South African marriage

Last activity 06 May 2019 by PJPSR

1441 Views

1 replies

Post new topic

BluefaNew member29 March 2019 21:55:40

I am USA citizen trying to marry in South Africa to a SA this August. I will be in SA for 2 weeks and worried we can’t get married. Can he make the marriage interview apt before I arrive? He lives in Benoni, we like to marry in Durban. I am seeking advice how we can plan this. What is the interview, what questions are asked, will we be separated during interview? After the interview do we get married right there at Home Affairs? How do we arrange an off site marriage officer? Will the marriage be considered legal in USA too or must I register it and if so how? Ugh, so many questions. We both have passports, he is working on getting his divorce decree and I just found out how to get my letter of single status in USA. Any advice for us? Please help, we really want this to happen.

PJPSRMember06 May 2019 10:23:55

I know of people who married in SA and later wanted a divorce. Hate to bring up the subject but obtaining a divorce in a SA marriage has many hoops both must go through. My advice is to get married in the USA. Then when you move to SA, file your marriage through Home Affairs (takes a month or less) and everything will be simpler. Also in SA, there is a "cncept" of joint ownership, but, for example, your automobile will be registered under your wife's name, not yours. Until you obtain a PR/ Tax Wise a married couple file as individuals, not joint 1040 as in the USA. You still must file US Taxes and I believe so will your wife, even though she may not have a Green-Card. Best seek legal advice before making any plans. There are many. The one I used was InterGate.

Articles to help you in your expat project in South Africa

The South African lifestyle
Diversity is one of the words that could best describe South Africa: diversity of landscapes, languages and ...
Buying property in Cape Town
Cape Town is one of the most popular cities for overseas property buyers and is one of the top 5 tourist ...
Leisure in South Africa
When moving to South Africa, whether to work, study or for other reasons, the “Rainbow Nation” offers ...
Accommodation in Cape Town
Cape Town lies between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. It is a cosmopolitan, active and dynamic city with ...
The Pros and Cons of living in Cape Town
Curiously, opinions on life in Cape Town are often divided: there are those who express reluctance at the thought ...
Internships in South Africa
The end-of-study internship represents an important step in a student's curriculum, so why not take advantage ...
Accommodation in South Africa
South Africa is a huge country, unusual in the diversity of its landscapes, all of which are of remarkable beauty. ...
The work culture in Cape Town
You are ready to take the plunge and come to work in Cape Town, but you are wondering about your integration in an ...