Renewing vows

[CharlieTanger 76]

In another year or two my fiancé and I would like to "renew our vows" in the UK as well. Is this legal for us to do so in the future? Or is this against US rules while on a green card? We would like to be considered legally married in the UK as well.

What benefits would it give us (or me as the U.S. Citizen), if any? Or would it simply be just for ceremonial purposes?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

If you are married in the USA, you're pretty much married anywhere in the world, UK included. Married is married. It's a nice thought/gesture but nothing more than that.

[Boiler 45,979]

No legal standing so irrelevant from an immigration perspective.

[yuna628 9,700]

No issues on the US side. You'd have to investigate the laws of the UK of how to go about that. From an immigration standard in the UK, I'd expect it to have no issues, since you will already be legally married. If you are married in the US you are as good as married in the UK. A vow renewal won't make you more married and has no legal weight in either country.

[CharlieTanger 76]

The only reason I ask is because let's say two Americans marry in Mexico, yes they are legally married, but they have to fill out documentation to be considered married in the U.S.

So I thought that maybe to be considered married in the UK we may have to fill out some documentation over there.

But you're right, it would only be for symbolism, nothing more.

[Boiler 45,979]

The only reason I ask is because let's say two Americans marry in Mexico, yes they are legally married, but they have to fill out documentation to be considered married in the U.S.

I have never heard of this. What documentation?

[yuna628 9,700]

The only reason I ask is because let's say two Americans marry in Mexico, yes they are legally married, but they have to fill out documentation to be considered married in the U.S.

So I thought that maybe to be considered married in the UK we may have to fill out some documentation over there.

But you're right, it would only be for symbolism, nothing more.

No they would not have to fill out extra documents to be considered married in the US. If you have a legal and binding marriage certificate from Mexico you are just as married in the US. You can get religiously married or civil married in Mexico - but only the civil and legal marriage in which you have fulfilled all the Mexican requirements beforehand is the one that counts anywhere in the world.

Here is some info from Cornwall for instance regarding vow renewals. As you can see no extra legal requirements are needed. https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/advice-and-benefits/marriages/renewal-of-vows/

[CharlieTanger 76]

I have never heard of this. What documentation?

I'm not sure of the exact documentation. But my cousin was just married in Mexico last month and when they returned to the US they had to fill out legal documents to claim that they were in fact married and legally marriage-elidgable for the US.

[Boiler 45,979]

I went to a wedding in Mexico, after paying for flights etc found out they were doing a simple legal one in the US as it was too much hsssle to do the legal one on Mexico.

[CharlieTanger 76]

I went to a wedding in Mexico, after paying for flights etc found out they were doing a simple legal one in the US as it was too much hassle to do the legal one on Mexico.

I 100% agree!