Getting marriage in different state on K1 visa

[Evert - Thao 4]

Hi, 

 

I will arrive in North Carolina soon on K1 visa and plan to have a wedding in either Ashville, North Carolina or San Francisco, California where my fiance comes from. I wonder if it is possible for us to get married in CA then live and do all papers work in NC? Or we can only get married in NC? My fiance is currently living in NC and we will have a house there. 

 

And does anyone knows if the marriage process is normal in NC and CA or there is still disruption due to Covid?

 

Thank you a lot

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

you are free to marry in any of the 50 states 

if you marry in Ashville be sure to viist the Biltmore Castle  its worth it 

and trying to do a wedding in CA with all the fires may be a bit more difficult 

but either is accepted 

[Crazy Cat 42,032]

47 minutes ago, Evert - Thao said:

Hi, 

 

I will arrive in North Carolina soon on K1 visa and plan to have a wedding in either Ashville, North Carolina or San Francisco, California where my fiance comes from. I wonder if it is possible for us to get married in CA then live and do all papers work in NC? Or we can only get married in NC? My fiance is currently living in NC and we will have a house there. 

 

And does anyone knows if the marriage process is normal in NC and CA or there is still disruption due to Covid?

 

Thank you a lot

Another option is marriage in Las Vegas.  Our distinguished and very gracious member @Loren Y has offered to perform marriages for VJ members there.  

Edited August 8, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[Loren Y 2,756]

As a side note, weddings are taking 6-8 weeks to schedule in California, and then another 6-8 weeks to get the marriage certificate. Double check all the times it would take before you book in California. I have 3-4 couples a month come from California to Las Vegas, NV to get married because I can get everything done from license to ceremony to marriage certificate in hand in about an hour. If you want quick and easy, feel free to consider Las Vegas, I can help you out like I have many couples from VJ. And, I don't charge for my services for VJ members. North Carolina should be pretty straight forward.

[SalishSea 18,058]

46 minutes ago, Evert - Thao said:

Hi, 

 

I will arrive in North Carolina soon on K1 visa and plan to have a wedding in either Ashville, North Carolina or San Francisco, California where my fiance comes from. I wonder if it is possible for us to get married in CA then live and do all papers work in NC? Or we can only get married in NC? My fiance is currently living in NC and we will have a house there. 

 

And does anyone knows if the marriage process is normal in NC and CA or there is still disruption due to Covid?

 

Thank you a lot

It doesn't matter to USCIS where in the United States you get married.  Be sure to research the different requirements for each state though.  For example, here in Washington, pre-COVID, both parties had to apply for a marriage license in person, and then there was a mandatory 3 day waiting period.  So if you are traveling, you will want to consider rules like that.

 

Good luck!

[Loren Y 2,756]

Looks like @Lucky Cat had the same idea I did. Beat me by 10 seconds posting. LOL

[Evert - Thao 4]

On 8/8/2021 at 11:26 PM, Loren Y said:

As a side note, weddings are taking 6-8 weeks to schedule in California, and then another 6-8 weeks to get the marriage certificate. Double check all the times it would take before you book in California. I have 3-4 couples a month come from California to Las Vegas, NV to get married because I can get everything done from license to ceremony to marriage certificate in hand in about an hour. If you want quick and easy, feel free to consider Las Vegas, I can help you out like I have many couples from VJ. And, I don't charge for my services for VJ members. North Carolina should be pretty straight forward.

Hi, 

Thank you so much  May I message you? 

[Ontarkie 14,365]

~~Moved to Moving to America and Your New Life, form K1 P&P - as the OP is past the K1 processing and looking a places to get married~~

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,096]

On 8/8/2021 at 12:38 PM, Evert - Thao said:

I will arrive in North Carolina soon on K1 visa and plan to have a wedding in either Ashville, North Carolina or San Francisco, California where my fiance comes from. I wonder if it is possible for us to get married in CA then live and do all papers work in NC? Or we can only get married in NC? My fiance is currently living in NC and we will have a house there. 

As others have said, as far as USCIS is concerned where you get married (as long as it's within the US) doesn't matter at all.

 

Because of processing timelines for lots of things, my recommendation (and what Anastasia and I did) is generally for K-1 couples to marry legally as soon as possible so you can get the AOS process started, as EAD/AP and a green card a very useful for your life here.

You don't necessarily need to let anyone who doesn't need to know that you're already legally married at a ceremony you have later.