I'm American, Boyfriend South African, Want to Get Married During his Visit

[kryan31 0]

Hello All,

I'm a US citizen, and my boyfriend is a South African citizen. We have been together for about a year, visiting each other back and forth. He has a visitors Visa, but not sure when that expires.

I just returned from a 3 month visit to South Africa, and my boyfriend will be coming back to Los Angeles visit me and my family. We are very much in love and want to get married when he comes to visit. As his family is there, we want to maybe go the courthouse route, then do a formal ceremony when we can plan more.

Can we just go to a courthouse to get married, or does he have to apply for a k-1? He has a great job out there, and his intention is not to live here until at least 2 years from now until he wraps up his business there. I will keep visiting him there until he can wrap everything up and move to US to be with me.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as we will be having a baby as well soon, and want to get married.

Thank you so much!

[Pitaya 2,577]

Hello All,

I'm a US citizen, and my boyfriend is a South African citizen. We have been together for about a year, visiting each other back and forth. He has a visitors Visa, but not sure when that expires.

I just returned from a 3 month visit to South Africa, and my boyfriend will be coming back to Los Angeles visit me and my family. We are very much in love and want to get married when he comes to visit. As his family is there, we want to maybe go the courthouse route, then do a formal ceremony when we can plan more.

Can we just go to a courthouse to get married, or does he have to apply for a k-1? He has a great job out there, and his intention is not to live here until at least 2 years from now until he wraps up his business there. I will keep visiting him there until he can wrap everything up and move to US to be with me.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as we will be having a baby as well soon, and want to get married.

Thank you so much!

Welcome to the forum.

For an excellent comparison of the various fiance(e) and spousal visas available, please check out the GUIDES section, located at the top of the forum page.

Good luck on your visa journey.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You do not need a special visa to get married in the US, the K-1 is permission to marry AND stay afterward. If he will be leaving at the end of his visit, you can certainly get married. Have fun!

[kryan31 0]

You do not need a special visa to get married in the US, the K-1 is permission to marry AND stay afterward. If he will be leaving at the end of his visit, you can certainly get married. Have fun!

Thank you so much for responses! Does he need to fill out a k-1 before he comes? He will be here in 2.5 weeks =/

Thanks again

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Thank you so much for responses! Does he need to fill out a k-1 before he comes? He will be here in 2.5 weeks =/

Thanks again

No... read what I said above

Okay, I will say it differently. You do not need a special visa to get married if he will be leaving at the end of his visit. The K-1 is only to marry AND stay here afterward. Since you won't be doing that, you do not need that special visa.

Edited July 26, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

IF/ When you decide to be married a STAY in the US The I130 will be used if you are married and the I129F if you aren't married. Being married up's the risk he will be turned away and the risk of the visitors visa not being renued. But either of the forms are to live in the US.

[kryan31 0]

Ok, thanks so much everyone for your responses! =)

[baron555 934]

H We are very much in love and want to get married when he comes to visit.

Well, congrats on your relationship. Purposefully coming to the US on a VISITOR visa with the intentions of getting married are fine.........

....as long as he then returns and you both pursue the CR-1 spousal visa process.

For you to get married and he stay and try to adjust status to remain.....many have done it but it may be vetted out during the AOS interview that he committed VISA FRAUD.

The worst that could happen is he is deported and given a life-time ban from ever entering the US.

It's all your decision.

[kryan31 0]

Well, congrats on your relationship. Purposefully coming to the US on a VISITOR visa with the intentions of getting married are fine.........

....as long as he then returns and you both pursue the CR-1 spousal visa process.

For you to get married and he stay and try to adjust status to remain.....many have done it but it may be vetted out during the AOS interview that he committed VISA FRAUD.

The worst that could happen is he is deported and given a life-time ban from ever entering the US.

It's all your decision.

Thank you so much! Really appreciate the advice!