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valkener

Obtaining Marriage License & Certificate in PA

By valkener in Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas

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valkener Rookie

valkener   0

Posted
Filed: J-1 Visa Timeline
Posted

Hello,

I live in PA, my fiance in Florida. She's an overstay that came on a J1 (not subject to 2-year rule). Once we are married she will move in with me and we will file for AOS. However, we would like to have our celebration in Florida (beach, weather, etc.). We were also planning on my grandfather, who is a retired pastor, to perform the ceremony there.

 

I see the requirements for PA here to obtain a license. We have this paper work so this should not be a problem. As far as I am aware, the marriage license must be issued in the state where the marriage is performed right?

 

So what are our options? 1) Get a marriage license in Florida and do the wedding there or 2) Get a marriage license in PA, go to a courthouse in PA and then do the religious ceremony in Florida?

 

Is 2) an option?

 

And my last question is, since I am PA resident, and we will live in PA, I think for the purpose of AOS, etc. -- it would also be best to have a marriage certificate from PA am I correct? 

 

Thanks!

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JFH Grand Master

JFH   12,190

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

Either option is possible. If you want to legally marry in Florida, you must obtain the license in Florida. However you can have a quick, legal marriage ceremony in PA with a PA license and then have the non-legal ceremony/celebration in FL and you won't need a license from FL if the ceremony there is not the legal ceremony.

 

You don't have to be married in the same state where you live and intend to file AOS. It's perfectly acceptable to marry in Hawaii and then file AOS in New York, if you live in New York. It doesn't matter which state you married in, just that the marriage is legal. 

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

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True_South Explorer

True_South   10

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Ukraine
 Timeline
Posted

To add to what @JFH wrote, the rules (waiting times, procedure) might change depending on county. You might be able to get a license and hold a ceremony right away, or you might have to wait for your license 3 business days. Just sayin'.

07-15-2016     Married.

03-25-2017     AOS packet sent (i-130 + i-485 + i-765 concurrent).

03-27-2017     AOS packet received according to USPS tracking number.

04-06-2017     NOA1 emails and texts received.

04-10-2017     NOA1 hard copies received.

04-15-2017     Biometrics appointment letter received.

04-25-2017     Biometrics appointment.

05-06-2017     RFE mailed.

07-05-2017     RFE response mailed.

07-06-2017     RFE response received according to USPS tracking number.

07-12-2017     RFE response receipt on 07-10-2017 confirmed via email and text.

07-22-2017     i-765 case updated with "we updated your name" message.

07-25-2017     EAD card mailed.

07-26-2017     EAD card mailing notification (email and text) received.

07-28-2017     EAD card in hand.

08-01-2017     "Interview scheduled" texts and email received. Hard copy interview letter (I-797C) received.

08-30-2017     Scheduled interview. 9 hours after getting out of the interview received email "we ordered your new card".

08-31-2017     33 hours after getting out of the interview received texts about case updates (i.e. texts were received 24 hours after emails). Hard copies of i-130 and i-485 approval notices received.

09-05-2017     "Card mailed" update on USCIS web site with notifications via text and email. Nothing on my USPS dashboard.

09-06-2017     Tracking number posted to USPS dashboard with "pre-shipment info sent".

09-08-2017     Green Card in hand.

09-11-2017     Online Request to fix the typo in the last name on the Green Card submitted.

09-20-2017     Infopass appointment. Result: "It's easier to wait for ROC and make sure they spell you name correctly at that time."

09-25-2017     Email received in response to the online request: "Infopass is the way to do this".

06-01-2019     ROC window opened.

08-01-2019     ROC packet sent.

08-05-2019     ROC packet delivered.

08-08-2019     Rejection notice sent (unable to process the credit card, possibly because of the formatting of billing address).

08-18-2019     Packet re-sent with personal check included.

08-20-2019     ROC packet delivered.

08-23-2019     NOA issued.

08-26-2019     NOA / 18 month extension letter received. Check cashed at 10:30 pm Mountain Time.

12-14-2019     Biometrics letter received. Notice date 12-06-2019. Appointment date 12-23-2019.

12-23-2019     Biometrics appointment. Email from USCIS stating that initial review has started. "During this step, USCIS initiates the background checks of the applicant/petitioner and identifies issues that may need to be addressed either during an interview or by asking the applicant/petitioner to submit additional information or documentation."

06-29-2020     Notification that "Name was updated" (hopefully they are putting back the hyphen they had dropped when issuing the original GC).

07-09-2020     Received notification "New card is being produced".

07-10-2020     Received notification "Case was approved".

07-29-2020     Received notification "Card mailed".

07-31-2020     Green Card in hand.

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LionessDeon Experienced

LionessDeon   2,060

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Jamaica
 Timeline
Posted

There's no benefit in AOS of having a marriage certificate from the same state you reside in.  We live in Ohio.  We were married in Georgia and our marriage certificate is from Georgia state.  It present zero problem/issue at AOS time.

 

Research the county in which the religious ceremony will be held in Florida.  It may not pose any issue to obtain the license and certificate from there.  It didn't for us.  We arrived in Georgia 2 full business days before our wedding.  Obtained a marriage license the same day we went to the court house to apply for it.  Took it with us.  Signed it at our ceremony.  Took it back to the courthouse a few days later and received 2 certified marriage certificates on the spot to take back to Ohio with us.  We lucked out Cobb county was very efficient.

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