Can You Get Married In The US If You Are Not A Citizen?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can you get married in the US if you are not a citizen?

Marriages by non-citizens are legally binding unions

. Aside from providing Social Security numbers, the requirements to get married in the U.S. are the same for both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens.

Can non-U.S. citizen get married in USA?

Can two non-citizens marry in the U.S.?

Yes, non-citizens can marry within the U.S.

Keep in mind that marriage does not change your immigration status and the marriage may not be recognized in your home country.

How can a non-U.S. citizen get married?

If both partners are not present in the United States

You can

apply for the visa with Form I-129F, “Petition for Alien Fiancé.”

The fiancé visa will enable your future spouse to come to the United States, marry you, and adjust their status.

Does getting married in the US make you a citizen?


If you remain married to and living with your U.S. husband for three years from the date of your approval for conditional residence, you can finally apply for U.S. (naturalization).

Can a tourist get married in the US?

Getting Married on a Tourist Visa


Yes, you can get married in the U.S. while on a B-1/B-2 tourist visa or a visa waiver program

. However, coming to the U.S. as a visitor with the sole purpose of getting married and then filing for adjustment of status is considered fraud.

Can I stay in the US if I marry a green card holder?


A marriage green card allows the spouse of a U.S. citizen or green card holder to live and work anywhere in the United States

. A green card holder will have “permanent resident” status until they decide — if they wish — to apply for U.S. citizenship, for which they become eligible after three years.

Can I marry a U.S. citizen if I overstay my visa?

Her visa had expired years ago. U.S. immigration law provides that

if an alien was inspected but overstayed their visa, their subsequent marriage to a United States citizen will “clean up” the overstay

. That is, the spouse of a U.S. citizen can still adjust to lawful permanent resident status despite having overstayed.

What happens if you marry someone who is not a citizen?

A U.S. citizen who wishes to marry a non-U.S. citizen or permanent resident can help their fiancé(e) obtain permanent residence in different ways. One way is to

apply for a fiancé(e) visa

if your fiancé(e) is overseas and you want to marry in the United States.

How long does it take to marry a non-U.S. citizen?

#Get a fiancé visa

Your partner can enter the U.S. on a K 1 visa, allowing you to marry in the United States within

six months

. After getting the fiancé visa, a foreign spouse will adjust your status to a green-card holder. Again, your spouse will obtain a fiancé visa in advance from a U.S. embassy or consulate.

What happens when a foreigner marries an American?


A fiancé (K-1) visa grants permission to a non-U.S. citizen who is engaged to marry a U.S. citizen to enter the United States for the purpose of getting married

. In order for your fiancé to get a K-1 visa, you will need to file a petition on Form I-129F with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

What happens if you get married while on a tourist visa?

If an individual comes to the U.S. on a visitor visa and decides to get married,

they may be allowed to apply for a green card under an adjustment of status

. This is a process in which the visa status is adjusted from visitor visa to permanent resident.

What documents do I need to get married in USA?

  • Driver's licenses or passports (government-issued photo ID)
  • Birth certificates.
  • Social Security number.
  • Divorce decree if you were previously married and are divorced.
  • Death decree if you were previously married and are widowed.

How long do you have to stay married for green card?

When you obtain a green card through marriage, it will either be a permanent renewable green card that is valid for

ten years

or a conditional two-year green card. The conditional green card is issued to applicants that have been married for less than two years at the time the green card is issued.

How long does it take to get a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen?

The current total wait time for a marriage-based green card ranges between

11 to 52 months

, depending on whether you are married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder and where you currently live (not including possible delays).

Who gets a 10 year green card?


If you got your residency through your employer or your parent or adult child or brother or sister

you will be issued the regular 10-year card. Also if you get residency through marriage and have been married more than two years at the time you are granted then you also will get the regular 10-year card.

How much does it cost to get citizenship through marriage?

Cost Of Applying For A Marriage-Based Green Card In The U.S. As of February 2021, the cost of applying for a marriage-based green card in the United States is

$1760

. However, it is important to note that these fees may be subject to change.

Can you go to jail for overstaying your visa?

You may receive a “final order of removal” should the United States government realize you are unlawfully present. This edict requires you to leave the country within 90 days of its issuing. Ignoring or defying this order can lead to even greater consequences, including fines and

up to 4 years of jail time

.

What happens if I stay more than 6 months in USA?

If you overstay by one year or more, after you depart the U.S.,

you will be barred from reentering the U.S. for ten years

. This is because unlawful presence is one of the many U.S. grounds of inadmissibility, with built-in penalties.

What is the penalty for overstaying in U.S. on a visa?

a.

The Three Year Bar

: Persons who overstay in USA for more than 180 days but less than one year after their authorized period of stay has expired, and who leave the U.S. prior to the institution of removal proceedings, are barred from reentering the U.S. for three years from their date of departure.

What documents do I need to marry a foreigner?

  • Birth certificate.
  • Marriage certificate.
  • Financial documents.
  • Proof of sponsor's U.S. citizenship or permanent residence.
  • Proof of lawful U.S. entry and status, if applicable.
  • Police clearance certificate, if applicable.

What is faster fiancé or marriage visa?

If the goal is for the couple to be together in the U.S. as soon as possible, the

K-1 visa is most likely the fast path

. From the date of filing to the date of admission to the U.S., it will take approximately 5-10 months on a K-1 fiancé visa. On the other hand, the marriage visa may take 10-16 months.

Can you get married in the US without a Social Security number?

Note:

Your Social Security card or W-2 form AND a current ID with your name and date of birth is required to get a marriage license

.

How much does it cost to get married in USA?

The average cost of a wedding in 2020 was

$20,300

, a $4,400 per-wedding decrease from the year before.

Do I lose my green card if I get divorced?


The vast majority of green card holders are mostly unaffected by a divorce

. If you are already a lawful permanent resident with a 10-year green card, renewing a green card after divorce is uneventful. You file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, to renew or replace the green card.

Can I get divorced after I get my green card?

If you already have a green card and are a permanent resident at the time of the divorce,

the divorce should not change your status

. However, the divorce may force you to wait longer to apply for naturalization. In this case, you would need to wait five years, rather than three.

What are the benefits of marrying a U.S. citizen?

  • No Annual Limit on Visas. …
  • Long Wait for Government Processing of Applications. …
  • Possibility to Adjust Status After Legal U.S. Entry. …
  • First Two Years of Residence Are Likely to Be Conditional.

What documents do I need to marry a foreigner?

  • Birth certificate.
  • Marriage certificate.
  • Financial documents.
  • Proof of sponsor's U.S. citizenship or permanent residence.
  • Proof of lawful U.S. entry and status, if applicable.
  • Police clearance certificate, if applicable.

What documents do I need to get married in America?

  • Driver's licenses or passports (government-issued photo ID)
  • Birth certificates.
  • Social Security number.
  • Divorce decree if you were previously married and are divorced.
  • Death decree if you were previously married and are widowed.

Can you go to jail for marrying an immigrant?

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.