Blog / Marrying Someone From Another Country

Marrying Someone From Another Country

By Lovelife | Posted January 2, 2023

US Citizens

If you are a US citizen, you must decide if you want to get married in the USA or abroad.

If you decide to get married in the US, your partner must come over on a K-1 visa (also known as a fiancé visa), then you can get married wherever you decide, as long as the jurisdiction doesn’t have residency restrictions. With this visa, you must prove you have met within the past 6 months and how long you have been together.

Another option is to travel to your partner’s home country to get married. This can be daunting, depending on the specific country’s laws; some require bloodwork, family history of health, proof of assets, and more.

One popular new option is to get married online through a virtual wedding, whether you are physically together or not. This avoids many foreign government laws and travel, which simplifies the process

Non-US Citizens

If you are not a US citizen, you have the same options as US citizens, just relating to your home country:

bring your partner over and get married in your home country, or
travel to any other country to legally get married, or
get married online.

If you are in a country outside the US, it depends on your country’s laws.

For example, Canada requires you to sponsor the immigrating foreign spouse and use your marriage certificate to authenticate and validate your relationship.

Every country has different laws and rules for immigration, so be sure to check your country’s laws to know what to expect

Once you get married, you can apply for a spousal visa through your embassy or consulate. Consular processing allows someone from another country to obtain a visa in order to enter the new country legally.

With a US citizen, you will file an I-130 petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once approved, the non-US citizen, or foreign national, will apply for a visa through a Form DS-160 (also called the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application) at a US consulate or embassy.

This is a lot of legal wording, but it’s how you can get a green card when you enter the US.

Laws sometimes can be tough to navigate. You can always hire an immigration company or attorney to help you navigate the government laws and processes; this can alleviate a lot of pain and heartache.

Female couple getting married in online wedding

The digital age of online weddings.

An online wedding is a real wedding ceremony that takes place over the Internet, usually via video conferencing technology such as Zoom.

Couples can exchange vows and rings, have witnesses to legalize the marriage, and even personalize their ceremony with music, speeches, and all the beautiful things a person can dream up.

Get married in ten minutes or a full length traditional wedding! The digital age has arrived.

Easier to wed internationally.

International weddings have become easier, too. Virtual weddings have made it legal to get married online to someone in another country, regardless of nationality.

There are a few important things to consider before taking this step and legal requirements do still exist:

You need to make sure the marriage is legally recognized in both countries. This means that you will need to research the laws of both countries and ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed correctly. Currently, the United States, and most countries, legally allow and recognize virtual marriages. This is because online wedding certificates are the exact same as in-person marriage certificates; this makes it similar to a destination wedding.
It's important to note that online weddings are deemed as civil weddings; therefore, not recognized by all countries or religions. Be sure to check with your local government or religious institution before proceeding with an online wedding ceremony.

Not only is a virtual wedding ceremony more robust in length and substance without the time pressures, it's easy to expand your guest list and invite people without any logistical or travel concerns. Even grandparents across the country—who may have limited mobility—can log in and participate.

Anyone with an Internet connection can join in your celebration.

If you livestream the event on YouTube, Facebook, or another digital platform, you might even be surprised by how many people end up watching your ceremony. You create something people can engage with and partake in in a way that truly is unique.

Getting married internationally has never been easier!

Getting married is the first step of starting a life together, and if the first thing you’re going to do is let someone else's tradition or your circumstances dictate your plans, look for a new perspective.

With the array of different ways to get married to your partner from another country, you may find exactly what you're looking for to celebrate your marriage with a wedding ceremony you'll love as much as you love your soon-to-be husband or wife.

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Marrying Someone From Another Country

FIRST QUESTIONS FIRST:

Can you marry someone from another country? Where will you get married, and is it legal so you can be together?

So, what are the options?

US Citizens

Non-US Citizens

Are online weddings legal for international couples?

The digital age of online weddings.

Easier to wed internationally.

Benefits of an online wedding.

Getting married internationally has never been easier!

By Matt Weirich