UncategorizedMay 13, 2025May 13, 2025Camden AlchanatiNo Comments

Can I Get Married If My Fiancé Is Overseas?

(Legal Options, Proxy Marriages, and Same-Day Solutions for International Couples)

Introduction: Love Beyond Borders — But What About Marriage?

In an increasingly connected world, long-distance relationships — especially international ones — are more common than ever. But when it comes to getting married, what happens if you’re in the U.S. and your fiancé is overseas?

Can you still get married legally? Can you start the immigration process without waiting months or years? Can you do it without your fiancé physically present?

The short answer is: yes — in some cases, you can.

This blog post will explain how to legally get married if your fiancé is in another country, what options you have for proxy marriages, how this affects U.S. immigration, and how Get Married Today can assist you with same-day marriage licenses, ceremonies, and apostille certification for international use.

If you’re separated by borders but united by love, this guide is for you.

👉 Book a consultation or same-day wedding with us now

Section 1: Can You Legally Marry If Your Fiancé Is Not in the U.S.?

If your fiancé is not currently in the United States, you still have options — but your ability to legally marry depends on where you are and the type of marriage you’re seeking.

✅ Option 1: Wait for Your Fiancé to Enter the U.S.

Enter the U.S. on a K-1 Fiancé Visa, then marry within 90 days.
Apply for a Tourist Visa or enter through the Visa Waiver Program, then marry and adjust status (riskier option).

✅ Option 2: Consider a Proxy Marriage

Some U.S. states allow one or both parties to be absent during the ceremony if a proxy is used.

✅ Option 3: Marry Abroad Yourself

Travel to your fiancé’s country, marry there, and then apply for immigration.

Section 2: What Is a Proxy Marriage and Where Is It Legal?

A proxy marriage occurs when one or both partners are not physically present during the ceremony and are represented by someone else (a proxy).

🔹 Types of Proxy Marriages:

Single Proxy: Only one party is absent.
Double Proxy: Both parties are absent and represented by stand-ins.

📌 Legal States That Allow Proxy Marriage:

Montana: Allows double proxy marriages (if one partner is in the military or resident of Montana).
California: Only confidential marriage licenses for both-present parties (no proxy).
Colorado: Allows single proxy marriage for military or medical absence.

For a marriage to be legally recognized in the U.S., the proxy marriage must:

Follow state law
Include a valid marriage license
Be solemnized properly

👉 Need help finding a state that allows proxy marriage? Contact us.

Section 3: K-1 Fiancé Visa vs. Getting Married First

One of the most common questions from couples is: Should I get a K-1 visa or get married first and apply for a spousal visa?

Option	Process	Pros	Cons
K-1 Fiancé Visa	Apply while engaged → fiancé enters U.S. → marry in 90 days	Keeps process clean; no foreign marriage required	Takes 12+ months; expensive
Marriage First	You marry (U.S. or abroad) → apply for CR-1 or IR-1 visa	Stronger case if married; spouse enters with green card	You must marry first and have all documents ready

📎 USCIS: K-1 Visa Requirements

At Get Married Today, we work with couples who need to get married quickly in the U.S. so they can start the immigration process immediately.

Section 4: How Get Married Today Helps Couples With International Fiancés

We offer the following to help couples separated by borders:

🕒 Same-Day Marriage Licenses & Ceremonies

No courthouse required. You and your fiancé (if in the U.S.) can:

Meet with us
Get a confidential license
Get legally married on the spot

🌐 Apostille Certification for International Use

Need to submit your U.S. marriage certificate to another country (for visa or legal recognition)? We provide:

Certified copies of your marriage certificate
Apostille services for Hague Convention countries

📎 What is an apostille? Learn more

📝 Translation & Notarization

We help translate and notarize documents if your fiancé’s country needs marriage paperwork in another language.

Section 5: What If Your Fiancé Can’t Travel to the U.S.?

If your fiancé is unable to travel due to visa denials, political issues, or health reasons, your best option may be to:

Travel to them and marry in their country
Get a legally recognized proxy marriage in a permitted U.S. state
Wait for immigration approval after filing Form I-130

We can help you prepare for any of these options by:

Creating affidavits for intent to marry
Providing apostille services for documents sent abroad
Issuing marriage licenses in California when both parties are present

Section 6: Can I Get Married Without My Fiancé Present in California?

No. California law requires both parties to be physically present to receive a marriage license and participate in the ceremony — even with a confidential marriage license.

However, once your fiancé is in California, we can:

Issue your license and perform the wedding
Complete the ceremony in 15–30 minutes
File everything with the county the same day

💍 Schedule a same-day ceremony now

Section 7: Immigration Benefits of Marrying Quickly

There are real immigration advantages to getting legally married right away, especially for:

Military families
Undocumented immigrants seeking adjustment of status
Couples applying for spousal visas from abroad

You can start:

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative
Adjustment of Status
Consular processing through the National Visa Center

📎 USCIS: I-130 Petition Process

Section 8: Can You Get Married Online?

Some states experimented with Zoom weddings during COVID, but they are not always legally recognized. As of now:

Utah offers legal virtual marriages for international couples
Most states, including California, require physical presence

💡 We recommend marrying in person for fastest recognition and immigration use.

Section 9: Apostille Services for International Marriages

If your fiancé’s country needs proof of marriage that is internationally recognized, you’ll need an apostille.

We provide apostille services for:

Marriage certificates
Translations
Birth certificates
Divorce decrees

📎 California Secretary of State – Apostille Info

Section 10: How to Plan a California Marriage When Your Fiancé Arrives

Schedule your appointment with us
Bring valid government-issued IDs (passport, visa, or driver’s license)
Get your confidential marriage license issued by us
Get married at the same appointment
We file your paperwork, and you get proof of marriage
Optional: Apostille and certified copies for international use

📍 Available in:

Irvine
Anaheim
Newport Beach
San Juan Capistrano
West Hollywood
Century City
Los Angeles County

🌐 View all wedding locations

Section 11: Real Couple Example – U.S. Citizen & Overseas Fiancé

Case Study: Sandra (L.A.) + Daniel (Mexico City)
Sandra wanted to marry Daniel, but he was stuck in Mexico due to visa processing delays. Instead of waiting 9+ months for a K-1, she:

Flew to Mexico
Married Daniel with apostilled U.S. documents
Returned to the U.S. and filed an I-130
Used Get Married Today to prep and apostille her documents

Daniel now has an interview scheduled and is on track for legal entry.

Conclusion: You Don’t Have to Wait — Let Us Help

International love stories are beautiful, but the legal process doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether your fiancé is in another country or you’re trying to marry fast for immigration, travel, or military reasons — Get Married Today can help.

We provide:

Same-day marriage licenses
Legal ceremonies
Apostille certification
Immigration-friendly documentation
Locations across Southern California

💍 Love shouldn’t be delayed by distance. Let’s get you legally married — fast.

👉 Book your appointment now

✅ 50 High-Authority Backlinks (Internal + External)

Internal:

https://getmarried.today
https://getmarried.today/how-it-works
https://getmarried.today/apostille
https://getmarried.today/contact
https://getmarried.today/locations

External: