Kevinsolis

My uk girlfriend and I want to get married in the Us but she does not plan on staying here. Do we have to go through the whole k1 visa process or can she just come over and we can get married.

Noorah101

You are allowed to get married in the USA while she is visiting on the VWP. No K-1 visa needed if she's not planning to remain permanently in the USA after marriage.

Rene

Kevinsolis

How sure are you? This is huge. Where can I find this information just in case?

Noorah101

100% sure. It happens all the time. It's not in writing anywhere that I know of. The thing with US laws is...if you don't see anything in writing saying you CAN'T do it...then you can.

Rene

Kevinsolis

Will the marriage be legitimate? Like if we plan to immigrate somewhere our marriage certificate will be good? I'm sorry if I'm asking stupid questions, this is just a massive step for us I want to know everything

Noorah101

Yes, the marriage will be legal and recognized in Ireland / UK.

Rene

ian-mstm

100%. It's a very common scenario.


You won't find it in writing. As Rene notes, US law codifies what you can't do - so, unless there is a specific law against something, it's allowed. There is no law that prohibits marrying while on the VWP.


Yes.


Yes.

Ian

Pulaski

I'm 100% certain - it is exactly what I did: visited on VWP, married, then returned to the UK.
Yes, mine is. So long as a marriage performed in the US is recognized, your US marriage certificate will be accepted. I do not know of anywhere that does not recognize US marriages. I know for a fact that the UK does, and I would be shocked if anywhere in Europe or the industrialized world wouldn't accept a US marriage certificate. Some countries that are non-English speaking might require a translation.

Kevinsolis

Thank you! It's a huge weight off my mind

Colorado calling

I also married whilst on a VWP visit to my now-husband and returned to the UK three days later. The marriage is absolutely legal. The only U.S. marriages that are not recognised on the UK are proxy marriages. Some states still perform proxy marriages (usually only for military personnel who have been deployed but they have been done for prisoners too in the past). I did sit next to a woman on a plane once who married a prisoner by proxy in the U.S. He stayed in his cell and she went to the courthouse with a stand-in. Her marriage wasn't recognised in the UK and she had to change her name by deed poll to have his last name (which she could have done without marrying him) because the marriage certificate wasn't recognised in the UK.

md95065

As already explained, you and your girlfriend can get married in the U.S.

What do *you* intend to do once you are married?
I don't think that you actually mentioned either your own nationality or where you currently live.

If your wife returns to the UK and you want to go with her then *you* are going to need a visa unless you already hold a passport that would allow you to reside in the UK.

Trixie_b

As an important point.... when she enters the US on her visa waiver, she should not lie to the port of entry official, however, if she is stopped and questioned and/or her luggage searched and there is a wedding dress or other indication of pending nuptials she may be denied entry. The common advice on here is only answer the question asked at the POE. for example, when asked do you know what time it is, there are only 2 answers.... yes or no - use the same principle at entry.

Pulaski

Statistically, being denied entry appears to be rare, but she should bring the best evidence she can muster that she is returning to the UK to show in the event that she is challenged about her intentions to stay/ leave the US. The best evidence is usually (here on BE) thought to be a letter from her employer that she is expected back at work on x date, supporting that, a current mortgage statement or rent lease.

Kevinsolis

I( the US citizen who lives in NY) and my girlfriend ( who lives in the UK) are planning to move to Ireland a while after we are married and I have that sorted already

md95065

Then you should be fine.

Just make sure that you know what the requirements are for getting a marriage license wherever it is that you plan to get married.

In some places (not just Las Vegas) you can get the license and get married on the same day - some other places require you to get the license several days in advance. Also, if either of you has been previously married and are now divorced some places will want to see divorce papers while others will be quite happy with you just asserting that there are no legal impediments to your getting married.