Registering Marriage in Egypt

[polarbear 0]

My husband and I were K-1 so my question is how would we get our marriage here registered in Egypt?

My husband said we would both have to show up at the embassy or the offices in Cairo to do so.

Our Embassy is in Washington DC and it would be quite a trip to go up there. Going to Egypt isn't going to happen for at least another year which is when he plans on doing this (he's a bigtime procrastinator to start )

Would we have to get married all over again there? Ick, I hate those legal and gov. offices over there and it's not my ideal to spend a week of my next trip trying to deal with this

I wouldn't really care that much since we are legally and Islmically married here, but what happens when we want to travel in Egypt? We wouldn't be able to stay in hotels together, ect... Would it make things difficult if I got pregnant and wanted dual citizenship for my child? Is his exended family going to say it's not ligit and anyway he can have 3 wifes and still try to pressure him into marrying an Egyptian to keep his ties over there?

It just seems like we should register the marriage before it causes problems over there - but maby I'm just being parinoid

[~~~water~~~ 0]

My husband and I were K-1 so my question is how would we get our marriage here registered in Egypt?

My husband said we would both have to show up at the embassy or the offices in Cairo to do so.

Our Embassy is in Washington DC and it would be quite a trip to go up there. Going to Egypt isn't going to happen for at least another year which is when he plans on doing this (he's a bigtime procrastinator to start )

Would we have to get married all over again there? Ick, I hate those legal and gov. offices over there and it's not my ideal to spend a week of my next trip trying to deal with this

I wouldn't really care that much since we are legally and Islmically married here, but what happens when we want to travel in Egypt? We wouldn't be able to stay in hotels together, ect... Would it make things difficult if I got pregnant and wanted dual citizenship for my child? Is his exended family going to say it's not ligit and anyway he can have 3 wifes and still try to pressure him into marrying an Egyptian to keep his ties over there?

It just seems like we should register the marriage before it causes problems over there - but maby I'm just being parinoid

contact the consulate in DC perhaps they can do it through the mail

[Nothing1234 2]

My husband and I were K-1 so my question is how would we get our marriage here registered in Egypt?

My husband said we would both have to show up at the embassy or the offices in Cairo to do so.

Our Embassy is in Washington DC and it would be quite a trip to go up there. Going to Egypt isn't going to happen for at least another year which is when he plans on doing this (he's a bigtime procrastinator to start )

Would we have to get married all over again there? Ick, I hate those legal and gov. offices over there and it's not my ideal to spend a week of my next trip trying to deal with this

I wouldn't really care that much since we are legally and Islmically married here, but what happens when we want to travel in Egypt? We wouldn't be able to stay in hotels together, ect... Would it make things difficult if I got pregnant and wanted dual citizenship for my child? Is his exended family going to say it's not ligit and anyway he can have 3 wifes and still try to pressure him into marrying an Egyptian to keep his ties over there?

It just seems like we should register the marriage before it causes problems over there - but maby I'm just being parinoid

Call the Egyptian Embassy here in DC and ask them how you can register the marriage. As for children....our babies were born here...we are NOT registered in Egypt as married only here and we are in the process of getting their Egyptian Birth Certificates and processing their dual citizenship. It's not a big deal. As long as he's on the birth certificate in the US there are no issues. We have plans to marry in Egypt one day so that his family can attend but they know we are married here and are fine w/ that.

As for the marriage thing (more wives)...and family pushing him...well even if you were married in Egypt, they can still push it...however, its all up to him to make those decisions, not them. How does he feel about it? My hubby has the opinion that he's lucky he can survive w/ one wife...what the heck would he do if there were more of ME? haha

[Nagishkaw 510]

http://www.egyptembassy.net/contactus.cfm

[Nothing1234 2]

They might ask to speak w/ your husband...since a few people we needed to speak w/ only spoke Arabic in the DC office.

[polarbear 0]

As for the marriage thing (more wives)...and family pushing him...well even if you were married in Egypt, they can still push it...however, its all up to him to make those decisions, not them. How does he feel about it? My hubby has the opinion that he's lucky he can survive w/ one wife...what the heck would he do if there were more of ME? haha

It's a secret concern of mine since marriage to multiple wives is possible over there and his family pushed him so hard last year before they knew about me. I guess not being legally married over there feeds this fear in a way. That and he's been gone so long ect...

So far as we have discussed it, he feels pretty much like your husband

His family is just such a strong pulling force there that I guess I want to make sure I have my rights to him as well in the eyes of Egypt ... or some such silly notion

They might ask to speak w/ your husband...since a few people we needed to speak w/ only spoke Arabic in the DC office.

Hubby is a large procrastinator when it comes to dealing with legal or sensitive issues But I might ask him to call if he ever has a day off, it's not important enough to push him.

Thanks for the responses and thanks for the link Nagi

[Nothing1234 2]

As for the marriage thing (more wives)...and family pushing him...well even if you were married in Egypt, they can still push it...however, its all up to him to make those decisions, not them. How does he feel about it? My hubby has the opinion that he's lucky he can survive w/ one wife...what the heck would he do if there were more of ME? haha

It's a secret concern of mine since marriage to multiple wives is possible over there and his family pushed him so hard last year before they knew about me. I guess not being legally married over there feeds this fear in a way. That and he's been gone so long ect...

So far as we have discussed it, he feels pretty much like your husband

His family is just such a strong pulling force there that I guess I want to make sure I have my rights to him as well in the eyes of Egypt ... or some such silly notion

They might ask to speak w/ your husband...since a few people we needed to speak w/ only spoke Arabic in the DC office.

Hubby is a large procrastinator when it comes to dealing with legal or sensitive issues But I might ask him to call if he ever has a day off, it's not important enough to push him.

Thanks for the responses and thanks for the link Nagi

No problem..anytime!! My hubby is a major procrastinator as well...unless of course it has to do w/ something he wants...haha! BTW-ur not being paranoid...you have a right to inquire and get ur questions answered...that way you feel better about your decisions.

[Aymsgirl 0]

Let me ask you this.....if you have a son and you register him as dual citizenship, he lives in America and visits Egypt as he is over 18 they can make him stay and serve in the military there correct? What if there is a draft here and he has to go there? What then? I know this is just what if's but I just got to thinking about this.......

[Nothing1234 2]

Let me ask you this.....if you have a son and you register him as dual citizenship, he lives in America and visits Egypt as he is over 18 they can make him stay and serve in the military there correct? What if there is a draft here and he has to go there? What then? I know this is just what if's but I just got to thinking about this.......

I have a friend who just returned to Egypt (dual citizenship/born in US) this past year. It was his first trip after 18, he was able to get his full exemption upon his arrival to Egypt. So no I dont think its an issue. You can always call the Department of Defense for Egypt (Egyptian Embassy in the US...DC area) and ask them for full details.

[Nasturtium 500]

Let me ask you this.....if you have a son and you register him as dual citizenship, he lives in America and visits Egypt as he is over 18 they can make him stay and serve in the military there correct? What if there is a draft here and he has to go there? What then? I know this is just what if's but I just got to thinking about this.......

I have a friend who just returned to Egypt (dual citizenship/born in US) this past year. It was his first trip after 18, he was able to get his full exemption upon his arrival to Egypt. So no I dont think its an issue. You can always call the Department of Defense for Egypt (Egyptian Embassy in the US...DC area) and ask them for full details.

I think I've heard that is the current law as well... if you have dual citizenship with Egypt and USA (for example), you figure in Egypt you are treated as an Egyptian-- the USA cannot do anything for you. In the USA you're an American, and Egypt cannot do anything for you. So... if they wre to change the law or whatever, you would be subject to it as long as you were there for them to enforce it. If they exempt by law though (or case by case), then you'd be fine.

[Nasturtium 500]

I wouldn't really care that much since we are legally and Islmically married here, but what happens when we want to travel in Egypt? We wouldn't be able to stay in hotels together, ect... Would it make things difficult if I got pregnant and wanted dual citizenship for my child? Is his exended family going to say it's not ligit and anyway he can have 3 wifes and still try to pressure him into marrying an Egyptian to keep his ties over there?

I don't think you have to go to Cairo to do this.. or even show at the DC embassy-- just do the paperwork and send it in to the DC one. I agree about calling DC and asking. I agree you may wish to be registered to avoid the issues you cuold encounter over there in hotels, etc. As far as it being difficult for a child and wanting dual citizenship Nawal has given excellent advice.

As far as the multiple wives things, you are his first wife. So if you get yourself registered over there, I'm not sure if they notify wives of how many marriages the husband has or not. In Jordan they now notify the second+ wives as well as print it in the paper to avoid people sneaking in seconds and whatnots. Also, as far as all the Egyptians I know (girls), they all agree that multiple wives is more of a village thing in Egypt and not a bigger-city thing usually. So, don't know if it's common in your husband's family or area or what.

My husband's parents were a single marriage-- his father didn't have any other wives, ever. They got married when his mom was about 16 and his father 18 and that was that. he died at about 78 (just before he was maybe 79) and she died at 77 ages are best guesses as they didn't get assigned a birthday until they were in their 40s or so). None of his uncles have multiple wives and none of his aunts are one of many (I almost wrote a litter LOL I have kittens on my mind). He does have some cousins with second wives and there is one guy in his village with 4 wives and over 60 children and he said it's so disgusting because the man doesn't even know who his children are. Anyway, he said none of these women are happy and in his opinion, he couldn't see a justification for hurting someone he lived like that if he really loved her, and that multiples would require very specific conditions that he didn't feel existed anymore-- he thought paying for a wedding for 2 poor people would be better, giving charity, etc. I know he would grow extra food in his fields and distribute it amongst the widows and poorest people in his village with disabled men, etc. So, if your husband feels like mine or Nawal's or similar, I don't see it happening, as it is his choice ultimately. OTOH, family pressure is something they seem to have a hard time resisting like we do. In some cases the distance helps with that and in other cases children help with the pressures. In our case, children is kind of a must.

[Aymsgirl 0]

I guess it would be ok if you could be granted full exemption. I know there are only certain circumstances for that. I would hate to see him visit his grandmother and be kept there. I think we are only going to consider Malek if we live there or he decides to go to a university there. He is not the only son and my husband stated that he wouldn't be exempted because he normally lived in a foreign country. He would be treated just as if he was an Egyptian. My husband was an attorney in Egypt and he said there are lots to consider and weigh when you are foreign born and considering dual citizenship in Egypt. He also said that it is very easy to obtain for the children and takes less than a week to add them and a lot less money if it is done when you are in Egypt. For the wives, no other marriage is required and that they recognize your US legal, notarized marriage certificate here. Also, he said if you visited Egypt and didn't have your marriage registered there and your husband is on an Egyptian passport just bring the English version of your marriage certificate for the hotel stay, that should be sufficient enough.

Edited August 8, 2008 by Aymsgirl