How do we get married immediately?

[LoveinUganda 20]

Hi everyone, me and my fiance are currently in the USA on a valid K1 visa. She is the beneficiary I am the petitioner. We want to get married within the next few days to start the paperwork and then have our ceremony in a few months. Does she need to first apply for a ssn to do this?

Secondly how exactly do you do something like that? You go to town hall get marriage license, but then what is the next step?

Also are we allowed to to this and start our paperwork for adjustment of status and advance parole immediately after? If it's just the two of us and we are in formal but not tuxedo or wedding dress is this still acceptable?

Thank you

[Tricked 33]

Where exactly are you in the US? - Different states do have different requirements, but, in general.

Yea, all you do is get a marriage license, marry, then file for AOS.

You seek out a court house and book a civil ceremony, all that is required for this is valid ID. And a witness*

*unless the state you are marrying in permits the "secret" civil wedding, whose name I forget. (Cal)

Correct this is allowed. Nothing states you must do a church ceremony, or anything like that. In fact it's easiest to do it this way, then a bigger celebration later, if you desire.

[LoveinUganda 20]

We are in Connecticut.

Does she NEED to have applied for a ssn already? Or is she able to do that after the legal marriage?

Secondly, I am assuming at this courthouse it is the Justice of the Peace that will marry us we are supposed to find one correct?

[Ontarkie 14,193]

~~Moved to Moving to the US and Your New Life, from K1 P&P - As the OP is investigating the process of getting married not the visa process.~~

[Tricked 33]

My reply got eaten during the move.

http://www.wikihow.com/Apply-For-a-Marriage-License-in-Connecticut

Assuming this is accurate information; yes it's a justice of the peace; you don't require a witness in CT. And social security number is just used as another form of ID.

...and apparently cousin marriage is allowed in CT. Live and learn.

[Ontarkie 14,193]

Go to the court house and find out what they need from you to get married. The SSN should not be needed to get married.

As soon as you two are married you can file for AOS. Many ppl do a court house marriage and plan the big wedding later.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Contact your county courthouse. You can even google the info. They will tell you how and what is needed to complete the marriage process. There is no requirement to have a big wedding.

[LoveinUganda 20]

Thank you everyone. I will meet with our pastor later today to talk things over and then apply tomorrow for license.

[baron555 934]

Hi everyone, me and my fiance are currently in the USA on a valid K1 visa. She is the beneficiary I am the petitioner. We want to get married within the next few days to start the paperwork and then have our ceremony in a few months. Does she need to first apply for a ssn to do this?

No

Secondly how exactly do you do something like that? You go to town hall get marriage license, but then what is the next step?

Both go to the county clerk's office and register for a marriage license. Bring IDs (passport and BC) and proof of residence. Pay the fee. The License usually takes a week.

Then call the county courthouse and determine when the county judge is conducting marriages. Go on that day and pay the fee, wait in the chambers and get married. No witnesses required. Then pay for multiple copies of the certified marriage certificate. Usually takes a week. Use on for AOS documents.

Also are we allowed to to this and start our paperwork for adjustment of status and advance parole immediately after?

Yes

If it's just the two of us and we are in formal but not tuxedo or wedding dress is this still acceptable?

Nice jeans are fine.

[TBoneTX 45,088]

Ask your officiant if you can hand-carry the signed marriage license to the courthouse yourself. Some license offices will prepare marriage certificates while you wait. This will save you several or many days, in comparison with waiting for certificates to be mailed to you. Order multiple copies of the marriage certificate.

[Marco&Bettina 502]

Ask your officiant if you can hand-carry the signed marriage license to the courthouse yourself. Some license offices will prepare marriage certificates while you wait. This will save you several or many days, in comparison with waiting for certificates to be mailed to you. Order multiple copies of the marriage certificate.

My courthouse (Bell County Texas) specifically told me not to hand carry it.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

We are in Connecticut.

Does she NEED to have applied for a ssn already? Or is she able to do that after the legal marriage?

Secondly, I am assuming at this courthouse it is the Justice of the Peace that will marry us we are supposed to find one correct?

My mom is a Justice of the Peace in Connecticut, and I have gotten married in CT. You need to obtain a marriage license. This is NOT done at the county courthouses in Connecticut. The issuance of the license is done by the town clerk of each town or city, and you MUST obtain it in the town in which you plan to be married. Are you in Southington? Here's the place for more info: http://www.southington.org/content/17216/17534/17706.aspx When I received my license, I had it the same day I applied. There is no waiting period in Connecticut -- you can get married the same day.

Justice of the Peace information is available from the town clerk for the town you wish to be married in. If you want to be married religiously, that's something to sort out with your church. Your pastor should help you out with filing the paperwork after the ceremony.

I stress again: the county courthouses have nothing to do with marriage licenses or certificates in Connecticut. I know people are trying to be helpful but like a lot of New England things, we deal with stuff a little differently.

[Loki_Go 126]

It takes a few weeks longer but I was so glad I got my SSN before I was married. Applied about a week and a half after arriving in the US; got a number in the mail in about 5 business days. Then we got married... and then I changed the name on my SS card.

With that card I was able to open a savings account, a joint account with my new husband and apply for a credit card. I built up credit while I waited for my AOS process to complete. I could have got a driver's license too but I haven't yet.

I think if you get married before applying for a SSN you have to wait until you get a conditional green card, no? I think I read that on here at some point.

[Rich&Ashmani 4]

My mom is a Justice of the Peace in Connecticut, and I have gotten married in CT. You need to obtain a marriage license. This is NOT done at the county courthouses in Connecticut. The issuance of the license is done by the town clerk of each town or city, and you MUST obtain it in the town in which you plan to be married. Are you in Southington? Here's the place for more info: http://www.southington.org/content/17216/17534/17706.aspx When I received my license, I had it the same day I applied. There is no waiting period in Connecticut -- you can get married the same day.

Justice of the Peace information is available from the town clerk for the town you wish to be married in. If you want to be married religiously, that's something to sort out with your church. Your pastor should help you out with filing the paperwork after the ceremony.

I stress again: the county courthouses have nothing to do with marriage licenses or certificates in Connecticut. I know people are trying to be helpful but like a lot of New England things, we deal with stuff a little differently.

I second this. I got married on K1 in CT in February of this year. Went to the town I was getting married in, filled out the paper work, paid $20 (varies depending on town) and got the license. I had a larger more traditional wedding however, but you can do it same day if you have someone to marry you. As soon as the justice turns it it, it can be copied and given to you for keeps. Theoretically, could be an hour total (if the stars aligned)

[awaywego 28]

As others have said, google your county (or town) clerk's office. This is not necessarily located at the courthouse; it's the office in charge of records.

Each state/county/town has its own rules and regulations. Some require you to wait to marry after obtaining the license (though it sounds CT does not). Some will not take walk-ins. Some will only offer or schedule JP weddings on/at certain days/times. Once you have the marriage license, anyone allowed by the state/county/town to legally perform the ceremony can. This might be the JP, might be the pastor you mention, might be a friend, etc. Hopefully all of this information is provided on the clerk's website.

An ID will likely be required, but SSN should not be. Not everyone who marries in the US – for example, international tourists – has a SSN.

It is up to you what you wear. I cannot imagine that there is a requirement of certain clothing to legally marry in your state/county/town, and clothing is not going to disprove your claim to immigration of bona fide marriage.