Will a civil wedding count?

Question

My fiance and I would like an over the top wedding, but that isnt in the near future due to finances, but we want to get married and get him over here living in the US ASAP, so can we just legally get married without a ceremony for now just to file papers? Will we be declined for that? Thanks!

Answer 1

It will count. However, your marriage will be suspect of immigration fraud. And that brings up many problems for both of you.

Answer 2

What you're suggesting is exactly what my now-wife and I did and we had no problems whatsoever.

Our legal marriage cost us $160 total + gas. The $160 break down thus:

1) $60 for a Pennsylvania marriage license (I think it was $60 anyway... give or take)

2) $100 for a simple wedding ceremony with a local clergyman who did our deed in his house

Then I applied for adjustment of status (which at the time cost a little over a third of what it does today, a little under $400). Then a month later we had a proper wedding (still cheap but with 80 something guests).

Answer 3

Doesn't matter how big or small the wedding.  Doesn't even need to be a wedding.

ALL that matters is 5 signatures on license:bride, groom, witness #1, witness #2, whoever represents the state- judge, minister, etc.

Answer 4

A legal marriage is a legal marriage.  It doesn't matter how big or small.

Answer 5

It's actually easier to get him over here on a fiance visa, with that you have to have the wedding within 60 days.  You'd have to start planning now for an over the top wedding without a strict set in stone date to tell anyone, but it would take about a year.