Wouldn’t it better to just get married abroad?
Not necessarily. If a U.S. citizen marries an alien while in another country, he or she must then file the I-130 petition for an immigration visa for an alien spouse. Immigration visas can take a long time – even years – since there is a limit as to how many can be granted each year. It is usually better to to first get your fiancé(e) to the United States via a K-1 visa and then get married. However if you prefer to marry abroad, see the Office of Citizens Consular Services brochure, “Marriage of U.S. Citizens Abroad”, for more information on how to be legally married abroad.
