It has always been said that every woman’s dream is to marry the man she loves and build a happy family life. That’s exactly what I dreamed of and prayed for. However, I reached a point in life where I thought this dream might not come true. In Filipino culture, women are expected to marry young — and once a woman reaches her 30s unmarried, she’s often labeled an “old maiden,” making it harder to find a partner.
Our K-1 Visa Story
We got engaged in November 2023, and from then on, we planned to be married exactly a year later. It wasn’t easy, especially with the stress of going through the K-1 visa process. Our journey even included a delay due to a 221G administrative processing status, influencing our plans for the court wedding.
K-1 Visa Timeline:
For a full and detailed process of our K-1 Visa journey including the dreaded 221(g), we created this K-1 Visa Process Explained for Couples to help you in your journey.
- July 18, 2024 – Placed under 221(g) administrative processing
- October 23, 2024 – Embassy update received
- October 31, 2024 – Received passport with visa and packet
- November 7, 2024 – Arrived in Florida via K-1 visa (Miami Airport) preparing for our court wedding.
Seeing my fiancé at the airport, knowing this time I wasn’t saying goodbye, was such an emotional and joyful moment. This time, it was our forever starting.
Getting Married in Florida After a K-1 Visa
As a newly arrived K-1 visa holder, we began our court wedding process immediately. Like many K-1 visa couples, we weren’t sure where to start, so here’s how we did it, orchestrating our court wedding in the state.
Step 1: How to Get a Marriage License in Florida
To get married in Florida, you need a valid marriage license. We visited the Brevard County Clerk of Court since we live in Palm Bay. Most Clerk of Courts in Florida issue marriage licenses.
We brought the following IDs:
- Fiancé (U.S. citizen): Driver’s License
- Me (K-1 visa holder): Passport
We were asked if we had read the Florida Family Law Handbook. Since we hadn’t, the clerk provided a printed copy for us to read and sign a confirmation.
Marriage License Fee: $86.00 (valid for use within 60 days in Florida only)
Step 2: Booking a Court Wedding in Brevard County
Next, we visited the Rachel M. Sadoff Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller office to ask about getting married at the courthouse. We found out:
- No appointment required
- You can marry on the same day you apply
- Bring your license and IDs
We chose to schedule the wedding for November 21, 2024 so we could prepare properly, setting the stage for our K-1 visa court ceremony in Florida.
Our Brevard County Courthouse Wedding Day
I wore a simple white dress, and mi amor wore khaki pants with a blue long-sleeve shirt. As we approached the courthouse, friendly strangers smiled and asked if we were getting married that day. It was a sweet moment.
Inside, we went to the customer service division and gave them:
- Marriage license
- Identification cards
Marriage Ceremony Fee: $30.00 (includes 1 certified marriage certificate)
Additional copies: $2.00 each (we got 2 more for our Adjustment of Status (AOS) application)
The Ceremony
The ceremony room was beautifully decorated. The clerk who helped us also officiated our wedding. In Florida, witnesses are not required. We exchanged vows and were married in just a few minutes!
Outside, the same ladies greeted us with smiles and warm wishes. It was simple, beautiful, and unforgettable.
Starting Our Life Together
Our life as husband and wife has just begun. Things won’t always be perfect, but we promised each other we’ll face everything together — no matter what.
We hope our story helps fellow Filipino-American couples or anyone going through the K-1 visa process to understand the court wedding process in Florida.
If you’re planning a court wedding after a K-1 visa, save this post or share it with someone who needs it!
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