Get Married in HK AND US?

[Ms.Dawn 0]

Okay. Please help. I have another question.

My Fiance wants to get married when he come and visit me on Feb 2010. We don't need to get him a visa to be able to marry in Hong Kong so that is not a problem.

BUT he also wants to get married in the states. If we do get married in Hong Kong first, what type of visa do I need to apply for to get married in the states? Do I still need to get a K1 visa? But if we get a k1 visa, I wouldn't be single anymore as we are already married. What to do?

Any suggestions will help. Thanks

Cheers xx

[Rhiannercakes 14]

If you're going to get legally married before applying for a visa, you have to do K-3 or CR-1. CR-1 is faster from what I've seen and you get a green card a few weeks after arriving in the US, unlike K-3 where you have to adjust status in the US.

CR-1 is also cheaper.

If you don't wish to get legally married in Hong Kong and just have a ceremony with nothing legal binding it, you can then file for K-1, since you're still engaged and not legally married. (Since you didnt sign a marriage certificate)

I'd look into the visa options for your country in the other sections, they'd usually have better advice since the consulates vary as to what they're looking for per visa type.

Edited October 13, 2009 by Rhiann

[Ms.Dawn 0]

If you're going to get legally married before applying for a visa, you have to do K-3 or CR-1. CR-1 is faster from what I've seen and you get a green card a few weeks after arriving in the US, unlike K-3 where you have to adjust status in the US.

CR-1 is also cheaper.

If you don't wish to get legally married in Hong Kong and just have a ceremony with nothing legal binding it, you can then file for K-1, since you're still engaged and not legally married. (Since you didnt sign a marriage certificate)

I'd look into the visa options for your country in the other sections, they'd usually have better advice since the consulates vary as to what they're looking for per visa type.

Basically we just want to get married and be together. We don't know where yet. BUT We do want options so it will be easy for us to decide.

He wants to get legally married in both countries. My worries are if we do get CR-1 or K3 we dont have enough proof of being married. ie; joint accounts etc. as we are just married and just starting... Im worried that a marriage certificate would not be strong enough proof for a bonafied marriage.

If he ends up not liking here in HK then we would have an option and move to the US. Do we just wait till I get a K1 visa then get married in the US then go back to HK to get married again?

[Hoot 0]

You can marry in both places. If you marry in HK yyou must file the CR-1 visa - a married person cannot file a K-1. Once you get to the usa - you can easily marry there as well. I would encourage you to get married in HK and file a CR-1. I believe that the approval percentage for CR-1 is significantly higher then K-1. As long as you have evidence such as chat logs from Yahoo Messenger, emails, letters, phone bills, and pictures from multiple visits, and wedding ring receipt - you should be fine. Joint accounts are rare for a couple in your situation. I added my wife to my credit card and showed them that. I also made her beneficiary of my life insurance. Bonifide relationship is about frequency of contact when u are seperated.

Our Consular Officer was very very nice (Philippines) - they can usually tell if you love each other - we had our interview Sept 29, 2009. Best wishes.

Dolly n Hoot

[D&R 0]

Okay. Please help. I have another question.

My Fiance wants to get married when he come and visit me on Feb 2010. We don't need to get him a visa to be able to marry in Hong Kong so that is not a problem.

BUT he also wants to get married in the states. If we do get married in Hong Kong first, what type of visa do I need to apply for to get married in the states? Do I still need to get a K1 visa? But if we get a k1 visa, I wouldn't be single anymore as we are already married. What to do?

Any suggestions will help. Thanks

Cheers xx

Once you're married in HK, the K1 'fiance' Visa no longer becomes and option for you due to the fact that it's a "FIANCE" Visa (and you'll be "MARRIED")

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

You cannot get legally married twice- once you are married, you are married, and the USA recognises HK legal marriages. As the others have said, you should look at your visa options first, and then decide where you want the legal wedding. Personally, I'd go with the CR-1 because it is cheaper and leads to immediate greencard. If you go for that option, get married in HK, then once in the USA, you can have a blessing ceremony and/ or reception. If you decide to get legally married in the USA, you cannot have a legal wedding in HK. But you can have an engagement ceremony, a non-legal wedding ceremony (be careful with those though: in some countries, any wedding in a church is legally binding and even if not, the CO may see it as such!), or your other option would be to fly to the USA, get legally married there, then once you filed AP and AOS, visit HK for a wedding blessing.

[Ms.Dawn 0]

You cannot get legally married twice- once you are married, you are married, and the USA recognises HK legal marriages. As the others have said, you should look at your visa options first, and then decide where you want the legal wedding. Personally, I'd go with the CR-1 because it is cheaper and leads to immediate greencard. If you go for that option, get married in HK, then once in the USA, you can have a blessing ceremony and/ or reception. If you decide to get legally married in the USA, you cannot have a legal wedding in HK. But you can have an engagement ceremony, a non-legal wedding ceremony (be careful with those though: in some countries, any wedding in a church is legally binding and even if not, the CO may see it as such!), or your other option would be to fly to the USA, get legally married there, then once you filed AP and AOS, visit HK for a wedding blessing.

Thanks for your reply.

Say we do get married in HK and want to move to the us.

Can my soon to be hubby file for the petition while I'm with him in the states (I have a 10yr multiple entry visa) and when its time for me to gather documents then can I go back to HK?

or is there any other way? Can we apply for my visa directly in the states?

Thanks

[Darnell 8,478]

There's a collection of guides here covering every visa type.

I suggest reviewing the I-130 guide at http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide1

Are you HKG citizen or resident? Buried somewhere in the I-130 instructions (this applies for K-1 also ) is the police certificate requirement - you MIGHT have to get some from your home country (and/or other countries where you've lived ).

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Say we do get married in HK and want to move to the us.

Can my soon to be hubby file for the petition while I'm with him in the states (I have a 10yr multiple entry visa) and when its time for me to gather documents then can I go back to HK?

or is there any other way? Can we apply for my visa directly in the states?

Thanks

Yes, he can file while you are visiting him in the USA, and/ or you can visit while the petition is in progress, as long as you do not overstay your tourist visa. If you visit while the petition is in progress, bring proof that you will return home, such as a letter from employer saying when you are expected back, lease to an appartment, proof of enrollment in a college course etc.

You cannot enter the USA with your tourist visa and then stay, that is immigration fraud and could result in a lifetime ban. If your primary goal is for you to fly to the USA and never have to go back to HK, then the K1 fiance visa is for you.