How to Get Married in the United States
United States citizens and non-U.S. citizens (including temporary visitors,
legal and illegal immigrants) have the right to get married in the United
States. There are no limitations for foreigners to get married in the United
States. However, there are several steps that must be followed in order for the
marriage to be valid. The marriage process differs sometimes substantially from
state to state. One important prerequisite is the residency requirement, as some
states require it and others do not. Other factors that must be taken into
consideration include blood tests, ID requirement, types of legal marriages and
age constraints.
Once a marriage has taken place between a foreigner and U.S. citizen (or
permanent resident), the foreign citizen can apply for a
Green Card and later apply for U.S. citizenship.
There are a number of different requirements that must be fulfilled before a Green Card is issued or
U.S. citizenship can be obtained. Getting married can be a very stressful experience, especially for non-U.S.
citizens. In addition to the usual marriage procedures and planning a wedding,
foreigners need to take in the consideration the immigration requirements. For
detailed information on how to receive a Green
Card based on a marriage to a United States citizen, please refer to the
Green Card through Marriage application
guide.
Possible Marriage Scenarios:
- If the spouse is a U.S citizen, the foreign citizen may apply for a green
card based on the marriage.
- If the spouse is a green card holder, the foreign citizen can apply for a
green card but it may take longer until it is issued due to immigration quotas
(only a certain number of Green Cards are issued to spouses of Green Card holders).
- If the marriage is between two non-U.S. citizens, the marriage must be
officially recognized in the home country for it to be valid. Foreigners (non-U.S.
citizens) that get married to each other in the United States do not obtain a
Green Card, U.S. citizenship or any kind of immigration status or benefit.
- If the marriage is between two U.S. citizens, no immigration application is
required or needed.
“How to get Married in the United States” information guide includes:
- Marriage procedure overview for all 50 U.S. states
- How to obtain a marriage certificate
- Identification requirements
- Residency requirements
- Required medical and blood tests requirements
- Instructions for divorced applicants
- Age limits for marriage
- Links to application forms
Important: This information guide
contains marriage procedures only. It does not include information on how to
apply for a Green Card based on the marriage. For detailed information on how to
receive a Green Card based on a marriage
to a U.S. citizen, please download the Green
Card through Marriage application guide.
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U.S. IMMIGRATION SUPPORT IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), FORMELY INS (Immigration and Naturalization Services) OR ANY UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCY. U.S. Immigration Support is a publisher of legal books and immigration guides. The products and services provided by U.S. Immigration Support should be used for information purposes only, not as legal advice. U.S. Immigration Support strives to provide the most current and accurate information available. However, our immigration products are not substitute for legal advice from a certified immigration attorney. The product in this page is an information book or self-help U.S. immigration guide, it is not the actual application for a United States Visa, Green Card (Permanent Residence), Citizenship, Passport or any other government issued document or immigration benefit. This product will be downloaded from our servers or shipped by regular mail. The purchase price of this information or immigration guide does not include filing fees that may be charged by the USCIS (INS), Department of State, United States Embassy or Consulate. By purchasing any of our products you agree that: IN NO EVENT SHALL U.S. IMMIGRATION SUPPORT, ITS PARENT COMPANY, EMPLOYEES OR AGENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY PROBLEMS OR LEGAL ISSUES CAUSED BY THE USE OF OUR PRODUCTS OR INFORMATION IN OUR WEBSITE. No attorney-client relationship will be created through your use of this website (www.usimmigrationsupport.org) or any product provided by U.S. Immigration Support.
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