What happens if an American marries a Mexican in Mexico?

A civil wedding in Mexico is fully valid for legal purposes in the U.S., but a religious ceremony without the civil ceremony is not, as U.S. law only recognizes marriages which are valid in the country in which they take place.
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What happens when a U.S. citizen marries a Mexican citizen?

If you are a U.S. citizen, your new spouse becomes your "immediate relative," and may apply for and receive a green card as soon as the two of you make it through the application process. This can take six months to a year, or even longer.
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Does Mexico recognize US marriage?

The short answer to this is Yes. However, as an American getting married in Mexico, only a civil wedding ceremony will be considered legally binding. Of course, to have a civil ceremony, you will need to jump through a few hoops before saying “I Do!” Thankfully, we are here to help!
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What happens if I marry a Mexican?

When you are married to a Mexican citizen, you are required to apply for the TR visa first. After two years, you can then become a Permanent Resident. There is an exception, if you are the parent of a child born in Mexico, you can apply for Permanent Residency right away.
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Can you marry a Mexican and she can come to the USA?

In this situation, once you marry, you may file an I-130 relative petition for him or her as your spouse. If approved, he or she will have to pursue an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or consulate overseas.
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How To Get Married in Mexico as a Foreigner



Do I have to register my marriage in the US if I get married abroad?

The United States has no national registration of marriages, foreign or domestic. U.S. states recognize marriages performed in other states and in other countries. If your marriage was legally performed in the country or state where you got married, then the marriage is recognized in the United States.
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Does marrying a Mexican give citizenship?

Marrying a Mexican does not automatically give you Mexican citizenship, but it will allow you to skip a few steps in the immigration process, proving your marriage to a Mexican citizen will grant you a one-year Temporary Residency with the opportunity to renew for a total of two years.
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Why does Mexico require blood test for marriage?

Every state in Mexico requires a blood test before marriage, and SOME also require chest x-ray too. Why? These tests are for the purpose of detecting syphilis and HIV. You must pass these test with the all-clear in order to be allowed to get married in Mexico.
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Can an American marry a Mexican in Mexico?

Foreign nationals wishing to get married in Mexico to a Mexican national, please take note that the Registry Office can request the submission of the following documents: Valid passport. Valid Mexican entry documents (visas, migratory form, etc.). Birth certificates*
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When an immigrant marries a U.S. citizen How long until they get here?

The current total wait time for a marriage-based green card averages about 17 months.
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How do you protect yourself when marrying a foreigner?

Look at the ways you can protect yourself when marrying a foreigner.
...
Reach Out To an Immigration Attorney
  1. Waivers.
  2. Green cards.
  3. Citizenship and naturalization.
  4. Fiance visas.
  5. Deportation cases.
  6. Work permits.
  7. Appeals.
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Can I be deported if I am married to a citizen?

Can you be deported if you are married to an American citizen? The answer is yes, you can. About 10% of all the people who get deported from the U.S. every year are lawful permanent residents.
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Can I bring my Mexican girlfriend to the US?

You cannot sponsor your significant other to live with you, only visit. At the moment there isn't an unmarried partner visa available. Your partner should be your legal spouse or your fiancé. As a general rule, you will have to complete an I-130 Form (Petition for Alien Relative).
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Can you go to jail for marrying an immigrant?

According to the INA, an individual who intentionally enters a marriage for the purpose of evading the immigration laws is guilty of marriage fraud. Such will be imprisoned for not more than five years and fined with the above amount or, worse, both.
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Who pays for the marriage in Mexico?

Who typically pays for the wedding in Mexico? Historically, los padrinos y madrinas would cover many of the wedding expenses. In modern Mexican culture, a variety of people, from parents to the couple themselves, may contribute to the budget.
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How long do you need to be in Mexico before getting married?

You must be resident in Mexico for a period of 3 days immediately prior to a civil ceremony taking place. Same sex civil unions are legal in Mexico. Weddings in Mexico are not performed on Sundays.
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How does marriage work in Mexico?

The civil marriage

Only a civil marriage is recognized as legal in Mexico. You don't need to engage in a religious ceremony but if you omit the civil ceremony, the marriage will not be legal. Most Mexicans have two marriages: the civil (legal) marriage and the church (religious) one.
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Can you have both US and Mexican citizenship?

U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. A U.S. citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to his or her U.S. citizenship.
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Can I become a Mexican citizen if Im a U.S. citizen?

To apply for citizenship in Mexico, you must already be a permanent resident; or have family ties. Naturalization in Mexico requires a minimum of five consecutive years of residency prior to the application date, which may include temporary or permanent status depending on your situation.
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What happens if a U.S. citizen has a baby in Mexico?

If you are a U.S. citizen (or non-citizen national) and have a child overseas, you should report their birth at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as possible so that a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) can be issued as an official record of the child's claim to U.S. citizenship or nationality.
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Will the US government recognize my foreign marriage?

In general, marriages which are legally performed and valid abroad are also legally valid in the United States. Inquiries regarding the validity of a marriage abroad should be directed to the attorney general of the state in the United States where the parties to the marriage live.
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What happens when an American marries a foreigner abroad?

Marriages performed overseas are considered valid in the country where they take place if they are entered into in accordance with local law. Recognition of the validity of marriages performed abroad depends on the laws of the place in which the marriage is to be recognized.
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How do I validate a foreign marriage in the US?

Generally, any marriage entered into between two U.S. citizens in another country is recognized as valid in the U.S. as long as the union was legal when and where performed. This means that as long as any issues that would invalidate the marriage at home (underage, incapacity, bigamy, blood relatives, etc.)
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What is the fastest way to bring my wife to USA?

Answer: A United States Citizen or Permanent Resident may file a petition for an immediate relative while living abroad. However, the sponsoring spouse must be able to prove to the National Visa Center and the selected Embassy that they are still domiciled in the United States.
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What do you need to bring your husband from Mexico to the US?

If you are a U.S. citizen you have two ways to bring your foreign spouse (husband or wife) to the United States to live. They are: Immigrant visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1) - An immigrant Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130 is required. Learn more.
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