Take plenty of time to research wedding venues, wedding caterers, wedding florists, and other suppliers you need to work with. (If you`re getting married in a country where you don`t speak the language, consider hiring a wedding coordinator to handle all the details for you.) Whether you`re planning to get married abroad or in the United States, don`t forget to protect yourself and your future spouse with travel insurance. We`ll help you make sure your married life starts well, even if you run into some travel issues along the way. In most cases, as long as you were legally married in the country where you celebrated your marriage — and had a valid marriage certificate — that marriage is also legally recognized in the United States. Saying “I want” in a medieval church in Tuscany or on a pristine beach in Negril is a moment you will never forget. About a quarter of marriages are destination weddings, meaning the couple marries in a place that is not part of their hometown or where they currently live.1 So the question is whether this is the case in the United States. Or in other words, if you marry in another country, is that marriage legally recognized in the United States? The solution in many cases is to make your wedding ceremony a symbolic ceremony and have the legal wedding performed in the United States. But if you really want to get married abroad, here are the requirements for three popular overseas wedding destinations: Mexico, Jamaica, and Italy.5 One is to get married outside the U.S. and then apply for a green card through a U.S. embassy or consulate — known as consular processing. You will need to file Form I-130, then Form DS-160 (also known as the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application), followed by a medical exam and interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

While this can sometimes be a lengthy process, this option results in a green card once you arrive in the United States. If you married under the legal requirements of the country where you celebrated the union, the marriage will also be recognized under U.S. law. That is, as long as your marriage does not violate federal or state laws. But there are certainly circumstances where this is not the case, so don`t assume that your international marriage in the United States is legally binding. The U.S. Department of State`s Bureau of Consular Affairs recommends contacting your state`s Attorney General`s office to find out if your international marriage is recognized in the U.S. — and if there`s anything you need to do on your end (like provide proof of marriage) to get that recognition. Their website states, “If you are getting married overseas and need to know if your marriage is recognized in the United States and what documents may be needed, contact the Attorney General`s Office of your state of residence in the United States.” It is not as easy for U.S. citizens to get married abroad as it is to show up in the chapel. Each country has its own rules for paperwork, residency requirements, and medical testing. Some places recognize same-sex marriages, while others do not.

If you are planning a wedding abroad, it is advisable to contact the local U.S. consulate. While consular officials can`t officiate at your wedding, they can tell you what to expect.3 Keep in mind that same-sex marriages are recognized by USCIS, but must be documented by a marriage certificate from a country where they are legal. That`s because the USCIS says the law of the place where the marriage was celebrated determines whether the marriage is legally valid for immigration purposes, so as long as the country or place allows same-sex marriage, it`s valid for immigration purposes. There is no U.S. law that prevents U.S. citizens from getting married abroad, so yes, you can go ahead and start planning your wedding abroad. Here are some common requirements that U.S. citizens may need to meet and documents they may need to present to get married abroad: If you`re getting married in another country, you should do your research to make sure you`re ready with everything you need to marry your future spouse easily (and legally!).

If you`re a meticulous planner who enjoys a challenge, try getting married in Italy. (If you`re not that kind of person, hire someone who is.) While a wedding in Italy can be the pinnacle of romance, it also requires a long treasure hunt. Here`s what you need to do.10 Some couples choose a third option – the nonimmigrant visa to enter the United States as a fiancé, and then marriage in the United States. The foreign spouse can then apply to become a permanent resident. If a U.S. citizen legally marries a person abroad, that marriage would be recognized as legal in the United States if it was conducted legally and was valid under the laws of the foreign country. However, some legal complications may exist at the state level – for example, due to the position on same-sex marriage – so you should check the attorney general`s website of the state you want to live in. After getting married in the United States, file Form I-485, which requires biometrics and possibly an interview. If the non-U.S. partner intends to seek employment or travel outside the U.S. when processing the green card application, they must apply for a work permit and travel authorization. If you and your future spouse both live in the United States, chances are they have a work or temporary visitor visa to the United States.

This means transferring the temporary visa to a green card through a process called “status adjustment.” To begin this process, you must get married and register your marriage with officials in the state or county where the marriage took place. Getting married legally in another country can be complicated, so read on for a useful introduction to marriages for U.S. citizens. To legally marry in another country, you must comply with local laws. It is important that you check them in advance so that you can prepare (and translate, if necessary) all the documents you need and find an authorized local citizen who can conduct the ceremony. Once you`ve determined which country you want to get married in, the next step in the process is to research what exactly is needed to get married in that country. Is your marriage abroad legal in the United States? Unfortunately, there is no quick and easy answer. “In general, marriages that are legally celebrated and valid abroad are also legally valid in the United States,” says FindLaw.4 However, if you simply want to get married in the United States and then return to another country to apply for the green card, perhaps for work or family reasons, you can still get married on a temporary visa, as long as you comply with the state`s marriage laws and understand that under the “90-day rule, you do not have the right to adjust your status in the United States.” Both itineraries involve a temporary separation from your spouse if they apply for the green card or visa outside the United States. You may want to marry a stranger and live abroad for now. It works too! The U.S.

government will recognize all marriages entered into abroad – as long as they have been registered with local authorities. You are also not bound by U.S. state marriage laws, but you must abide by the laws and customs of the country in which you married, such as eligibility, parental consent, and divorce rules. As explained above, the documents required for marriage abroad depend on local regulations. It is important to familiarize yourself with these documents in advance, as procurement can take a long time. The embassy or consulate of the country where you want to get married is a good place to start looking for information. However, getting married in Mexico requires planning. If you and your spouse are both Americans, you`ll need all of these documents:6 This comprehensive guide will tell you the most important facts about getting married in another country and the documents you may need to collect in advance so you can live happily ever after. If you are getting married abroad and want to know if your marriage is recognized in the United States and what documents may be required, contact the Attorney General`s Office of your state of residence in the United States.

So, what exactly do you need to know about how to tie the knot in a foreign country – and what do you need to prepare before your international wedding? Let`s take a look at the specifics of getting married in another country: Getting married between sandy coastal beaches in the Caribbean or under a rose canopy in French castle or even on a mountain in New Zealand may seem heavenly – but you need to check the country`s local (foreign) laws to make sure your wedding is legal when you return to the United States. If you have any questions or concerns about getting married in another country, contact your embassy or tourist office in the country. In general, they have more information about what exactly you need to say your “I do” in that country – and how to make sure those “I dos” are legal.