Getting Married

[super11]

Hi,

After talking it over with my girlfriend, we have decided to get married. I am an American, and she is Canadian.
I understand that after we get married she will have to sponsor me and wait for the processing time.
I plan on living in the states while this is happening
and moving over once I am granted citizenship. So that way I can continue working.

I am wondering though about how do I go about marrying her when I am in Canada? Is it a long lengthy process
because I am from the states? Or is it simply going down to the courthouse and signing papers and turning
it in to get registered? How do I go about doing this? I understand there could be questioning our marriage because
I am from the states.

I already have a visit set up in the end of December to see her. Is there anyway we could do it then? She lives in Ontario, btw.
It's also a same sex marriage, if that makes a difference.

thank you.

 

[Kedeisha]

Ontario recognize same sex marriage so there will be no problem, I believe u mention your state does not recognize it so you may wanna get ur marriage license here or on NY they recently start recognizing same sex union, as with any other relationship just submit proof that the realtion is genuine and not 1 enter into for access to Canada well the good thing about being an American is that part is not so heavily weighed because our standards of living are the same but nonetheless u will still need proof.

Good luck

 

[super11]

Hello,

I am still wondering about the actual process of getting married. Do I need to do anything special or can we literally go down to the courthouse and sign papers?

 

[cleo]

It's easy.

http://www.ontario.ca/en/life_events/married/STEL02_119192.html



It's pretty much the same in BC. First of all you need to find an office that issues marriage licenses. Just google a place near where your partner lives. (we just went to an insurance agency in my neighbourhood). You only need your passport or other ID. Then you need to have a ceremony of some sort witnessed by two people, and authorized by a certified marriage commissioner. You give the marriage commissioner that license and then they register the marriage. Ta dah!

 

[TGR]

super11, it's pretty straight forward getting a license. I live in Toronto, so my husband and I went down to city hall to get a marriage license which cost CAD140. We needed to bring in some sort of photo ID when we got the license. In Ontario, a license is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. If it is not used for a marriage within that time, it expires. We then made an appointment at the wedding chambers in city hall ( if you want to do this on a weekend, beware because it can book up quickly). You need to provide two witnesses and an officiant depending on where you are getting married. After the ceremony, in Ontario at least, it is the officiant's jobs to provide the paperwork to the province to register the marriage. After a few weeks, you can then apply to get your marriage certificate mailed to you. Hope this helps!

Where in Canada are you planning on getting married?

 

[super11]

super11, it's pretty straight forward getting a license. I live in Toronto, so my husband and I went down to city hall to get a marriage license which cost CAD140. We needed to bring in some sort of photo ID when we got the license. In Ontario, a license is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. If it is not used for a marriage within that time, it expires. We then made an appointment at the wedding chambers in city hall ( if you want to do this on a weekend, beware because it can book up quickly). You need to provide two witnesses and an officiant depending on where you are getting married. After the ceremony, in Ontario at least, it is the officiant's jobs to provide the paperwork to the province to register the marriage. After a few weeks, you can then apply to get your marriage certificate mailed to you. Hope this helps!

Where in Canada are you planning on getting married?

We plan on getting married in Toronto, I think I read somewhere that you can get the certificate the same day if you pay extra fees? I kind of think it'd be best to fill out the sponsorship paperwork together just to make sure everything is covered, or possibly even at an embassy, if that is possible... I just would hate for the time to be even further delayed because some things were missing. Thanks for the tip about the weekends, you were very helpful! She's in the Mississauga area. Could I by chance use the paperwork for the marriage, not the certificate to start filling out sponsorship forms? Or do I need the actual marriage certificate in hand? Thank you.

 

[Serendipity]

We plan on getting married in Toronto, I think I read somewhere that you can get the certificate the same day if you pay extra fees? I kind of think it'd be best to fill out the sponsorship paperwork together just to make sure everything is covered, or possibly even at an embassy, if that is possible... I just would hate for the time to be even further delayed because some things were missing. Thanks for the tip about the weekends, you were very helpful! She's in the Mississauga area. Could I by chance use the paperwork for the marriage, not the certificate to start filling out sponsorship forms? Or do I need the actual marriage certificate in hand? Thank you.

Service Delivery Times
http://www.ontario.ca/en/information_bundle/individuals/119283.html

"Marriage Certificates (provided that the marriage is registered):

Online Service
15 business days plus delivery

Premium Online Service (Online Only)
5 business days (including delivery)

Regular Service
6 to 8 weeks plus delivery

Expedited Service
10 days plus delivery

Emergency Service (Toronto Office Only)
2 days plus delivery
Please note that proof of urgency is required. "



S.

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

We plan on getting married in Toronto, I think I read somewhere that you can get the certificate the same day if you pay extra fees? I kind of think it'd be best to fill out the sponsorship paperwork together just to make sure everything is covered, or possibly even at an embassy, if that is possible... I just would hate for the time to be even further delayed because some things were missing. Thanks for the tip about the weekends, you were very helpful! She's in the Mississauga area. Could I by chance use the paperwork for the marriage, not the certificate to start filling out sponsorship forms? Or do I need the actual marriage certificate in hand? Thank you.

Are you talking about the marriage license or certificate? For the marriage license, I don't know about Toronto, but be certain to double check that. In Quebec you literally have to publish a public notice that you're getting married something like 15 or 20 days in advance (my husband and I happened to get lucky and talk to our lawyer/officiant about 2 days before the cut off - we got married 4 weeks after he proposed in a simple civil ceremony). I have a feeling it's a stupid rule that only Quebec has, but just wanted to throw it out there so you can double check it in Ontario.

As for the marriage certificate - we got a copy of the paper we signed at the ceremony pretty much the same day, but had to expedite the actual certificate. We paid extra, but had the official certificate about 2 weeks after the wedding.

 

[Scandinavian]

I Contacted the Canadian embassy (in London) and they asked me to go further with my questions to Toronto on what documents
I would need to get married with a Canadian in Canada. I also phoned my register office in Finland and they told me to order a certificate (in English)
that proofs that I am not being married already and that will be valid for 4 months. I guess I read somewhere that I need my parent´s birth certificate as well (am not really sure!). Guess you wont need that since you are American? Is the city hall or register office the right place to find out?

And CONGRATS in advance to your happy event!

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

I Contacted the Canadian embassy (in London) and they asked me to go further with my questions to Toronto on what documents
I would need to get married with a Canadian in Canada. I also phoned my register office in Finland and they told me to order a certificate (in English)
that proofs that I am not being married already and that will be valid for 4 months. I guess I read somewhere that I need my parent´s birth certificate as well (am not really sure!). Guess you wont need that since you are American? Is the city hall or register office the right place to find out?

And CONGRATS in advance to your happy event!

I'm American, and I had to show the lawyer/officiant an original copy of my birth certificate (as did my fiancé). I had to sign a paper stating that I was not previously married, or if I was that I was now officially and properly divorced. I did not have to show any proof beyond that that I was single. The lawyer/officiant also took copies of my passport. In Quebec we also discussed the matrimonial scheme that would govern the assets in our marriage if we ever separated, but I think that's unique to Quebec.

 

[Baloo]

In Quebec we also discussed the matrimonial scheme that would govern the assets in our marriage if we ever separated, but I think that's unique to Quebec.

It sure is

 

[TGR]

We plan on getting married in Toronto, I think I read somewhere that you can get the certificate the same day if you pay extra fees? I kind of think it'd be best to fill out the sponsorship paperwork together just to make sure everything is covered, or possibly even at an embassy, if that is possible... I just would hate for the time to be even further delayed because some things were missing. Thanks for the tip about the weekends, you were very helpful! She's in the Mississauga area. Could I by chance use the paperwork for the marriage, not the certificate to start filling out sponsorship forms? Or do I need the actual marriage certificate in hand? Thank you.

I'm not sure about using just the paperwork. From what I remember, the paperwork given at the ceremony only had some details on it. However, things like witness signatures were only present on the original marriage certificate requested through Service Ontario. In my case, I wanted the witness signatures to be submitted as part of my proof as my husband's mother was one of our witnesses. Also, I would say that if it is a question of 15-20 days to get the certificate, I personally, would wait out that 20 days just to make sure I was submitting the right thing. The last thing you want is for a delay to arise from sending in the paperwork instead of the official certificate. While you are waiting for this certificate, you and your partner can by all means begin the tedious process of completing the immigration forms, collecting photographs, emails, testimonials from family members, etc. That way, when the certificate arrives, you already have everything else ready and the package ready to send off to Mississauga (if you are applying outland).

As for getting a marriage license (unless something has changed in the last 6 months), you do not have to publish a public notice. However, I wouldn't recommend going to get the license the same day you plan on getting married- just more things you'll have to worry about on the day. Hope the below info helps!

Here's info on getting a marriage license in the City of Toronto:
http://www.toronto.ca/marriage/index.htm

and on getting married in Toronto City Hall specifically- the weddings are performed at city hall, but run by a company not employed by city (if that makes any sense):
http://www.marryus.org/cityweddings.htm

You mentioned your partner lives in Mississauga- if you wanted to get married here, here's info on getting a license:
http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/cityhall/marriagelicences

General info on getting married in Ontario:
http://www.ontario.ca/en/life_events/married/004444#licence

 

[am-al]

How did it go super11?

 

[super11]

thanks for all the replies, appreciate it!

I am now happily married to the most wonderful woman in the world.