Kiwi wanting to wed in US without immigrating

[necias 0]

Does anyone out there have experience of a US citizen and a Kiwi wanting to get married in the US and then return to NZ to live? We only want to go to the US for the wedding because the woman's family lives there. But at present there is no intent to immigrate. Has anyone done this using a regular visitor visa under the Visa Waiver Program? We just want to make sure there would not be any issue with him returning to the US for future trips using the VWP or for a possible future work permit or green card. Thanks.

[amykathleen2005 441]

No issue, you can visit and marry. You might have some trouble getting through customs with a wedding dress, lol. Just make sure to have lots of proof you are going back home.

[Athena13 10]

Wedding ceremony in USA or Wedding and signing papers (get marriage certificate) in USA? these two can be quite different.

and where you two get marriage certificate impacts quite a lot on how easy for him (kiwi) to go to USA in the future for green card, not so much for work permit I think.

[amykathleen2005 441]

Wedding ceremony in USA or Wedding and signing papers (get marriage certificate) in USA? these two can be quite different.

and where you two get marriage certificate impacts quite a lot on how easy for him (kiwi) to go to USA in the future for green card, not so much for work permit I think.

How? I don't see why it matters or has any impact. As long as they are not marrying and staying there is no problem.

[Athena13 10]

from what I read from this forum and other places (may not be 100% true), but from the immigration officer who questioned me when i entered USA on VWP the second time (with no strong ties to my home country, and i'm saying i'm staying here for 90 days with my bf, and i visited him 3 months ago), HE said it's easier to get married outside USA then come back in with spouse visa.

and how different states in USA see a foreign marriage certificate to be enough as a 'change of name' proof when the non-USC is applying for different things in the US in the future. and vice versa in New Zealand, they may not recognise the US marriage cert to be enough proof for change of name.

however I'm not sure who is the USC (if any) in necias' question, the more i read it.

[Lainie B 465]

Does anyone out there have experience of a US citizen and a Kiwi wanting to get married in the US and then return to NZ to live? We only want to go to the US for the wedding because the woman's family lives there. But at present there is no intent to immigrate. Has anyone done this using a regular visitor visa under the Visa Waiver Program? We just want to make sure there would not be any issue with him returning to the US for future trips using the VWP or for a possible future work permit or green card. Thanks.

A Kiwi friend of mine travelled to the US to marry his USC wife under the VWP. He had no problems whatsoever. They were previously under the assumption that they needed a K-1 visa even though they both lived and were returning to a third country (not the US or NZ). They petitioned, and were approved for I-129f until they realised that he didn't need a K-1 visa, that he could just enter under the VWP for the wedding, as long as he wasn't staying in the US. They thought that the approved petition might have been a problem when he entered but it wasn't even brought up. He had no problem at all entering the US under the VWP. They then returned to the country they were living in. I would bring proof of ties to NZ just in case though.

Now (a year or two later) they live in the US so I assume he was since petitioned for a spousal visa, and approved (though I have lost contact with them).

[necias 0]

A Kiwi friend of mine travelled to the US to marry his USC wife under the VWP. He had no problems whatsoever. They were previously under the assumption that they needed a K-1 visa even though they both lived and were returning to a third country (not the US or NZ). They petitioned, and were approved for I-129f until they realised that he didn't need a K-1 visa, that he could just enter under the VWP for the wedding, as long as he wasn't staying in the US. They thought that the approved petition might have been a problem when he entered but it wasn't even brought up. He had no problem at all entering the US under the VWP. They then returned to the country they were living in. I would bring proof of ties to NZ just in case though.

Now (a year or two later) they live in the US so I assume he was since petitioned for a spousal visa, and approved (though I have lost contact with them).

Thanks, Lainie B - that was very useful!