My K1 Visa is about to expire and all the courthouses are closed -- What should I do?

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, Cheric ❤️ said:

Can we get marriage license online?

Nope.  Requires both parties to show up in person 

[Ontarkie 14,221]

~~Moved to moving Here and Your New Life, from K1 P&P~~

[Cheric ❤️ 11]

13 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Nope.  Requires both parties to show up in person 

Oh okay so we just wait when the courthouse is open. Thank you so much ☺️

[little immigrant 801]

2 hours ago, Cheric ❤️ said:

I'm here in the US now ,not yet married and my k1 visa was about to expired on April 22 and all the courthouse here in Illinois is closed , what should I do ? Which states that the courthouse are still open to get marriage license and get married? Any suggestion please 🥺

Your visa expires but you have a 90 day period where you don't overstay. The April 22nd was the last day you could have entered the US. This date is meaningless now because you're already here. If you marry within the 90 since your arrival, you'll be fine. 

[Cheric ❤️ 11]

1 minute ago, little immigrant said:

Your visa expires but you have a 90 day period where you don't overstay. The April 22nd was the last day you could have entered the US. This date is meaningless now because you're already here. If you marry within the 90 since your arrival, you'll be fine. 

I'm already here in US January 24th and we didn't get married yet because my fiance was very busy at work and my 90 days will expired on April 22nd

[Klugscheißer 183]

In our county in North Central Pennsylvania the courthouses offer to issue marriage licenses upon appointment if it's urgent and you have a good reason... maybe other counties and states do that as well? 🤷‍♀️

Have you called and asked or explained your situation? I would give it a shot, if I were you.

[G Walters 136]

Hello

I am in  Southern Iowa and can help if you can get a license.

 

[Cheric ❤️ 11]

55 minutes ago, G Walters said:

Hello

I am in  Southern Iowa and can help if you can get a license.

 

Hi ☺️

We need to go there to get a marriage license? I really appreciate your help it just such a relief for me 🙏 

[KBCN 53]

Hi! 

 

I live in Texas, so I can't particularly guide you to Illinois specifics, but the steps to get married are basically:

 

1. Obtain a marriage license  - these are issued by the court/county clerk office. If you don't know where to go, I would recommend Googling "where to get marriage license in [your county]" and that should provide you with some answers. Since courts/offices are closed, you may want to see if they have any way of issuing one based off your situation (as a few others have recommended).

 

2. Once your marriage license is valid - you can get married! (others have said that your license allows you to do a same-day marriage in Illinois; in Texas, for example, we had to wait 72 hours from the time the marriage license was given to us). So as long as your license is now valid for getting married, you can.

 

3. Anyone licensed or ordained can marry you (a judge, priest, minister, a friend, etc.) - as long as they have the legal and proper licensing to marry people. You don't have to get married in a courthouse, it's just a quick and easier option for a lot of people. G Walters offered to do the marriage for you guys which I'd probably take him up on if you can't find someone else to do it and you are in a bind.

 

4. Sign and seal - after you are married, typically you sign and/or the administrator of the marriage SIGNS your marriage license. In Texas, you can mail it back to the court or drop it off in person so the marriage can be officially recorded. I would probably wait and drop it off as soon as possible when the courthouses reopen. You will need several CERTIFIED COPIES of the marriage license to submit with your Adjustment of Status and other things. You should get these copies done the day you drop off your license (if it's allowed). 

 

Again - Illinois might be a little different on the steps, including step #4 so I would follow the guidance of those that are more knowledgeable to the state of Illinois Good luck! 

[Cheric ❤️ 11]

4 minutes ago, KBCN said:

Hi! 

 

I live in Texas, so I can't particularly guide you to Illinois specifics, but the steps to get married are basically:

 

1. Obtain a marriage license  - these are issued by the court/county clerk office. If you don't know where to go, I would recommend Googling "where to get marriage license in [your county]" and that should provide you with some answers. Since courts/offices are closed, you may want to see if they have any way of issuing one based off your situation (as a few others have recommended).

 

2. Once your marriage license is valid - you can get married! (others have said that your license allows you to do a same-day marriage in Illinois; in Texas, for example, we had to wait 72 hours from the time the marriage license was given to us). So as long as your license is now valid for getting married, you can.

 

3. Anyone licensed or ordained can marry you (a judge, priest, minister, a friend, etc.) - as long as they have the legal and proper licensing to marry people. You don't have to get married in a courthouse, it's just a quick and easier option for a lot of people. G Walters offered to do the marriage for you guys which I'd probably take him up on if you can't find someone else to do it and you are in a bind.

 

4. Sign and seal - after you are married, typically you sign and/or the administrator of the marriage SIGNS your marriage license. In Texas, you can mail it back to the court or drop it off in person so the marriage can be officially recorded. I would probably wait and drop it off as soon as possible when the courthouses reopen. You will need several CERTIFIED COPIES of the marriage license to submit with your Adjustment of Status and other things. You should get these copies done the day you drop off your license (if it's allowed). 

 

Again - Illinois might be a little different on the steps, including step #4 so I would follow the guidance of those that are more knowledgeable to the state of Illinois Good luck! 

Thank you so much 🙏 You guys help me alot of this and I really appreciate it ☺️

[NikLR 13,227]

14 hours ago, Cheric ❤️ said:

I don't know when is the courthouse here in Illinois will open , I hope that they will open before April 22nd

Your K1 expired the instant you entered the USA.  What matters is the 90 days after entry (your I-94).  Can you finish your timeline?

(I read further)

Okay if you entered on 1/24 you are right, your 90 days is up on 4/23. 

Hopefully the info others have gave you will help! Best wishes

Edited March 30, 2020 by NikLR

[Cheric ❤️ 11]

25 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Your K1 expired the instant you entered the USA.  What matters is the 90 days after entry (your I-94).  Can you finish your timeline?

(I read further)

Okay if you entered on 1/24 you are right, your 90 days is up on 4/23. 

Hopefully the info others have gave you will help! Best wishes

Yes , Thank you so much ☺️ 

[usmsbow 801]

It looks like Iowa hasn't implemented a stay-at-home order yet, so you might still be able to get married there. A lot of Missouri counties have issued stay-at-home orders, but it isn't state wide yet so you might be able to get married somewhere in MO as well. 

 

NY Times list of states with stay-at-home/shelter-in-place orders

 

Good luck! 

 

 

 

 

[Cheric ❤️ 11]

15 minutes ago, usmsbow said:

It looks like Iowa hasn't implemented a stay-at-home order yet, so you might still be able to get married there. A lot of Missouri counties have issued stay-at-home orders, but it isn't state wide yet so you might be able to get married somewhere in MO as well. 

 

NY Times list of states with stay-at-home/shelter-in-place orders

 

Good luck! 

 

 

 

 

I'm searching now where is the open courthouses in Missouri and Iowa ☺️ Thank you 🙏

[Ncornejo7 236]

Why dont you go to a Public notary, they probably have a Marriage license around just have to fill it up.