Can I Get Married In US On A Tourist Visa?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can I get married in US on a tourist visa? The short answer to this complex question is

yes, you can get married to someone who has entered the U.S. on a visitor visa

. Generally, anyone from a foreign country enters the U.S. with a visa. The type of visa they are granted is based on the intent of their visit.

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Can someone with a tourist visa 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 non US citizens get married in the US?

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.

Can I marry a permanent resident on a tourist visa?

How to Get a Green Card If You’re On a Visitor Visa. If you’re visiting the United States for business or pleasure on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa and you recently married a U.S. citizen or green card holder (permanent resident),

you can apply for a marriage visa to live with your spouse in the United States

.

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.

Can I stay in US while waiting for marriage green card?

In most cases, spouses who are eligible to adjust status prefer to do so.

It allows the foreign spouse to stay in the United States while waiting for the marriage green card

.

What do I need to do to marry a non U.S. citizen?

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.

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.

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.

Can you apply for a green card while on a tourist visa?


You can apply for a green card to become a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. while you’re visiting on a tourist visa if you meet certain specific requirements

, discussed in more detail below.

Can I visit my fiancé in US while waiting for K-1 visa?

Can my fiancé visit me in the US while waiting for a K-1 fiancé visa?

Yes – your fiancé may visit the US, so long as they have a valid B-1/B-2 visa or ESTA

. However, your fiancé should expect more scrutiny at the border.

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).

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.

How long can I stay in USA with tourist visa?

When you enter the U.S., a customs officer will give you authorization to stay in the U.S. for

up to six months

. If you’d like to stay for longer, you may be able to apply to extend this for up to one year.

Can you be deported if you are married to a permanent resident?

Can Green Card Marriage Citizens be Deported? Can you be deported if you are married to an American citizen? The answer is

yes, you can

. About 10% of all the people who get deported from the U.S. every year are lawful permanent residents.

How long does marriage visa take USA?

Visa processing usually takes around

3-5 months

. If you are a permanent resident, you must wait for a visa to become available for your spouse, based on their priority date. This can vary depending on the spouse’s home country, but the typical time is around 24 months.

Can I get married on a tourist visa to a U.S. citizen 2019?

Can I Marry A US Citizen on A Tourist Visa? The short answer is:

yes, you can get married in the US while on a B-1/B-2 tourist visa or on a visa waiver program

. There is nothing in the regulations that say individuals who are in the US as visitors cannot get married.

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).

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.

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

.

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.

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.

Can I convert my tourist visa to work visa in USA?

The answer is

yes, you can

, but should you? A change of status means a change in your intention. For example, when you obtain a visa and enter the USA, you would have expressed to the US government your intention of a brief visit. The change in such intention can be construed to be deliberate and preconceived.

How can I change my tourist visa status to permanent resident?


File Form I-485

If you are applying to adjust your status to lawful permanent resident under section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), you must complete both Form I‐485 and Form I-485 Supplement A, Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i).

What is the easiest way to bring my fiancé to USA?

If you are a U.S. citizen, you may bring your fiancé(e) to the United States to marry and live here, with

a nonimmigrant visa for a fiancé(e) (K-1)

. An I-129F fiancé(e) petition is required.

Can you apply for a fiancé visa while on a tourist visa?

So, can a U.S. citizen file a K-1 fiance(e) visa petition while the foreign national fiance(e) is still in the United States?

Yes, generally speaking, the K-1 visa application can be filed by the U.S. citizen while the foreign national fiance(e) is in the United States on a visit.

What happens if you don’t marry a fiancé visa?

Consequences of Overstaying Your K-1 Visa

We have to clarify that if the immigrant fiancé stays in the U.S. more than 6 months after the visa expires without getting married,

the immigrant fiancé could be banned from entering the United States again for up to 10 years

.

Can I apply for green card immediately after marriage?


You can start the process to obtain a green card immediately after you have evidence of a bona fide marriage

. Yes, you will definitely need a photocopy of your marriage certificate. But you’ll also need to prove that you have a genuine marriage.

Can you become a U.S. citizen by marriage?

How much does it cost to get a green card 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. Here’s a break down of the filing fee for a U.S. based applicant.

Do fiancé visas get denied?

According to those statistics,

approximately 20,000 K-1 fiancées/fiancés every year are denied visas when they go to their interviews at the embassy

. This is nearly 40% of the total number of K-1 visa applicants. And while eventually many of them are able to overcome the initial denial, some do not.

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

Can I marry my foreign girlfriend in the US?

Is It Legal to Marry a Non-U.S. Citizen?

Yes, you can marry anyone you like, unless it happens to violate local laws

. Some U.S. states, for example, don’t recognize a marriage between close family members or people under a certain age. But such situations are rare.

What happens when a foreigner marries an American?


Your spouse can become a lawful permanent resident through “adjustment of status,” where they will change their temporary visa to a green card

. First, you and your immigrant spouse will need to get married and register your marriage with the state or county officials where your wedding took place.

Can you apply for a green card while on a tourist visa?


You can apply for a green card to become a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. while you’re visiting on a tourist visa if you meet certain specific requirements

, discussed in more detail below.

Can you go to jail for marrying an immigrant?

The text of the law is very clear. Any person, whether a citizen or a non-citizen, who intentionally commits marriage fraud for immigration purposes faces

up to five years in prison

as well as a $250,000 fine.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.