Does getting married in LA/OC require a US address?

[goodlulck52 69]

Hi Guys,

 

We plan to live in a hotel for a while before we find an apartment in LA. But we still want to get the process moving by getting married as soon as possible in a courthouse or similar. So while we live in a hotel without a US address, is it still possible to get married in LA/OC? Also can this be done in one day? (We probably will not have a car right away, so we will need to take a bus.)

 

Also, my alien fiance had an SSN a few years ago on F-1 student visa. I heard that we do not need to apply for a new SSN. But do we need to contact SSN office to update the immigration status from F1 student to K1 fiance? Thanks!!!

 

Cheers

 

 

Edited July 22, 2017 by goodlulck52

[Scandi 4,166]

They ask for address on the marriage license application but you can probably just put down the address of the hotel. How do all tourists who come here to get married do it otherwise? 

 

Here's the online application: https://marriage.lavote.net/mls/

 

Both of you must be present when it's being picked up. You will be able to choose a wedding date when you pick it up. My guess would be that Norwalk is the office that can offer you the best date as they are doing ceremonies more often than the other LA offices.

[Ontarkie 14,225]

~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New Life, from K1 P&P - As this is not a k1 process topic.~~

[goodlulck52 69]

8 minutes ago, Scandi said:

They ask for address on the marriage license application but you can probably just put down the address of the hotel. How do all tourists who come here to get married do it otherwise? 

 

Here's the online application: https://marriage.lavote.net/mls/

 

Both of you must be present when it's being picked up. You will be able to choose a wedding date when you pick it up. My guess would be that Norwalk is the office that can offer you the best date as they are doing ceremonies more often than the other LA offices.

Thanks very much!! 

[mindthegap 2,590]

5 hours ago, goodlulck52 said:

So while we live in a hotel without a US address, is it still possible to get married in LA/OC?

Yes

5 hours ago, goodlulck52 said:

Also can this be done in one day?

Yes, if you use an officiant who is authorised in California to issue what is called a confidential marriage license.

Send them some info, they pre-fill it and bring it with them, you turn up where you want (it can be pretty much anywhere in Los Angeles county, even in your hotel if you like), you both sign, you say what you want, and you are married.

You get the master copy which is legal proof of your marriage, and they then file the paperwork for you and a certified & filed copy arrives in the mail a few weeks later.

Crucially, you do not need a witness for a confidential license, which may help you out.

Will cost a little more than DIY, but save you two visits to city hall/other city offices (trust me...it is worth it for this alone!) and a shed load of hassle for you.

 

I can wholeheartedly recommend Chris - aka 'The Officiant Guy' LINK . Fully authorised to issue confidential licenses, efficient, knows his stuff, not that expensive, has done loads of high profile celebrity weddings, and is a nice guy to boot.

Oh, and he can supply a superb photographer as well, for not much money.

 

PM me if you want more info from my experience - happy to help.

Edited July 23, 2017 by mindthegap

[goodlulck52 69]

On 7/23/2017 at 3:53 PM, mindthegap said:

Yes

Yes, if you use an officiant who is authorised in California to issue what is called a confidential marriage license.

Send them some info, they pre-fill it and bring it with them, you turn up where you want (it can be pretty much anywhere in Los Angeles county, even in your hotel if you like), you both sign, you say what you want, and you are married.

You get the master copy which is legal proof of your marriage, and they then file the paperwork for you and a certified & filed copy arrives in the mail a few weeks later.

Crucially, you do not need a witness for a confidential license, which may help you out.

Will cost a little more than DIY, but save you two visits to city hall/other city offices (trust me...it is worth it for this alone!) and a shed load of hassle for you.

 

I can wholeheartedly recommend Chris - aka 'The Officiant Guy' LINK . Fully authorised to issue confidential licenses, efficient, knows his stuff, not that expensive, has done loads of high profile celebrity weddings, and is a nice guy to boot.

Oh, and he can supply a superb photographer as well, for not much money.

 

PM me if you want more info from my experience - happy to help.

Thank you very much for the information!

 

[goodlulck52 69]

On 7/23/2017 at 10:54 AM, Scandi said:

They ask for address on the marriage license application but you can probably just put down the address of the hotel. How do all tourists who come here to get married do it otherwise? 

 

Here's the online application: https://marriage.lavote.net/mls/

 

Both of you must be present when it's being picked up. You will be able to choose a wedding date when you pick it up. My guess would be that Norwalk is the office that can offer you the best date as they are doing ceremonies more often than the other LA offices.

Just a follow up question: The website you listed above mentioned below:

 

The L.A. County RR/CC provides marriage licenses to couples getting married in the near future and even performs civil ceremonies for a small fee. Once a couple has obtained their marriage license and participated in a qualified ceremony, the marriage license becomes a marriage certificate that must be sent back to the RR/CC to be recorded.

 

Does this mean I can get the marriage certificate and file AOS on the same day, regardless of whether it is sent to the RR/CC to be recorded? I heard that this could take weeks, which we would rather not waste.

[Scandi 4,166]

9 minutes ago, goodlulck52 said:

Just a follow up question: The website you listed above mentioned below:

 

The L.A. County RR/CC provides marriage licenses to couples getting married in the near future and even performs civil ceremonies for a small fee. Once a couple has obtained their marriage license and participated in a qualified ceremony, the marriage license becomes a marriage certificate that must be sent back to the RR/CC to be recorded.

 

Does this mean I can get the marriage certificate and file AOS on the same day, regardless of whether it is sent to the RR/CC to be recorded? I heard that this could take weeks, which we would rather not waste.

You only receive a copy that says "customer copy" all over it and it is obviously not stamped or signed by a judge yet as it takes many weeks for your marriage to even be recorded. I would expect an RFE if you send in a copy of that paper but I read somewhere here on VJ that someone had done the same thing and not received an RFE. It's very strange if they don't RFE that since that paper is meaningless as your marriage hasn't even been recorded at the time, it's not a marriage certificate.

 

But it's up to you, try if you will. We got married on Nov 18 and marriage was only recorded on Dec 21 (we picked up our certificate the same day), and that was considered FAST according to the people at the county clerk's office in Norwalk. I hear some wait for 2 months these days. It sucks.

Edited August 1, 2017 by Scandi

[goodlulck52 69]

23 minutes ago, Scandi said:

You only receive a copy that says "customer copy" all over it and it is obviously not stamped or signed by a judge yet as it takes many weeks for your marriage to even be recorded. I would expect an RFE if you send in a copy of that paper but I read somewhere here on VJ that someone had done the same thing and not received an RFE. It's very strange if they don't RFE that sunce that paper is meaningless as your marriage hasn't even been recorded at the time, it's not a marriage certificate.

 

But it's up to you, try if you will. We got married on Nov 18 and marriage was only recorded on Dec 21 (we picked up our certificate the same day), and that was considered FAST according to the people at the county clerk's office in Norwalk. I hear some wait for 2 months these days. It sucks.

Thank you very much! Really appreciate the clarification!

 

Wow, that is over a month's waiting!! Now I can understand better when I read other people's stories about the process! Just saw someone's story that it took them two weeks to get their certificate in the OC. (There is no place that has the same day issuance of the certificate, is there?) 

 

Cheers.

[mindthegap 2,590]

2 hours ago, goodlulck52 said:

Does this mean I can get the marriage certificate and file AOS on the same day, regardless of whether it is sent to the RR/CC to be recorded?

Yes -  a confidential license becomes a valid certificate when signed by you and your spouse and signed & stamped by the the person who performed your marriage (who will be a notary, as they must be authorised to issue a confidential license), which is also one of the reasons why you do not need a witness for this type.

The ink signed & stamped 'customer copy' version is valid for all official purposes immediately and the prettier version comes in the mail later.

 

 

No idea about a normal license.

[goodlulck52 69]

8 hours ago, mindthegap said:

Yes -  a confidential license becomes a valid certificate when signed by you and your spouse and signed & stamped by the the person who performed your marriage (who will be a notary, as they must be authorised to issue a confidential license), which is also one of the reasons why you do not need a witness for this type.

The ink signed & stamped 'customer copy' version is valid for all official purposes immediately and the prettier version comes in the mail later.

 

 

No idea about a normal license.

Thanks very much for the clarification