico.. i ised to live in illinois... we want to get married in illinois... do i need the aproval of New Mexico that we can get married or get married here in new Mexico?? please help me

[synthia]

No, you just go to Illinois and apply for a wedding license. You don't have to be resident to get married, just to get divorced. All states recongize marriages from other jurisdicitons, since to do otherwise would mean that one could nullify a marriage just by moving across a state line.