What to Consider When Marrying Someone from a Foreign Country

Love tends to blur rational thinking. When you fall in love with somebody, you think it could be a forever possibility. You want to spend every waking moment with them, and you want to be as close to them as physically possible. But love does have a tendency to override all of those practicalities that come with life. It’s becoming more and more common for people from different backgrounds to fall into love. 

Heck, it’s even becoming more common for people of the same gender to get married which is a wonderful way for the world to finally wake up and be more accepting of those around them. The problem is that there are some practicalities that come into marrying a person from a foreign country, but mostly to do with the fact that you have to engage immigration law professionals so that you can be together in one place. You may also have practicalities surrounding who was going to live where, and the cultural differences that can make what feels like love in the first place pull you apart. Here are some of the things that you do need to think about if you fall in love with somebody from another land.

Where will you plan to live? Are they coming to you or are you going to them? Love is wonderful, but if you want to live in your native country, then the person you’re going to marry has to agree and vice versa. If they are living in a country that doesn’t speak your language, but they can, is that going to be too hard for you to assimilate? Can they assimilate in an English speaking country? Can you cope with the isolation of not having anyone else around you, or feeling left out of the conversation when other languages are being spoken? These are all very valid questions and you really have to think about that.

Will you qualify for a visa? Visas can be expensive and they can be a headache, but that’s usually why you would need family-based green card legal representation from immigration lawyers to help you to figure out which visa to get and which of you will be getting one. If you’re planning on just moving, you may not need a marriage license or visa, but you might think about what it means for them to come to you. Visas are a must if you are going to a new country, and eventually you’ll be able to get permanent residency or citizenship with the help of family immigration lawyers.

What is the wedding going to be like? If you are living in an English speaking country, you may have ideals about what your wedding should look like. If you’re marrying a Muslim or you’re marrying a person who comes from a Jewish background, you may be surprised to learn that the wedding may be completely different to what you expect. If you’re willing to convert religions for the person that you love, it’s going to take some time but it makes it easier. However, if you’re not willing to do that then the feelings you have for each other may not last.

Will you embrace each other’s traditions? Again, it’s not just about the love you feel for one another. There are cultural differences and traditions that you must think of, and if you’re not willing to embrace them, then that’s something to consider.

Indiana Lee

Indiana Lee lives in the Northwest and has a passion for the environment and wellness. She draws her inspiration from nature and makes sure to explore the outdoors on a regular basis. Indiana loves experiencing new things and sharing with others what she learns through her writing. You can chat with Indiana on twitter @IndianaLee3