To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=72443
14 messages

Marrying in America

14 Aug 04 - 03:13 PM (#1247671)
Subject: Marrying in America
From: GUEST,Guest

I am a UK citizen and will be getting married in October to an American in the States.

I'm having problems getting any information from the US Embassy as to whether there are any measures I need to take to ensure that I don't end up in a bureaucratic mess afterwards.

Do I need to get any sort of official sanction from immigration before I go to the States? Has anyone on the forum been through the necessary procedures and knows the ropes?

Any help would be appreciated.


14 Aug 04 - 03:49 PM (#1247689)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: mg

have your intended line up an immigration lawyer. there are all sorts of obstacles especially now. Start working on this now. mg


14 Aug 04 - 03:59 PM (#1247696)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: maggiethecat

Go to Google.com, and type in "marrying a US citizen". You'll find lots of info.

It will mean filling out a lot of forms. I think getting married outside of the US is easier, but I might be wrong. It used to be that way. Good luck!

(I agree, an immigration lawyer isn't a bad idea)


14 Aug 04 - 04:03 PM (#1247698)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: Amergin

You have to come to the us on a visa. Then you have to apply for permanent residency and a work permit...and your intended has to make enough to sponsor you. If you marry outside the us and then try to come over you will still need a visa ...and then apply for perm residence...otherwise they'll ship you back.


14 Aug 04 - 07:00 PM (#1247764)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: Richard Bridge

If you are male and marrying in a community of property state, I recommend a pre-nuptial agreement.


14 Aug 04 - 07:01 PM (#1247767)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: Amos

Here is a page of links -- some more germane than others.

Click here.

A


14 Aug 04 - 07:24 PM (#1247774)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: Clinton Hammond

I know a friend of ours is marrying an American in the next few weeks... And moving there to do it... and once she goes over, there's something about she can't LEAVE the USA for a period of 3 or 6 months....

Unless I misunderstood....


14 Aug 04 - 07:48 PM (#1247789)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: CarolC

Re: what CH just said... if you're here legally, but you don't have a green card, you will need something that the Dept of Homeland Security (formerly the INS - Immigration and Naturalization Service) calls an "advance parole". That is the document that will allow you to reenter the US if you have left the country. It does take a few months to get the advance parole, and that is probably why Clinton's friend can't leave for three to six months.

We've been using an immigration attorney for JtS, and it's been a very complicated process even with the attorney.

On the subject of prenuptual agreements... I believe that a court of law will enforce state laws over a prenup.


15 Aug 04 - 02:51 AM (#1247888)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: GUEST

You will have to deal with a bureaucratic mess.

It's only worth it if you're sure it's true love.

Or if you're really, really desperate to live in the USA.


15 Aug 04 - 06:21 AM (#1247940)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: kendall

If she marrys in October, then wants to visit the UK at New years or some other holiday how would the bureaucrats know she left the country?


15 Aug 04 - 11:46 AM (#1248037)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: SINSULL

From this website, it appears that your passport is stamped as a single entry VISA. You can leave but not get back in.

http://www.shusterman.com/marriage.html

The throbbing heart alone would lead me to eliminate this particular lawyer from my "A" list but the information is good.


15 Aug 04 - 04:48 PM (#1248155)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: Bert

The easy way is to keep everything legal. Get a visa before coming to the US. Apply for a work permit after you are married, or do as I did and apply for citizenship.


15 Aug 04 - 06:59 PM (#1248235)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: Alaska Mike

Congratulations Guest. I don't have any answers to your questions, just wanted to wish you a long and happy life together.

Best wishes,
Mike


15 Aug 04 - 07:59 PM (#1248256)
Subject: RE: Marrying in America
From: Amergin

also check out the ins website..click here