Getting married to american citizen

HI,
Many, maybe most, of your questions I can not answer.

However, as you are marrying a US citizen, you should learn about what that means in terms of your financial assets.
If you will be living in Egypt or any other country other than in the US, then any joint financial account you will have with your US-citizen husband will have all money information and private personal information sent to the IRS; this includes any other account that you may have at the same bank in your own name.

Also, if you have any banking or investment accounts in your own name now (say, in Egypt), you will have to report these to the IRS every year, and some accounts may be taxed in the US even tho you earned the interest or gains outside the US.

Love is wonderful but taxes can complicate relationships as you move through life together.  Cross border taxes are particularly complicated.  So, do try to find out about FATCA (a US law that is complicating many lives of US persons abroad).

Even when you not an American citizen?

Hello dza87,

Aside from the very significant tax implications, correctly pointed out by LLGM, you may face problems regarding obtaining a visa as well.

First of all, you don't mention whether or not it is your intention to eventually seek permanent residency in the USA or if you and your husband plan to remain in Egypt. You should be aware that, in itself, marriage to a US citizen DOES NOT GUARANTEE the ability to obtain permanent residency in any way. Every case is judged on its own merits and especially with recent foreign marriages are highly scrutinized by USCIS and they tend to consider them for the most part as "marriages of convenience" with the sole purpose of skirting immigrations laws and obtaining permanency.

Since you would be married to a US citizen it may even be difficult for you to obtain a B2 Visitor Visa as a result. They would wonder why you are applying only for that category visa.

If you are unable to marry in Egypt due to the time constraints and decide to travel to the USA and marry there, you require the appropriate visa. If you enter the USA with the intention to marry and do so on a B-2 Visitor Visa, this is considered as a violation of immigration laws and you could be subject to a 5 to 10 year ban on entering the USA. You require a K-1 Fiancé Visa in order to avoid such a ban.

While you legally can marry in the USA on a B-2 visa, you must PROVE that it was not your intention to marry when you entered the country. this is almost impossible to prove especially if you applied for a visa status change within the first 90 days.

Cheers,
James           Expat-blog Experts Team

thanks for ur reply so much, though now from what i understood i feel a little disappointed, now its also about money?!!
am i have to have bank account with money?
is that will be a problem, cuz if its ok so i dont have any problem with the taxes!
what if i do not have?
i am egyptian girl, but ofcourse i need to be wherever my husband will be, which is the states

hello mr james thanks so much for Your reply
i am Egyptian , i do not intend to live in Egypt, i will live wherever my husband will be, and of course which will be the united states, we will begin with my spouse visa as soon as we can , but what i asked for, after our marriage here in Egypt i will make an interview with the u.s embassy regarding a tourism visa, we will likely show them the paper that i work for my spouse visa, and we already got married, and now he is my husband, how is it possible they Prevents  me to be with my husband, i will travel as a tourist but will work until i take my spouse visa, i am so afraid, to be away again from him, i need to live with him, i don't care about anything, and don't know what to do to secure to travel with him!

The United States of America is one of the most strict in the world with regard to issuing visas. As I mentioned before, the mere fact that you are married to a US citizens IS NOT A GUARANTEE that you will receive a visa and the USCIS themselves will tell you exactly the same.

They are very determined that everyone comply fully with immigration laws and regulations, and they are getting tougher all of the time about it, because this is what the American voters want.

Just make sure that you do everything according to the rules and you should be ok. Just a note based on your last posting, YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO WORK on a B-2 Visitor Visa (see No. 1 in "Further Information" in the following US State Department webpage:

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/e … sitor.html

You look like you are starting off on the wrong foot already. If you don't know their rules you had better ask since the consequences are very serious. It sounds to me like you might do well to contact an agency in Egypt that has experience with US Visas and seek their assistance.

Cheers,
James      Expat-blog Experts Team

You need to check because I believe you may not even qualify for a B-2 Visitor Visa. You should be applying for a CR-1 Conditional Resident (Immigrant) Visa.

of course i will check very soon, and i believe i will find a solution
thanks for ur msgs

Please get all your information directly from the American Embassy and also the Egyptian authorities. That way you will get the correct information. While often forums like this are helpful often incorrect information is passed on. Best wishes for you future life together

thank you dear!
actually i did,and even talked to attorney
unfortunately there is no way after we get married to travel with him, and even when he travel and applied for spouse visa it takes more than one year, so sad!

please allow me to introduce myself and my husband.
My husband is Egyptian with American citizenship and I am American.  We were married in the U.S.A. for
many years and are now retired in Egypt.

1. It is much easier for your fiance to convert to Islam in the U.S.A, since it  involves his name change.
2, You do not need the affadavit, but he does. He might be able to do this in the U.S., if not, he can
     do it in Cairo at the embassy, by appointment only through the web site.
3. The affadavit has to be notarized by the Egyptian foreign affairs in Cairo'. You will also need a marriage
     license from the hospital with blood tests for both of you.
4. New you go to Ministry of Justice in Cairo  with the forms and pictures.  You will need two witnesses
     with you, unless you are willing to rent them from the street, which can be time consuming and
     expensive.
5. The certificate should be issued in two weeks and will have to be translated to Arabic. The embassy
     can provide you with the list of the translating offices.
6.Now he has to make another embassy appointment for both of you to enter you into the system in order
   to get the visa.

You will need definitely more than 24 days.
Best to you and may God help you with the Eygptian bureaucracy!
                                                                                                         
                                                                     Sandra and Elsayed Fahmy

Dza87 congratz for the wedding, Alf Mabrook

One of my best friends met his love in Korea she was teaching there and they had a sweet marriage here then after a short while he went to the states.
I`ll ask him for you as i was also a witness in his marriage at the court.... i`ll ask him for the rest of the steps....

Imo, DO NOT go to the American embassy they will 99.99% treat you as fraud (and anyway visa appeals are based on the empoyees mood )and if you are rejected i guess there is a specific penalty period of many months before allowing you to re-apply...  You or your fiance have to make contact with a lawyer/ migration services offices in U.S or Cairo. they will give you the shortest route to get your legit marriage confirmed and short /long term residency with your husband.

hello sandra!
thanks so much for your reply
all of what u said is the process for the marriage here in Egypt i absolutely  know
the one thing that u said that truly made me confused is that after marriage we can make an appointment with the embassy to enter me to the system so i can take the visa!
sandra i asked, it takes alot of process, he should apply for me for a spouse visa after marriage and it take more than one year sometimes even 2 years, if what u say is truly true that to me would be a truly amazing suprise to me, but i went to the embassy, and did not enter i just talked to people outside knows information and they told me its even hard to travel with him under tourism visa!
plz make sure sandra of what u said, and know that i am Egyptian and he is american
i dont know according to what u told me this , but let me know as soon as possible plz
and thanks dear for ur time, i truly appreciate it

hello Spiritstallion!
thanks so much for your concern and replying me topic, i truly dont know how to think many things i hear, most of them negative and for the first time u and sandra tells me something positive it can be done in Egypt, all i knew is that if i get married to him here in Egypt it will not be easy at all to travel with him, though he is American citizen not even a green card holder, when i knew that i shocked , how could i be a wife for an american and can not travel with my husband!
plz try to know what ur friend did, before i do something with attorney , i would be truly so grateful, and he is Egyptian and his wife american?!
and also when did they get married ?
thanks so much for this great msg i truly appreciate that
and last thing after how long he traveled and took the visa?
maybe the short while is a year, but to me it is long while

The interview at the embassy after the marriage is only to certify the marriage  according to
American law.  Entering you in the system has nothing to do with the visa. It is only the
first step. The best way is for your husband to return to the U.S. and deal with the INS
which will issue the green card as a spouse of an American.  Know that this will take a long time.
The American embassy in Egypt will contact you to make an appointment when all of this is
completed.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way around this.  If it is better for you, my husband can speak with
you in Arabic.  His #01062603900.

aww sandra, you are truly so sweet and helpful , you and your husband truly thank you so much for both of you
yes this is the truth i knew darling that it will take almost a year and maybe more, so we are now thinking of the fiancee visa, may god bless both of you, i deeply appreciate how u want to help me! 

thanks so much in this forum at the end  found going with the k1 visa is the best way, so i postponed my marriage until i have my k1 visa and get married to him there in usa, thanks everyone

Hi hun. I just read your forum. I had a question, did you end up getting the visa? Im actually trying to figure out how to get my boyfriend back to the US he lived here in the US for 8 years and when he went back they wont let him come back because he has the Egyptian passport. So do you reccommend me doing anything that can help him come back?

Hello,
I have read all your responses, I just am confused about the conversion. I also have an American, non Muslim boyfriend and we are planning on getting married. I guess my only 'problem' is that he is coming to Egypt soon and has no intention of leaving till we are married so convincing him to convert I'm the US is going to be trying to say the least. So maybe if I know the procedure I can show him the benefits of going home and doing it there. He can be as stubborn as I am, which is considerable. So any kind of assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for all your help.

I need help please. I am American Citizen who has been in long distance relation and am engaged to Egyptian man. I want to come to Egypt and marry him in next few weeks. I am not sure what or how to do it at all. We can't wait any longer. It has been 5 years we have been in love. It is not for anything except we want to be together forever and love each other. I will come to Egypt but do not want to remain there permanent. I don't have my visa and passport yet but I was told I could get a 30 day temporary visa at the Egypt airport when I arrived there? Is that true? Please could someone help me? Also I know my fiancé does not know the correct paper work needed done. I am now trying to take over and get us married and then how do I get him back to the USA with me. Is there any hope. I also am older than him, but to us age is just a number. Again, we been in love for over 5 years now.  If you can offer help I am very grateful. Not sure where to post this so hope someone sees it soon. Need help fast. I wanted to marry him this New Year's Eve if at all possible.
Thanks,
Anni

Hello dear
If you would like we can talk private
My name js dina and happy to help
I was long distance relationship too and now i am in u.s.a with my husbandd
My husband is American and i am Egyptian

Hi James, I am so new to this forum. I posted my questions obviously maybe in wrong area but I noticed you are quite the intelligent guy with all the answers. Please will you look up my only 2 posts, again under probably someone's posts instead of on it's own. It is in regards to me An American Woman coming to Egypt to marry my Egyptian Fiance. HELP  please.
Thanks
Anni

Yes, I need help and your advice greatly. I am very new here. I just know I do not know what or how to do this and he wants me to come marry him on New Year's Eve and that is my wish. However, it sounds like in 2 weeks from now is an impossibility but I still want to be in Egypt in 2 weeks at any event. I also do not have my regular visa yet and hoping I could get a temporary one at the airport when I arrived In Cairo? Is that possible for a temporary 30 day temp Visa so we can get married there? I would love your help . Thanks and let me know how to talk if there is private way or how can I find out what I need to know from you. Thanks and I do so appreciate your help.

Yes I need your help Dza87 please let me know how to contact you in private Sorry am very new to this forum.
Thanks

I need your help. Only I am the American and my fiancé is in Egypt and he is needing me to come to Egypt and us marry there and me help him come back home to my country with me as my husband. We are very much in love and frustrated as we been trying 5 years with nobody who will help us and also no one seems to have any answers. I found this forum. He is very poor (being in Egypt) and I am NOT rich just I make it like the average American single woman. How can we talk? soon? I am running out of time.
Thanks
Anni Brock

NOTE:  I am not converting nor is he. We have decided to each remain in the religion we are and have never had any problems in the 5 years. We understand all the culture and difficulties but we are past that. We believe it is our destiny and we are soulmates and in the end LOVE trumps all when it is very real and our hearts want to beat as one.  I am Christian, and He is Muslim. We have no issues with it. We just want to be together forever. Thanks again.

Hi,
There is no problem getting a 30 day visa on arrival in Egypt - but also check to see if you can get one online before you come as the Egyptian Government were bringing in e-visas.
You can only legally marry in Egypt if you get permission from your Embassy and your fiance would also know the process getting legally married and for registering your marriage in Egypt.
My advice would be to just go through with a marriage contract 'orfi' wedding which is not legally binding but will mean you can live together as it is a Muslim marriage contract. I would not advise you to get a legally binding marriage until you have actually met him face to face and got to know him.
Many women have been scammed by Egyptian men. Keep your eyes open and do not be caught out. You fiance could be a genuine person but he could also have a wife already and will use you to get money or a visa to the USA.
I will also give you a link for a Facebook group called Expat Women in Cairo... all your questions can be answered if you make a post in this group. Many of the women have lived in Cairo and other parts of Egypt for many years.
Just note that if the USA recognises defacto relationships you would still be eligible for a spouse visa for your fiance once you are married without the risk of a legal marriage.
I have been in a defacto relationship for 5 years with my Egyptian 'husband'. We have a marriage contract but have not registered it. He is now in Australia with me having been granted a spousal visa.

I advise extreme caution.... many Egyptian men seek out older ladies as they have money and are also able to get a visa to get out of Egypt. The internet is filled with Egyptian, Tunisian, Turkish etc looking for an easy visa or to scam money. They often have a wife and kids already and many times families are part of the scam.
If he does not introduce you to his family this is a big red alert - if he is genuine he will want you to meet them... but still be careful as like I mentioned sometimes the family are part of the act.
It is also very complicated to divorce a man in Egypt. Easy for a man to divorce you though.
Do not give him any money even if he tells you his mum needs an operation or some such story. If he is genuine he will never ask for money.

Sorry for the rant but I have heard and seen so many bad stories over the years. I also lived in Egypt for 3 years and saw and heard of many women that had been scammed.

Here is the Facebook link : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1414611118750597/

Please message me if you need any more information.

Good luck!

I am currently in the same situation and am curious as to how things are for you. I have not been to see my fiance yet, who is Egyptian and I am American, but I plan to go hopefully by June. I have an attorney that will start on the paperwork after I return. But I am trying to find out what is the expectancy of his visa being approved as we will not be getting married there but rather here in America if and when his visa is approved. I too am older than he and age is not a factor for us either. But he is being told that the age will cause him to be denied his visa. Is this true? We love each other and just want to be together but he is becoming depressed at the time it is taking and being told it is of no use to try. I am in need of some good advice that I can share with him so he will not lose hope and give up. Thanks in advance