Ooops...confused

[renlsu 0]

So, I've been teaching English for a year in a small village...this is where I met my fiancee. Long story short, we signed marriage papers yesterday because of strong cultural considerations. Basically, there is a very conservative religious atmosphere and his parents had put strong pressure on us to make things legitimate so that we weren't living in sin. For the marriage process, all I had to do was sign a paper and present my passport. That's it. It didn't have to be authenticated by the embassy or anything of this matter. No blood tests, birth certificates. Zip, zilch, nada. This being said, is it still possible to do the I-129F visa? Technically the marriage isn't legal in the States, unless I go through the long process of trying to make it legal. At the moment, only the country of Georgia and my friends and family know what the deal is. What is the route now?

Thanks for your help.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Are you legally married in Georgia? Then you are legally married in the United Statues

Sorry, no K1 for you

Good luck

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You will have to do a spousal visa. Why don't you think your marriage is recognized in the US? The US recognizes foreign marriages.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

So, I've been teaching English for a year in a small village...this is where I met my fiancee. Long story short, we signed marriage papers yesterday because of strong cultural considerations. Basically, there is a very conservative religious atmosphere and his parents had put strong pressure on us to make things legitimate so that we weren't living in sin. For the marriage process, all I had to do was sign a paper and present my passport. That's it. It didn't have to be authenticated by the embassy or anything of this matter. No blood tests, birth certificates. Zip, zilch, nada. This being said, is it still possible to do the I-129F visa? Technically the marriage isn't legal in the States, unless I go through the long process of trying to make it legal. At the moment, only the country of Georgia and my friends and family know what the deal is. What is the route now?

Thanks for your help.

WHen you say you had to show your passport and sign a paper: WHo do you show it to? An official authority of the city, town, village where you are at? ANd the signature, Was that paper a license or any other kind of official document?? If Yes; then you are married legally and you can't do K-1. CR-1 is your path.

Edited June 15, 2012 by Gosia & Tito

[jaycali 415]

All you would have to do is send in a copy of your Georgian marriage certificate with the I-130 package. If it's legal in Georgia, and legal according to US federal law (no same sex, bigamy, minors etc) you're good to go. DO NOT go through with the K-1 visa process. If you tell them you're not married when in fact you are, it's a potential lifetime bar.

Edited June 15, 2012 by jaejayC

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

A spousal visa is better for you anyway. It's cheaper. Your husband can work and travel right on entry, instead of waiting for months for Adjustment of Status. And, since you are living there, your petition will probably go in an expedited queue for petitioners living abroad.