Got Married Outside of the US. Do I need to change my marital status in the US before filing for I-130

[Kim105 0]

Asking for a friend of mine, he’s a green card holder and got married outside the US.  He plans to file I-130 to get his wife and baby here.  Does he have to first change his marital status from single to married before filing for I-130? Where does he needs to go or what form to do this?

 

Or he can just go ahead file I-130 and just put married there and attach the marriage certificate? 
 

I really hope someone would help me.  
 

Thank you!

[Palala2018 28]

There is no real place to "register" a marriage that took place outside the country so there is no way or need to change his marital status in some central/official location. All he need do is follow the instructions for the 130 which include a the marriage certificate.

 

I got married in Iraq and that is how we filed. I went to the SS office because i was taking my husband's last name but that is it as far as "documenting" the marriage here went.( i am a us citizen if that helps with clarity at all)

[Kim105 0]

Thank you so much Palala2018

[Kim105 0]

4 hours ago, Palala2018 said:

There is no real place to "register" a marriage that took place outside the country so there is no way or need to change his marital status in some central/official location. All he need do is follow the instructions for the 130 which include a the marriage certificate.

 

I got married in Iraq and that is how we filed. I went to the SS office because i was taking my husband's last name but that is it as far as "documenting" the marriage here went.( i am a us citizen if that helps with clarity at all)

But with his case, the wife is not a citizen and she’s not here.  
 

So, base from what you mention just now.  He should just file the I-130 and to just answer the marital status married already, right?   
 

thank you in advance!

[arken 4,197]

Did that person register anywhere as single in the US other than simply checking Single on forms and such. The answer would be No. Same way, there is no registering somewhere as married. Just fill the forms and check “Married” wherever applicable.

[Kim105 0]

3 hours ago, arken said:

Did that person register anywhere as single in the US other than simply checking Single on forms and such. The answer would be No. Same way, there is no registering somewhere as married. Just fill the forms and check “Married” wherever applicable.

Thank you so much!

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Brining Family Members of Permanent Residents to America forum.

[CKMM 1]

I got married outside the US. Just file with the marriage certificate you have from the country you got married from. That suffices. We did not register anywhere in the US that we got married outside of the country. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

On 2/20/2020 at 3:35 PM, Kim105 said:

Asking for a friend of mine, he’s a green card holder and got married outside the US.  He plans to file I-130 to get his wife and baby here.  Does he have to first change his marital status from single to married before filing for I-130? Where does he needs to go or what form to do this?

 

Or he can just go ahead file I-130 and just put married there and attach the marriage certificate? 
 

I really hope someone would help me.  
 

Thank you!

File taxes as married.   Boom, you are done.