If you want to marry someone who does not have the right to live in the U.S., things will be more complex.
If you wish to get married in the U.S., first you will need to get them a visa that gives them the right to travel here to do so. The visa in question is known as a K-1 non-immigrant visa.
Make sure the path to marriage is clear
If one of you was previously married, ensure you have finalized the divorce and have the paperwork to prove it. Otherwise, it could cause your application to fail at the first hurdle.
Collect all the other paperwork you need to support the application. You’ll need to show proof that you are marrying for love, not any other reason. Things like photos, videos, emails, love letters, previous joint rental contracts or joint foreign bank accounts can all help prove your relationship is genuine.
You’ll also need to show proof of funding to convince the authorities that your fiancé(e) will not become a burden on the state.
If any of your official documents are in a language other than English, you may need to have them officially translated.
Gather evidence
Gathering all the evidence can take time so start early. You should only file your application once you have all the evidence in place. If you succeed in getting the visa for your fiancé(e), you will only have 90 days to cement the marriage starting from the date of their entry into the country.
Immigration matters can be complex to understand so it is worth seeking legal guidance to improve your chance of success.