Third Party Country Marriage...

[Mike E 11,739]

Ironically one of the easiest countries for two foreigners to get married in where neither foreigner is a citizen of that country is the USA.  Counties just don’t care.  They accept your word that the couple is eligible to marry each other. If it turns out they weren’t eligible then it turns out that they weren’t legally married.  People who will officiate the marriage are a dime a dozen. 

 

Even Canada adds road blocks now. 

 

I think after you do some research you will have trouble finding a third country that checks all these boxes:

 

- the non USA partner doesn’t require a visa

- the process for forienfers to get married is easy and fast (faster than maximum time both partners are permitted to stay in the country waiting for a marriage license) 

- travel to the third country is cheap

- finding someone to officiate is easy

 

This was a big reason why I went the K1 route, as Myanmar puts up lots of roadblocks for a Buddhist to marry a non Buddhist and Singapore and Thailand while cheap to fly to, and visa free for my fiancée, have a non trivial process for foreigners to get married to each other. And finding an officiator for the marriage can be hard in Singapore.   

 

If you can go the K1 route, you should. If you cannot, and you can get married in Egypt, you should.  Egypt is a big country and you can get married without family interference.  

 

[JFH 12,190]

The poster @bakphx1 got married in Iceland, I believe. And neither party is a citizen of Iceland. 

 

I have also seen reports of Denmark being very easy to get married in (minimal paperwork, quick process, etc). 

[Just Paul 4,595]

16 hours ago, MohamedAndRebecca said:

Does anyone have any experience with marriage in a third party country, i.e., not either of your home country?

 

Then registering the marriage in each of your respective home countries?

Does anyone have an experience or knowledge about this

USC and Filipina and we got married in Hong Kong.  No issues.   Since she lived in the Philippines and would be migrating from there she did register the marriage there.   Did not have to be done for her VISA.  Needed to be done for her PASSPORT renewal as it would have expired in 2019.

[jcra615 53]

While I can't attest to how that process will work in Egypt, DEFINITELY make sure that you get country-specific information before you make the choice to do that. I'd say call the embassies involved / talk to the people that would have to sign off on that to get the full details of the process and cost.

 

My husband and I are trying to get our marriage (which occurred in the U.S.) registered in his home country, Cuba, and it is a freaking logistical nightmare (and huge expense) to say the least. 

[bakphx1 789]

18 hours ago, JFH said:

The poster @bakphx1 got married in Iceland, I believe. And neither party is a citizen of Iceland. 

 

I have also seen reports of Denmark being very easy to get married in (minimal paperwork, quick process, etc). 

Correct.  It wasn’t too hard to get the wedding set up without being there in person.  

[MohamedAndRebecca 3]

On ‎12‎/‎31‎/‎2018 at 7:26 PM, pushbrk said:

If you can arrange to marry in a country where neither of you resides, that in and of itself is not a problem.  If you need to subsequently register the marriage in Egypt, fine.  For the US, married is married.  No need for any "registration".

 

HOWEVER, the personal issues you mentioned can be a huge red flag in actually getting the visa.  You mention family disagreements.  The nature of and reasons for those disagreements can weigh heavily on a Consular Officer's visa decision.  What kind of issues are we talking about here?

Thank you for your advice!

Basically, my parents and family wouldn't agree with the marriage, and don't like me traveling to Egypt.  There's no issues on his side though.

[Mr Genuis 91]

On 1/1/2019 at 3:34 AM, MohamedAndRebecca said:

Thank you.  I'm new to this process, so forgive me if I sound stupid.

 

So I'm wondering if there would be any issues if we got married in a third country... not USA, and not SO's home country.  Wondering if anyone else has done this or knows anything about it.

 

I met my wife in korea. We marraid here in korea. She is from U.S  am not from korea either. But we applied for 130 already. So the is no problem where ever you make your marraid as long as its legal. Uscis recognise it

[pushbrk 12,899]

2 hours ago, MohamedAndRebecca said:

Thank you for your advice!

Basically, my parents and family wouldn't agree with the marriage, and don't like me traveling to Egypt.  There's no issues on his side though.

That can become an issue at the interview.  He is likely to be asked why you didn't marry in Egypt.  He MUST tell the truth and the truthful answer will reveal your family does not approve of the marriage.  Depending on the rest of the circumstances, that can be a really big issue, particularly if he is Muslim, you are not, and you are more than a couple years older.

[MohamedAndRebecca 3]

4 hours ago, pushbrk said:

That can become an issue at the interview.  He is likely to be asked why you didn't marry in Egypt.  He MUST tell the truth and the truthful answer will reveal your family does not approve of the marriage.  Depending on the rest of the circumstances, that can be a really big issue, particularly if he is Muslim, you are not, and you are more than a couple years older.

That makes sense, thank you for your advice!

I am 1 year younger than him, but we do not share the same religion.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

On ‎12‎/‎31‎/‎2018 at 2:01 PM, MohamedAndRebecca said:

It is entirely my family who is the problem :-\  I fully understand their acceptance isn't needed when it comes to immigration... But that still doesn't mean I want to piss them off or upset them further.  They are extremely difficult to work with.  If it wasn't for them this wouldn't be an issue.  I'm just trying to figure out how to make them least upset.  Thank you for your advice though!

I am unaware of a situation where the CO asked about or had a concern about what a USC's family opinion is of a USC's marriage.  The truth is this:  Wherever you choose to legally marry and if you have the legal document reflecting your marriage then that is all that is needed to file your petition and process your spouse's visa. 

Saudi laws are even more backward and archaic than Egypt's and the CO only wanted to see our documentation (neither of us were from Saudi nor did we get married in Saudi) to process my wife's IV to immigrate to the US from Saudi. 

[pushbrk 12,899]

3 hours ago, MohamedAndRebecca said:

That makes sense, thank you for your advice!

I am 1 year younger than him, but we do not share the same religion.

So, if you are never going to travel to Egypt, that will be either more difficult or far more expensive to spend time together in person.  Time together in person is the strongest evidence of a bona fide relationship.  With the family disapproval being on your side, that's less of an issue with a Consular Officer.  

 

You might want to weigh your chances of ultimate success and happiness together with your husband against the ramifications of upsetting your family.  Ultimately, you'll be deciding whether it's your relationship and future with your husband or your family's feelings that are more important to you.  

[IndiaAnnie 163]

On 12/31/2018 at 4:26 PM, pushbrk said:

HOWEVER, the personal issues you mentioned can be a huge red flag in actually getting the visa.  You mention family disagreements.  The nature of and reasons for those disagreements can weigh heavily on a Consular Officer's visa decision.  What kind of issues are we talking about here?

I kindly disagree with this assessment. If you are married, anywhere that's legal, then you are legally married and bound by law. The family opinion at that point is null and void when it comes to immigration. Your mother disagreeing with choice of wife holds no value to your right to immigrate. Example: Thailand and many other countries host weddings for foreigners just Google the requirements and you will see the steps to accomplish in a two week vacation timeframe (https://m.wikihow.com/Get-Married-in-Thailand-(as-a-Foreigner))

 

Just my personal take after going through K1 process through embassy interview and withdrawing for CR1 after an unexpected opportunity to marry in India with family and friends!! Good luck and go for it!!

[pushbrk 12,899]

14 hours ago, IndiaAnnie said:

I kindly disagree with this assessment. If you are married, anywhere that's legal, then you are legally married and bound by law. The family opinion at that point is null and void when it comes to immigration. Your mother disagreeing with choice of wife holds no value to your right to immigrate. Example: Thailand and many other countries host weddings for foreigners just Google the requirements and you will see the steps to accomplish in a two week vacation timeframe (https://m.wikihow.com/Get-Married-in-Thailand-(as-a-Foreigner))

 

Just my personal take after going through K1 process through embassy interview and withdrawing for CR1 after an unexpected opportunity to marry in India with family and friends!! Good luck and go for it!!

Not sure what you are disagreeing with, since I said "can be" and "depending...".  The person hasn't described the issues.  Depending on what they are and why, they absolutely CAN be....  The question is not whether the marriage is legal.  The question is, "Will a Consular Officer ultimately conclude, based on the "totality of circumstances" that the marriage RELATIONSHIP is BONA FIDE."