K1 approved and now in US - fastest/easiest way to get marriage certificate?

[guy1872 0]

Hi all,

 

Thank goodness! Our K1 was approved, and my fiancée is here with me in the U.S.

I'm looking for the fastest way to get a marriage certificate, so she can get on my employer's medical insurance.  (We're doing the bigger religious ceremony afterward)

 

Option 1:

Online Utah wedding ceremony, where me, my fiancée, and family will all be physically together in Texas, and the officiant will host from Utah.  However, I read at least one forum post suggesting that the USCIS treats online weddings as "proxy," even if the bride/groom are physically together. Anyone have more info?

 

Option 2: (Edit: Seems to be a lot of fear/uncertainty about this one so probably not going to go with it...)

Head to California and get a license + certificate all in one go. These are "confidential" wedding licenses, but I vaguely recall a post claiming they had a problem with the USCIS because of a confidential license.

https://www.1hourmarriage.com/ 

 

Option 3:

Any suggestions?

 

 

Edited September 18, 2021 by guy1872

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

Orange county offers walk in licenses+ceremony and the certificate should be ready in 5 to 10 days. 

 

https://www.ocrecorder.com/services/marriage-services

[powerpuff 6,697]

~ Moved from K1 Forum to Moving to the US and New Life in America - this is past K1 process, OP is looking for options to get a marriage certificate ~
 

Zoom ceremony is a good option. Someone here on VJ did that and they were approved for spousal visa:

There’s another option. If you head to Las Vegas, @Loren Y here on VJ generously offered to marry VJ members free of charge and you’ll have a marriage certificate on your hands in an hour 

[Crazy Cat 41,846]

1 hour ago, guy1872 said:

However, I read at least one forum post suggesting that the USCIS treats online weddings as "proxy," even if the bride/groom are physically together. Anyone have more info?

Not true.

[HRQX 4,145]

2 hours ago, guy1872 said:

I read at least one forum post suggesting that the USCIS treats online weddings as "proxy," even if the bride/groom are physically together. Anyone have more info?

That is incorrect. If you'll be physically together then it's a valid marriage for USCIS. See INA 101(a)(35): "The term "spouse", "wife", or "husband" do not include a spouse, wife, or husband by reason of any marriage ceremony where the contracting parties thereto are not physically present in the presence of each other, unless the marriage shall have been consummated."

[Loren Y 2,755]

2 hours ago, guy1872 said:

Hi all,

 

Thank goodness! Our K1 was approved, and my fiancée is here with me in the U.S.

I'm looking for the fastest way to get a marriage certificate, so she can get on my employer's medical insurance.  (We're doing the bigger religious ceremony afterward)

 

Option 1:

Online Utah wedding ceremony, where me, my fiancée, and family will all be physically together in Texas, and the officiant will host from Utah.  However, I read at least one forum post suggesting that the USCIS treats online weddings as "proxy," even if the bride/groom are physically together. Anyone have more info?

 

Option 2: (Edit: Seems to be a lot of fear/uncertainty about this one so probably not going to go with it...)

Head to California and get a license + certificate all in one go. These are "confidential" wedding licenses, but I vaguely recall a post claiming they had a problem with the USCIS because of a confidential license.

https://www.1hourmarriage.com/ 

 

Option 3:

Any suggestions?

 

 

As @powerpuff has suggested. If you can get to Las Vegas,NV I can get you married with certificate in hand in about an hour. Feel free to message me for my contact information. I have done dozens of K1 marriages with no issues at all. And I don't charge to do it for VJ members.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

OP, order multiple marriage certificates -- you'll need them for immigration, banks, etc., and maybe souvenir copies for the respective parents.

[Gabe89 27]

Hey! you should be able to go to the local courthouse and get married there. they should give you the marriage certificate and even certified copies before you walk away.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,438]

20 hours ago, guy1872 said:

Hi all,

 

Thank goodness! Our K1 was approved, and my fiancée is here with me in the U.S.

I'm looking for the fastest way to get a marriage certificate, so she can get on my employer's medical insurance.  (We're doing the bigger religious ceremony afterward)

 

Option 1:

Online Utah wedding ceremony, where me, my fiancée, and family will all be physically together in Texas, and the officiant will host from Utah.  However, I read at least one forum post suggesting that the USCIS treats online weddings as "proxy," even if the bride/groom are physically together. Anyone have more info?

 

Option 2: (Edit: Seems to be a lot of fear/uncertainty about this one so probably not going to go with it...)

Head to California and get a license + certificate all in one go. These are "confidential" wedding licenses, but I vaguely recall a post claiming they had a problem with the USCIS because of a confidential license.

https://www.1hourmarriage.com/ 

 

Option 3:

Any suggestions?

 

 

 

If you are in Texas, why don't you go to your local county clerk's office?  I believe it's just a fee + 72 hour waiting period between applying for the license and receiving it.  Then you can probably book a local magistrate or county clerk to perform the wedding at the courthouse or town office.

 

Example, for Dallas County:

 

https://www.dallascounty.org/government/county-clerk/marriage-license.php

 

 

EDIT:

 

Looks like for Texas, only priests, ministers, rabbi's, judge/magistrate or retired judge/magistrate can perform the marriage ceremony:

 

Quote

Sec. 2.202. PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT CEREMONY. (a) The following persons are authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony:

(1) a licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest;

(2) a Jewish rabbi;

(3) a person who is an officer of a religious organization and who is authorized by the organization to conduct a marriage ceremony;

(4) a justice of the supreme court, judge of the court of criminal appeals, justice of the courts of appeals, judge of the district, county, and probate courts, judge of the county courts at law, judge of the courts of domestic relations, judge of the juvenile courts, retired justice or judge of those courts, justice of the peace, retired justice of the peace, judge of a municipal court, retired judge of a municipal court, associate judge of a statutory probate court, retired associate judge of a statutory probate court, associate judge of a county court at law, retired associate judge of a county court at law, or judge or magistrate of a federal court of this state; and

(5) a retired judge or magistrate of a federal court of this state.

 

Edited September 19, 2021 by SteveInBostonI130
more information

[ksh9256 21]

I did the Utah online marriage back in 2020. No issues with USCIS. My wife got her green card this year.

[Joe Kano 327]

On 9/19/2021 at 1:00 PM, SteveInBostonI130 said:

 

If you are in Texas, why don't you go to your local county clerk's office?  I believe it's just a fee + 72 hour waiting period between applying for the license and receiving it.  Then you can probably book a local magistrate or county clerk to perform the wedding at the courthouse or town office.

 

Example, for Dallas County:

 

https://www.dallascounty.org/government/county-clerk/marriage-license.php

 

 

EDIT:

 

Looks like for Texas, only priests, ministers, rabbi's, judge/magistrate or retired judge/magistrate can perform the marriage ceremony:

 

 

Texas you can get ordained online for free and one can perform the ceremony, My mother has married about half a dozen people in Dallas County