QUESTION ABOUT A CIVIL WEDDING

[Vann 0]

Hey, all! My fiance and I, due to budgetary constraints, are unable to have a ceremony for some months. However, my fiance is flying in on January 18 this new year. Her K1 visa expires this March. We need to have a simple civil ceremony in our courthouse in January when she comes.

I have a few questions, however.

Are there any special requirements or documents for such a marriage since my fiance is from the Philippines?

Also, do we have to set an appointment to be married by the judge or can we do it on a same day basis?

How exactly does this process go, if I may ask? Do we simply fill out our forms the day we walk in and are we considered to be married on that very day? Also, where would we file our marriage license info to after our marriage to let the government know that we were married before the visa expiration deadline?

Thanks!

[Arnt 0]

I don't know about special requirements for people from the philipines, but I don't think there are any. The process as such might vary from state to state. I recommend a search on the web for "marriage license" and your local county name, or just go to the local town hall. You will probably find an offical website with information about where you can marry and what documents you have to bring. In California all we had to do is show up at the County Clerk Recorder's office with photo ID, pay the fee and we had the license. With that license you can then enter the ceremony with e.g. a judge or maybe the city offers that service too. Getting the license and getting married are too different things, not sure if you can do it on the same day.

After your wedding, the only way to let the government know that you married is to file for AOS (form I-485)

Don't worry, compared to filing for a K visa getting the license should be a piece of cake (at least in CA).

Hey, all! My fiance and I, due to budgetary constraints, are unable to have a ceremony for some months. However, my fiance is flying in on January 18 this new year. Her K1 visa expires this March. We need to have a simple civil ceremony in our courthouse in January when she comes.

I have a few questions, however.

Are there any special requirements or documents for such a marriage since my fiance is from the Philippines?

Also, do we have to set an appointment to be married by the judge or can we do it on a same day basis?

How exactly does this process go, if I may ask? Do we simply fill out our forms the day we walk in and are we considered to be married on that very day? Also, where would we file our marriage license info to after our marriage to let the government know that we were married before the visa expiration deadline?

Thanks!

[reeses16 8]

You should call your clerk of courts office and speak to someone there. They will give you the most accurate info. In Louisiana, we both needed a social security number (SSN) and proof of being over the age of 18. My then fiance didn't have a SSN and we wanted to get married that same day (in Louisiana you there is a waiting period.) So we went to the on duty judge's office to get a waiver for him not having a SSN and to waive the waiting period. It took 5 minutes to get the approvals. The license was issued, we got married, and got the certified copies the same day.

[MightyAtom 0]

This is good to know. We will probably be doing the same thing, until we can get the money saved up for the "real" wedding.

[Dan J 277]

What you need to do depends on the state you live in. Look at your state or county's website regarding marriage licenses.

[Vann 0]

Thanks for the info, guys! It's great to know that I'm not alone in this civil wedding decision. My plan, too, is to do the civil stuff first and save the ceremony for later. I mean--there is a time factor and we all must worry about getting the license before that visa expires.

I must admit--I felt guilty at first having to do this civil ceremony first, almost as if I was cheating my fiance out of a great thing...but, then I realized that it's all about the love. That's all that counts in the end. Besides, it's not as if we had a choice in this matter--we need to marry and fast. The ceremony can wait until later. We actually plan a nice little ceremony in May in my parent's yard--a nice yard ceremony at night, like my fiance and I dreamed of.

Thanks for your help, guys, and please send your prayers our way!

I have a busy couple of months ahead: My fiance is flying in on January 18th by herself. I already purchased her a one-way plane ticket in her name from Vayama.com for northwest airlines. In the next few weeks I must send her money for travelling, airport taxes, food money, etc. On top of that, I am moving out of my parent's house next month and into my first apartment, which I plan to have ready before my fiance even arrives. Then, the courthouse wedding and honeymoon. Needless to say, I'm very nervous and excited at the same time, LOL!

Anyone have some advice on pre-wedding jitters? Heh! Heh!