Marriage License vs. Ceremony

[ucijeepguy 3]

I've got a question regarding the k1 visa requirements.

Since having a wedding in the winter just after the holidays was not a ideal plan, my fiancé and I thought we would do a marriage license through the local texas courthouse, and then a ceremony for our friends and family in the spring time. After doing research according to my local county courthouse where marriage license are performed, they require the marriage license to be signed and a separate ceremony performed by an authorized entity between 72 hours and 90 days. After 90 days the state issued marriage license would become invalid if a ceremony is not performed.

My question is this: in this instance does the marriage license issued by the state acceptable for K1 and AOS requirements without the ceremony? We would potentially have our ceremony within that 90 days of the states requirement, but I don't want an issue a k1 requirement violation.

[HK12 273]

No, you need the marriage certificate. A marriage license is not sufficient. They want proof that you actually got married.

Many people here just have a formal courthouse wedding first in order to satisfy the AOS requirements, and then have a bigger informal wedding party for family & friends later on.

[Amhara 460]

No, that doesn't count.

I'm in Texas and we just got our marriage certificate. When you pay for the marriage license, you get a blank marriage certificate with your names, DOB's and places of birth printed on it. A qualified officiant needs to sign the document as a sign of the ceremony, or it becomes invalid - useless for the AOS.

You can either wait to AOS until after your spring ceremony (you don't need to AOS within 90 days, but you do need to marry within 90 days of her arrival). Or, you can do a JOP ceremony (ours was $60, but another JOP wanted $100) and use that for AOS and do the spring ceremony for yourselves.

When did your fiance arrive? What is the Form I-94 date?

[Boiler 46,312]

[ucijeepguy 3]

No, that doesn't count.

I'm in Texas and we just got our marriage certificate. When you pay for the marriage license, you get a blank marriage certificate with your names, DOB's and places of birth printed on it. A qualified officiant needs to sign the document as a sign of the ceremony, or it becomes invalid - useless for the AOS.

You can either wait to AOS until after your spring ceremony (you don't need to AOS within 90 days, but you do need to marry within 90 days of her arrival). Or, you can do a JOP ceremony (ours was $60, but another JOP wanted $100) and use that for AOS and do the spring ceremony for yourselves.

When did your fiance arrive? What is the Form I-94 date?

Okay, that's the information I was missing. So the plan will be court house marriage license, wait 72 hours, do a JOP ceremony, and be legal and no issues for K1 and AOS. and then do a ceremony for friends and family in the spring some time and not worry about it. Sitting at home is driving her crazy, and wants to be able to work, so we want to do the AOS as soon as possible.

My fiancé arrived on 10/23/15

[Amhara 460]

My fiancé arrived on 10/23/15

So you have until a little over the middle of January to marry. Contact the JOP ahead of time because we had to make an appointment. If you think the cost is too high, try contacting another JOP a little farther away. We had to pay cash and I suggest calling as soon as you are able too. I was personally a little surprised that I couldn't get into see the JOP sooner, but I was happy with the appointment time they gave us. It's better to prepare now than to be surprised later and scramble to get the license certified!

Also, see if you can get the Texas Twogether program. It saves money on the Texas license, removes the 72 hour waiting period, and may be something fun you two can do together. (http://www.bethechampion.org/relationship/engaged2.html) We weren't able to because I work on Saturdays, but it's only $25 to register and you may benefit from the experience! You get a certificate of completion afterwards that you can send in during your AOS!

[ucijeepguy 3]

So you have until a little over the middle of January to marry. Contact the JOP ahead of time because we had to make an appointment. If you think the cost is too high, try contacting another JOP a little farther away. We had to pay cash and I suggest calling as soon as you are able too. I was personally a little surprised that I couldn't get into see the JOP sooner, but I was happy with the appointment time they gave us. It's better to prepare now than to be surprised later and scramble to get the license certified!

Also, see if you can get the Texas Twogether program. It saves money on the Texas license, removes the 72 hour waiting period, and may be something fun you two can do together. (http://www.bethechampion.org/relationship/engaged2.html) We weren't able to because I work on Saturdays, but it's only $25 to register and you may benefit from the experience! You get a certificate of completion afterwards that you can send in during your AOS!

We've seen the twogether thing, and talked about it. At first we laughed and said it was stupid, but on second thought figured it may be a good idea because a few hours counseling to strengthen our relationship is never a bad thing.

Great advise, thank you.