!!! Getting married, in his country... HELP!!!

[raindrop 0]

**** this is a double post... not sure if I wrote in the right section ****

Hello all!

I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right place, but here is my problem.

We are getting married in Hungary. I have dual-citizenship, US and Hungarian. I was told I would have to get married as a Hungarian citizen and then go to the US Embassy to file all the paperwork.

Here is the questions and problems...

Apparently I need some type of Hungarian SS type number, or least I'm assuming that's what it is, before a civil marriage can take place. That which can take months to process. I'm divorced, which complicates it more. We were told all documents need to be translated, etc..., and that process can take up to 6 months.

We were told we can get married somewhere else in Europe, say Austria, and then take our paperwork to the Embassy. Or we can go directly to the US Embassy in Hungary and get married. My fear and question is that if we did this, would I be marrying as a US citizen or Hungarian one? If I were to marry as a US citizen, wouldn't the paperwork take longer? (Marrying in Hungary as Hungarian citizen would take 1-2 months of processing) Would marrying outside of either one of our country of origins complicate things?

Please help!! I'm confused!! I'm not sure what is the best thing for us to do.

Thank you!!!!

[scy 0]

To have a legal marriage in Hungary, the marriage must be conducted by a Hungarian civil authority.

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

The US government will recognize all foreign marriages as long as they were conducted in according with the laws of that country. It does not matter which country you get married as long as the marriage is legal in that country.

If you want to get married in Hungary, and you have Hungarian citizenship, then you must marry as a Hungarian citizen. You have to do whatever Hungarian laws required in order to be married in that country.

If you feel that marriage might be easier for both of you in a third country, then by all means do so. But be very sure that the marriage is legal in that country. The US government knows about marriage laws in all countries and will check the legality of the marriage before issuing a visa.

Being married outside of one's country of residence might complicate visa processing. The consulates will have to be sure that the marriage is legal in that country before issuing a visa. Residence is different than origin.

The best thing for you to do depends on variables like how soon you want to settle in the US, does your future spouse want to work immediately upon arrival in the US, how much money you want to spend initially for the marriage, how long you're willing to wait to be married in Hungary, etc...

No one can answer this except you.

[raindrop 0]

Thanks for your reply!!

We would do everything legally, regardless of where, by all means.

Why would being married out of one's residency complicate visa processing?

Would it technically the be easier for us to marry in Hungary at the US Embassy?

I'm in the US now, he is in Hungary. We would like to be together here, as soon as it is possible.

He would like to work as soon as he can upon arriving in the US, but if he'd have to wait, then he would.

Money... I didn't even think about that end. How much are we looking at speding for this?

How long am I willing to wait, not long!

Thanks again!

[scy 0]

Thanks for your reply!!

We would do everything legally, regardless of where, by all means.

Why would being married out of one's residency complicate visa processing?

Would it technically the be easier for us to marry in Hungary at the US Embassy?

I'm in the US now, he is in Hungary. We would like to be together here, as soon as it is possible.

He would like to work as soon as he can upon arriving in the US, but if he'd have to wait, then he would.

Money... I didn't even think about that end. How much are we looking at speding for this?

How long am I willing to wait, not long!

Thanks again!

This is an example of why marrying in a foreign country might complicate visa processing. Say you got married in country x. Country x requires that you must have legal residency in that country for 1 year before you can get married. If you didn't fulfill that requirement then your marriage isn't legal. And the US consulates know about marriage laws in all countries.

What makes you think the US embassy in Hungary conduct marriage ceremonies for a US citizen and a Hungarian citizen? Even if you got married at the US embassy, that marriage is not legal for your spouse according to Hungarian law, since he didn't get married in front of a Hungarian civil authority. So you're getting into weird legal waters where your marriage is recognized by the embassy but not by Hungary.

There are options for visas like K-1s which do not required you to be married. Read the VJ comparison here

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=compare

Generally K-1s are quicker if you're in the US. However, DCF in Hungary is very quick if you can make it there.

Edited February 22, 2006 by scy

[scy 0]

Here you go

http://travel.state.gov/family/family_issu...rriage_589.html

According to this, US diplomatic and consular officers are not permitted to perform marriages abroad according to US laws.

[meauxna 15]

Replied in your other thread.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t=0&gopid=40954

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SCY....

I didn't even think about it that way.

So then marry in his hometown/county or in another country is better?

The unfortunate thing is we are left with one lady who handles these things and she's making it complicated. Saying we need all sorts of weird things first, and with me being divorced, that tags on another 6 months of processing time. Which doesn't seem right according to what I've been reading. Are there certain rules and regulations according to counties? Maybe she just doesn't want to deal with it or it's too confusing for her, so she'd rather send us elsewhere? :-/

We've read into K-1 visas, but I am in CA, where the processing time alone is at least 6 months. So we decided on marriage instead, which is where we were heading anyway.

Thanks!!!