Anyone get a US marriage licence after already married in other country?

[HOHOHO 0]

I ask since for insurance purposes I have only one chance per year to add my spouse, exception given to 60 days after marriage at any time of year. I have 10 days to decide to add now or not.

We are already married, but since my spouse has her own insurance, and we are still in limboland waiting for the VISA.

Fact is the extra money for premiums would be better off used for her plane ticket when she finally gets the visa. Especially if this drags on. Even after interview theres 2 to 4 weeks until visa issued, and only after that can we finalize dates for the move....which means best case scenerio 2 month minimum to get it together after the interview....which would mean about $600 in premiums spend for no reason.

I assume getting a marriage license at ye olde city hall shouldn't be a big deal...and might be useful down the line for proof of marriage stuff outside the world of immigration..

Thoughts?

[payxibka 10,047]

I ask since for insurance purposes I have only one chance per year to add my spouse, exception given to 60 days after marriage at any time of year. I have 10 days to decide to add now or not.

We are already married, but since my spouse has her own insurance, and we are still in limboland waiting for the VISA.

Fact is the extra money for premiums would be better off used for her plane ticket when she finally gets the visa. Especially if this drags on. Even after interview theres 2 to 4 weeks until visa issued, and only after that can we finalize dates for the move....which means best case scenerio 2 month minimum to get it together after the interview....which would mean about $600 in premiums spend for no reason.

I assume getting a marriage license at ye olde city hall shouldn't be a big deal...and might be useful down the line for proof of marriage stuff outside the world of immigration..

Thoughts?

A marriage license is meaningless without a corresponding marriage ceremony.... that will result in a marriage certificate, once recorded at ye old city hall.

Many plans allow the addition other than "open enrollment" when there is a "life" event... A spouse losing one's current insurance typically is considered a life event... An immigration event can be one as well...

Check with your plan provider for the complete list.

[cjgator 2]

Your answer raised another interesting question for me, particularly as it pertains to the upcoming tax season.

If I am interpreting your response correctly, it sounds like that if you marry in a foreign country, once the spouse comes over to the United States, you have to have another civil ceremony in order to get a U.S. marriage license in the state you reside, yes?

If that is the case, seeing how I have been married since March 1 2008, and by all indications it looks like my spouse will not be here prior to January 1, 2009, how do you address the married/single reporting issue for 1040 tax purposes, during the 2008 year? My understanding was that the U.S. government accepts legal foreign marriages. is the marriage truly not a "recorded" legal marriage in the US until the US civil ceremony occurs?

Thanks for the insight.

I ask since for insurance purposes I have only one chance per year to add my spouse, exception given to 60 days after marriage at any time of year. I have 10 days to decide to add now or not.

We are already married, but since my spouse has her own insurance, and we are still in limboland waiting for the VISA.

Fact is the extra money for premiums would be better off used for her plane ticket when she finally gets the visa. Especially if this drags on. Even after interview theres 2 to 4 weeks until visa issued, and only after that can we finalize dates for the move....which means best case scenerio 2 month minimum to get it together after the interview....which would mean about $600 in premiums spend for no reason.

I assume getting a marriage license at ye olde city hall shouldn't be a big deal...and might be useful down the line for proof of marriage stuff outside the world of immigration..

Thoughts?

A marriage license is meaningless without a corresponding marriage ceremony.... that will result in a marriage certificate, once recorded at ye old city hall.

Many plans allow the addition other than "open enrollment" when there is a "life" event... A spouse losing one's current insurance typically is considered a life event... An immigration event can be one as well...

Check with your plan provider for the complete list.

[payxibka 10,047]

Your answer raised another interesting question for me, particularly as it pertains to the upcoming tax season.

If I am interpreting your response correctly, it sounds like that if you marry in a foreign country, once the spouse comes over to the United States, you have to have another civil ceremony in order to get a U.S. marriage license in the state you reside, yes?

If that is the case, seeing how I have been married since March 1 2008, and by all indications it looks like my spouse will not be here prior to January 1, 2009, how do you address the married/single reporting issue for 1040 tax purposes, during the 2008 year? My understanding was that the U.S. government accepts legal foreign marriages. is the marriage truly not a "recorded" legal marriage in the US until the US civil ceremony occurs?

Thanks for the insight.

A legal marriage in a foreign country is recognized in the USA... A second marriage ceremony in the USA is NOT required.

[himher 634]

I wouldnt advise getting a second marriage license for the purpose of lying about your marriage date on an insurance application. Normally you can add your spouse within 30 days of a "life event". Losing health benefits qualifies as a "life event". So, as long as your wife has a certificate of insurance showing a policy cancellation dated within 30 days of when you try to enroll her on your policy, you should be OK.

Isn't your wife interviewing in Jakarta? They asked to see our health insurance info with the I134. It was also helpful in showing bona-fide marriage when they saw she was already enrolled and was a beneficiary in my work benefits starting the month we got married. We probably "wasted" a few hundred dollars for (7) months of unused benefits but I guess I was thinking that I treated our marriage apart the same as if she were right here - and it ended up giving us a smooth, unbroken flow of documentation times and dates through the AOS interview.

[kaffy 2]

A legal marriage in a foreign country is recognized in the USA... A second marriage ceremony in the USA is NOT required.

Agreed.

My husband and I were married outside the US and have a foreign marriage license. I've added him onto my health insurance, he's added me onto his bank account, etc with no problems at all.

[Alli and Léo 0]

There is no need for a separate US marriage license. You are able to take your foreign marriage certificate to the courts to be recorded and certified but I don't really see any benefits because the foreign marriage certificate is still valid anywhere in the US.

[moonhunt 1]

I ask since for insurance purposes I have only one chance per year to add my spouse, exception given to 60 days after marriage at any time of year. I have 10 days to decide to add now or not.

We are already married, but since my spouse has her own insurance, and we are still in limboland waiting for the VISA.

Fact is the extra money for premiums would be better off used for her plane ticket when she finally gets the visa. Especially if this drags on. Even after interview theres 2 to 4 weeks until visa issued, and only after that can we finalize dates for the move....which means best case scenerio 2 month minimum to get it together after the interview....which would mean about $600 in premiums spend for no reason.

I assume getting a marriage license at ye olde city hall shouldn't be a big deal...and might be useful down the line for proof of marriage stuff outside the world of immigration..

Thoughts?

That's illegal.

Most of state law indicated that if the marriage is established from other states, and/or country, you can not get married again.

If you may caught, you can get fined, jailed, and/or both for this.

[HOHOHO 0]

I wouldnt advise getting a second marriage license for the purpose of lying about your marriage date on an insurance application. Normally you can add your spouse within 30 days of a "life event". Losing health benefits qualifies as a "life event". So, as long as your wife has a certificate of insurance showing a policy cancellation dated within 30 days of when you try to enroll her on your policy, you should be OK.

Isn't your wife interviewing in Jakarta? They asked to see our health insurance info with the I134. It was also helpful in showing bona-fide marriage when they saw she was already enrolled and was a beneficiary in my work benefits starting the month we got married. We probably "wasted" a few hundred dollars for (7) months of unused benefits but I guess I was thinking that I treated our marriage apart the same as if she were right here - and it ended up giving us a smooth, unbroken flow of documentation times and dates through the AOS interview.

this is a great post... thanks

that completely changes my view....I should just go ahead and to the open enrollment then.

There is no need for a separate US marriage license. You are able to take your foreign marriage certificate to the courts to be recorded and certified but I don't really see any benefits because the foreign marriage certificate is still valid anywhere in the US.

well the benefit would be getting married here would enable me to enroll her in insurance at that time

I ask since for insurance purposes I have only one chance per year to add my spouse, exception given to 60 days after marriage at any time of year. I have 10 days to decide to add now or not.

We are already married, but since my spouse has her own insurance, and we are still in limboland waiting for the VISA.

Fact is the extra money for premiums would be better off used for her plane ticket when she finally gets the visa. Especially if this drags on. Even after interview theres 2 to 4 weeks until visa issued, and only after that can we finalize dates for the move....which means best case scenerio 2 month minimum to get it together after the interview....which would mean about $600 in premiums spend for no reason.

I assume getting a marriage license at ye olde city hall shouldn't be a big deal...and might be useful down the line for proof of marriage stuff outside the world of immigration..

Thoughts?

That's illegal.

Most of state law indicated that if the marriage is established from other states, and/or country, you can not get married again.

If you may caught, you can get fined, jailed, and/or both for this.

Who said anything about lying???

if city hall says its ok, its ok. I wouldn't be making it a secret we were married outside the country. Maybe they would not say it's ok. That's what this thread is about.

[LRA 0]

I would look into the life event wording with your insurance company. We are in open enrollment now. We only have 30 days from the life event which I thought was marriage. I am way past that..so I called and spoke with a rep. They advisesd just adding her as a dependent to my policy and when she comes to the US her current coverage will cease and then the life event will take place *her losing coverage* and then I can add her.

[himher 634]

Why is your case taking so long? (curious). We were only (2) months behind you (filed in June 07)

I wouldnt advise getting a second marriage license for the purpose of lying about your marriage date on an insurance application. Normally you can add your spouse within 30 days of a "life event". Losing health benefits qualifies as a "life event". So, as long as your wife has a certificate of insurance showing a policy cancellation dated within 30 days of when you try to enroll her on your policy, you should be OK.

Isn't your wife interviewing in Jakarta? They asked to see our health insurance info with the I134. It was also helpful in showing bona-fide marriage when they saw she was already enrolled and was a beneficiary in my work benefits starting the month we got married. We probably "wasted" a few hundred dollars for (7) months of unused benefits but I guess I was thinking that I treated our marriage apart the same as if she were right here - and it ended up giving us a smooth, unbroken flow of documentation times and dates through the AOS interview.

this is a great post... thanks

that completely changes my view....I should just go ahead and to the open enrollment then.

There is no need for a separate US marriage license. You are able to take your foreign marriage certificate to the courts to be recorded and certified but I don't really see any benefits because the foreign marriage certificate is still valid anywhere in the US.

well the benefit would be getting married here would enable me to enroll her in insurance at that time

I ask since for insurance purposes I have only one chance per year to add my spouse, exception given to 60 days after marriage at any time of year. I have 10 days to decide to add now or not.

We are already married, but since my spouse has her own insurance, and we are still in limboland waiting for the VISA.

Fact is the extra money for premiums would be better off used for her plane ticket when she finally gets the visa. Especially if this drags on. Even after interview theres 2 to 4 weeks until visa issued, and only after that can we finalize dates for the move....which means best case scenerio 2 month minimum to get it together after the interview....which would mean about $600 in premiums spend for no reason.

I assume getting a marriage license at ye olde city hall shouldn't be a big deal...and might be useful down the line for proof of marriage stuff outside the world of immigration..

Thoughts?

That's illegal.

Most of state law indicated that if the marriage is established from other states, and/or country, you can not get married again.

If you may caught, you can get fined, jailed, and/or both for this.

Who said anything about lying???

if city hall says its ok, its ok. I wouldn't be making it a secret we were married outside the country. Maybe they would not say it's ok. That's what this thread is about.