City Hall/Courthouse Wedding First?

[ToNhi 20]

Hi, 

I was wondering for USCIS Adjustment of Status purposes, if a city hall/courthouse wedding is acceptable at first, and then a couple of months later, if an interview is required for our I-485 (App. to Register Permanent Residence), if we can bring evidence/photos/video proof of an actual wedding celebration then. I have a giant family here in the U.S. and it will take months to book a venue, and have "evidence" of a wedding celebration. We hope to have the "legal" marriage first at city hall/courthouse and wasn't sure if USCIS would accept this as adequate proof of bonafide marriage evidence. 

Thanks!

 

- Tony 

[SalishSea 17,827]

4 minutes ago, ToNhi said:

Hi, 

I was wondering for USCIS Adjustment of Status purposes, if a city hall/courthouse wedding is acceptable at first, and then a couple of months later, if an interview is required for our I-485 (App. to Register Permanent Residence), if we can bring evidence/photos/video proof of an actual wedding celebration then. I have a giant family here in the U.S. and it will take months to book a venue, and have "evidence" of a wedding celebration. We hope to have the "legal" marriage first at city hall/courthouse and wasn't sure if USCIS would accept this as adequate proof of bonafide marriage evidence. 

Thanks!

 

- Tony 

Yes, of course.   Any legal marriage is fine.   

[ScarletWitch6x 62]

I think a lot of people do it this way  

[TBoneTX 45,284]

2 hours ago, ScarletWitch6x said:

I think a lot of people do it this way  

Indeed.  Fulfill the requirement in timely fashion, then plan the big shindig at your leisure.

[Scandi 4,166]

I was under the impression that the majority of us K-1ers did the court house thing. 😆

For AOS you need a document proving your are legally married.
Whether you ate cake and drank champagne after having a ceremony on the beach - or just stood in front of a county clerk without cake/champagne/beach - matters none whatsoever. And no, wedding pictures aren't required either. We don't have any, never did. 

[SL2024 65]

Me and my fiancee are having a courthouse wedding first and then another one for family and friends to attend. I think quite a few people do it this way. 

[OldUser 6,645]

Yes, that's exactly what me and my spouse did. Married officially first, then celebrated some time later. Just remember your actual marriage day is the first one in any conversation with USCIS.

[Pase2323 9]

Hi! We had a courthouse wedding but had some pictures taken so we could send proof with our application ☺️

[Edward and Jaycel 165]

Jaycel and I are getting married a week from tomorrow in front of a magistrate at the courthouse and then we will be having a bigger celebration next year for family/friends. As long as you have an official marriage certificate as a result, that's what USCIS requires.

[Noname93 200]

We had a "courthouse" wedding. (Our state doesn't do weddings at courthouses). It was small wedding with me and my husband, 2 witnesses, an officiant, and a friend taking photos. No one else. We had no problem getting AOS approved (not a K1 case though). We had a big wedding on our one year anniversary, but my greencard was already approved by then.

[ineedadisplayname 497]

20 hours ago, ToNhi said:

Hi, 

I was wondering for USCIS Adjustment of Status purposes, if a city hall/courthouse wedding is acceptable at first, and then a couple of months later, if an interview is required for our I-485 (App. to Register Permanent Residence), if we can bring evidence/photos/video proof of an actual wedding celebration then. I have a giant family here in the U.S. and it will take months to book a venue, and have "evidence" of a wedding celebration. We hope to have the "legal" marriage first at city hall/courthouse and wasn't sure if USCIS would accept this as adequate proof of bonafide marriage evidence. 

Thanks!

 

- Tony 

Nobody every asked us pictures of a huge wedding. We had a wedding in a park officiated by a licensed individual. We had a couple of friends for witness (I think total of 5 friends, two of them signed the marriage cert) so we can start the process. We sent in pics of that and that is all. We didn't even include pics from the launch we had right after.

Edited October 17 by ineedadisplayname

[Lee Thacket 29]

I did a wedding at the county court house on Monday. It was very quick and easy. The clerk even provided two witnesses - her husband and daughter - at no extra cost! No pictures were taken, but we were promised that a marriage certificate would arrive in a few days.

[MMRF 21]

Courthouse married, 1 witness, drinks at a bar after. That's it. Approved w/out interview.

No wedding industrial complex...stuff. I wouldn't have gotten married if immigration required all that fanfare.

[Ontarkie 14,221]

~~Moved to AOS Family K1/K3, from K1 P&P- the topic involves AOS.~~