Register marriage in the US before starting CR-1 process

[theRainwormNL 1]

Hello Forum, 

 

I (from netherlands) just recently married the love of my life (from Texas) and we are starting our my CR-1 application. 

The one bit of information i can't seem to find is wether or not my wife should register being married before the application or not. 

The county clerk in Texas told my wife that she has to do that at the appostile office and the appostile office told her she should do that at the county clerk. 

So what we are trying to figure out is if it is even necessary to do that or that applying for the CR-1 is doing that in itself. 

 

For info, we got married in the Netherlands on the 14th of August 2021. My wife is back in the US and i'm still in the Netherlands. 

I've been to the US several times, and my now wife has been to the Netherlands even more. 

 

Thank you in advance for anyone who responds.

[Chancy 6,241]

50 minutes ago, theRainwormNL said:

The one bit of information i can't seem to find is wether or not my wife should register being married before the application or not. 

 

There's no national civil registry in the US, so there's no such thing as registering your foreign marriage in the US.  And there's no such requirement to be able to start the CR1 process.  Also, don't waste time and effort on apostille as it's not required for US immigration.  As long as you have a valid marriage certificate from the Netherlands, then your marriage is considered valid in the US.

 

When you search for US immigration info, I recommend you refer to the official sources first.  Start with the I-130 form instructions from USCIS -- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-130instr.pdf

 

This DOS page describes the marriage certificate from the Netherlands that is acceptable for US immigration -- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Netherlands.html

 

Edited September 3, 2021 by Chancy
typo

[randy32 165]

That might be a Texas state or Texas county thing. Never heard of it though.

But consider the fact that both offices are pointing back to each other shows that the county clerk is not sure and the appostile office just sent her back to the source

 

See "recordable documents" in the link below. it refers to documents issued by a Texas statewide officer

https://www.sos.state.tx.us/authinfo.shtml

 

USCIS accepts a valid marriage from any part of the world.

 

Complete whatever requirements are needed in Netherlands and file your petition.

Edited September 3, 2021 by randy32

[StrawberryKiss 170]

Save your time and money because we (German beneficiary, Texan petitioner) never did that. A marriage is a marriage and counts worldwide. I got my first green card without any problems, now we’re both living in Germany wanting to move back to TX and my petition got approved again. I’d just make sure to get enough international (= multilingual or English) marriage certificates for future purposes. But we really never registered our marriage anywhere in Texas (we got married in Germany). 

Edited September 3, 2021 by StrawberryKiss
Clarification

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from General Immigration-Related Discussion to IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures ***

 

[Boiler 45,551]

I did not know you could register a foreign marriage in the US.

[theRainwormNL 1]

Thank you all for the reactions. I couldnt find anything if it was necessary or not, and as you all now told me there even isn't such a thing as registering it. So we can just go ahead with starting the CR-1. 

This is so helpfull. Thank you all again. 

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

50 minutes ago, theRainwormNL said:

Thank you all for the reactions. I couldnt find anything if it was necessary or not, and as you all now told me there even isn't such a thing as registering it. So we can just go ahead with starting the CR-1. 

This is so helpfull. Thank you all again. 

I live in Texas.  We married in Taiwan.  There is no need to register your foreign marriage in the US.  

Edited September 3, 2021 by Crazy Cat

[theRainwormNL 1]

What about changing last name? How would my wife go through that process? Or is that also done with the CR-1?

[Chancy 6,241]

2 minutes ago, theRainwormNL said:

What about changing last name? How would my wife go through that process? Or is that also done with the CR-1?

 

Your marriage certificate serves as your wife's legal name change document.  She may use her married name on the I-130 and all other immigration forms, if that's the legal name that she now prefers to use.  Just remember to list her maiden name in the sections for petitioner's "Other Names Used".

 

Note that it's ok for her not to have any IDs in her married name during your immigration process.  As for changing her name on her IDs and accounts, each government agency or company will have their own procedure that your wife will need to look up.

 

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

1 hour ago, theRainwormNL said:

What about changing last name? How would my wife go through that process? Or is that also done with the CR-1?

I agree with @Chancy. 

BTW, I am in the Dallas area.  Shoot me a private message if you want to.....

[nastra30 2,287]

7 hours ago, Boiler said:

I did not know you could register a foreign marriage in the US.

I don't know about Texas, but in NJ you can register your foreign marriage through a process called remarriage.

 

https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/registration-vital/marriage-licenses/

 

"Remarriage

For individuals who are currently married in New Jersey or are married in another state or country, the option exists to reaffirm your relationship/vows by registering a remarriage.
 
To apply for a remarriage, the couple must provide proof of their existing marriage, meet the requirements for entering into a marriage in New Jersey and follow the guidelines above to completing the license application. The process for a remarriage license is the same as for the marriage license, except that the remarriage license must be accompanied by the proof of existing marriage. There is no 72-hour waiting period before the license is issued."

 

 

Edited September 3, 2021 by nastra30

[nastra30 2,287]

9 hours ago, theRainwormNL said:

The one bit of information i can't seem to find is wether or not my wife should register being married before the application or not. 

Don't bother yourself with this. Registering marriage in US is not needed for immigration purposes. 

Edited September 3, 2021 by nastra30

[Boiler 45,551]

I know you can get remarried in NY as well.