Q: Currently in process of getting Greencard. Just waiting for approval. I want to get married will that mess with process?
our current lawyer has told us to wait until we have the physical copy in our hands before getting married. But we are christian and do not want to continue to live in fornication and would love to get married to avoid disappointing God. Need to know if getting married this late in process where I am almost done would alter things or delay them. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
A:
More information is needed. Did you have an Indiana authorized officiant sign your marriage license? That is, a pastor, priest, or other properly licensed officiant? If so, then you are lawfully married on the 'date of marriage.' The fear may be that the license will somehow expire or be lost during COVID19. As long as you are married by an authorized pastor as a matter of law, you are married before the expiration of the license, and the pastor properly signs and seals the license, then you are married on the date of marriage. Did you keep a copy of the completed license signed by the pastor? Did you keep proof that the license was mailed in on time?
The date of marriage is usually the date of celebration, even if the marriage certificate is issued, later. What is your concern? You are lawfully married, but it 'may' be a technical, not a religious issue, where an authorized religious official 'did not' officiate or the license is deemed to have expired!
Did your attorney actually file the forms? Your attorney may be worried that you cannot file the lawful permanent resident application because you don't have a marriage certificate, but you are both lawfully married as a matter of state law on the 'date of marriage' as long as the officiant is authorized by the State of Indiana and the marriage certificate is eventually issued and available for review.
If you have any further concerns, consult your attorney, again. Otherwise, seek a second opinion on specific issues of Indiana law that are not mentioned in this question.
The above is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney client relationship.
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