Recognition of a U.S. marriage in Colombia

[ryna 132]

Hello,

While we're waiting for my finacée's K-1 visa and in the mode of collecting documents, I got to thinking ahead...

From everything I've read, the U.S. automatically recognizes legal marriages performed abroad and without any specific registration in the U.S. (to the best of my knowledge).

My question is: Does anyone know if the reverse is true for Colombia? Would we automatically be considered married in Colombia after a U.S. wedding? Or, would she have to register it in some way before it would be recognized in Colombia?

The reason I'm wondering is that we are getting married in the U.S. (of course) but will be coming to Colombia several months (or more) later to have the Church wedding that her family and friends can be a part of, too.

Earlier, when we were considering other options (i.e., getting married in Colombia first), I saw that they require a certain list of documents, translated and apostilled, to get married. If we're already married, and Colombia recognizes it, I would assume that the only thing that would be needed are our IDs (cédula or Colombian passport for her and U.S. passport for me) and our U.S. marriage license, translated and apostilled (And, of course, whatever the Church requires.) Is this correct? I asked her about it the other day and she wasn't sure either.

Has anyone done something similar and, if so, what did Colombia want to see to perform a second marriage ceremony? Or, maybe nothing at all because it's a Church-only issue at that point as we're already legally married?

We have plenty of time before any of this but we're curious about it...

[MIKE AND FEY 0]

Hello! Your marriage it's recognized in USA as long as you inform the nearest Colombian Consulate. Check this link to get more info on it (the info is in Spanish): http://www.colhouston.org/contacto/faqs.php

Also as far as I know in Colombia you need to start from zero to get married especially if it going to be a Catholic wedding. You need to take a prenuptial course and take some other papers. So it is better to ask in Colombia before you actually plan to do it.

Here's a link in Spanish for requirements before any kind of wedding: http://www.noviascolombia.com/requisitos_para_el_matrimonio.htm

Good luck with everything!!!

Fey

[ryna 132]

Thank you very much for the link! It'll be helpful for other things wedding related too.

We will definitely register our marriage with the Colombian consulate first. We don't want to assume that it'll be recognized automatically and have any problems later.

And, as we'll both be living in the U.S. at the time of the Church wedding, that part will be pretty simple based on what we were told last Saturday by a parish here in Bogotá because we just have to meet the requirements of our diocese in the U.S. Now, we just need to be sure of what is or isn't required by the Colombian side and that will definitely be a question for the consulate if we don't find out before.

Thanks again!

[MIKE AND FEY 0]

Thank you very much for the link! It'll be helpful for other things wedding related too.

We will definitely register our marriage with the Colombian consulate first. We don't want to assume that it'll be recognized automatically and have any problems later.

And, as we'll both be living in the U.S. at the time of the Church wedding, that part will be pretty simple based on what we were told last Saturday by a parish here in Bogotá because we just have to meet the requirements of our diocese in the U.S. Now, we just need to be sure of what is or isn't required by the Colombian side and that will definitely be a question for the consulate if we don't find out before.

Thanks again!

You are very welcome!!! I am glad I was able to help Much luck!!

Fey