Marrying in Russia

[neva 0]

We are thinking switching our K1 to K3 or IR1. I know about the downsides to this and we are taking it into account but we also have her family to make happy also. Anyway I keep reading conflicting information about how to go about marrying in Russia. Some places I read that for a Westerner, I have to register, then leave the country, then I can come back to marry. Other places I read said I can just go to marry. Can anyone explain what the real process is? If it matters it would be in St. Petersburg, and my divorce has been final 2 years.

Another question, if we marry in the states can we or should we register in Russia also? The "registering" in Russia seems to be important to the family.

[Lyuba 0]

I can tell you how it is in Moscow which will give you an idea what to do. I was researching this subject before we decided to go on K-1. Your fiancee should go to ZAGS which registeres foreign marriages. Not every ZAGS does that so she has to find out whihc one. They will give her a list of required documents (it isn't long or difficult) and voila.

[workin4somethin 0]

We are thinking switching our K1 to K3 or IR1. I know about the downsides to this and we are taking it into account but we also have her family to make happy also. Anyway I keep reading conflicting information about how to go about marrying in Russia. Some places I read that for a Westerner, I have to register, then leave the country, then I can come back to marry. Other places I read said I can just go to marry. Can anyone explain what the real process is? If it matters it would be in St. Petersburg, and my divorce has been final 2 years.

Another question, if we marry in the states can we or should we register in Russia also? The "registering" in Russia seems to be important to the family.

What we did in 2005 was: (1) applied and got the state's approval to marry at what I think was the MED office in Moscow, which took about a week or so (it could have gone as fast as one day, but we didn't wish to pay extra for that service); and, (2) took the state's approval to marry to the local ZAGS office in Korolev, where we were married. I remember reading somewhere on the internet about the necessity for a foreigner to leave the country for 30 days; however, that is not true. I didn't leave. I think you should go to your local ZAGS office, and inquire about what is required. I can't imagine St. Petersburg being different from Moscow in this regard. I don't know anyhting about "registering" a U.S. marriage in Russia.

My wife says, Good Luck to you! And she added that American men make good husbands.

[Satellite 1]

I always found these instructions to be helpful:

http://vladivostok.usconsulate.gov/acsmarryrus.html

http://stpetersburg.usconsulate.gov/root/p...us-english2.pdf

http://moscow.usembassy.gov/marriage.html

http://yekaterinburg.usconsulate.gov/en/co...ar/marriage.php

Edited December 10, 2008 by Satellite

[workin4somethin 0]

I read the above instructions for Moscow and for St. Petersburg, which refreshed my memory a bit. They both mention having to wait at least 30 days after you get your marriage letter authorized. Our visit at the U.S. Embassy for the marriage letter took about 20 minutes. And in our case, we picked up the authenticated marriage letter on Monday and were married on Tuesday. The officials used the dates my wife entered on our application documents rather than making us wait 30 days.

[neva 0]

Thanks everyone for the info and thanks Satellite for the links I will check them out.

[Kotenochek 0]

Maybe better to celebrate wedding and do church ceremony but actually get married here in US?If it speeds up the process...