Proxy Marriages Available in Utah for Australian Citizens Through a Video Conference Wedding

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many couples have had to postpone their wedding plans. In cases of immigration matters where parties are separated this can often become an issue if the visa application relies on a valid marriage at the present time.

The State of Utah in the United States has no residency or citizenship requirements to issue a marriage license. This means that non-US citizens who do not reside in the US may apply for a marriage license and have a wedding ceremony via a video conference, hosted by a county clerk in Utah. This proxy marriage will then be recognized by Australia as a valid marriage.

Technology Requirements for Proxy Marriage

• The application process requires the browser to be operating Google Chrome and also does not work across all devices (such as, Apple computers/laptops and ipads).

• Submitting/uploading documents

  • Do not use photos saved on your phone as they are often poor quality and may not be accepted

  • Instead, it is recommended to upload the documents from your computer

  • You are only provided with 2 attempts at uploading the required documents (e.g., passport, driver’s license etc.).

• The ceremony itself is hosted via Zoom

  • Your device will require video capabilities

Cost of the Proxy Marriage

• Penalty fee to change or correct any details = $10 USD

• License application = $70 USD

Applying for the Proxy Marriage License

• You will need to provide:

  • A scanned copy of your passports or official government-issued identification such as a driver’s license

  • A passport style photo

  • Personal details, such as:

§  Full names

§  Addresses

§  Phone numbers

§  Birthplaces

You will receive an email with a URL to start the application which must first be completed by one party. Once one party has completed filling out their information, the URL should then be forwarded to their partner so that they may fill out their application too. It is important to note that the application is not designed for non-US citizens and therefore you will be required to email marriage@utahcounty.gov to resolve any issues and/or correct any details. For example:

• Social security number: 000 00 0000

• Address: Utah County office address (111 S. University Avenue Provo, UT 84601)

  • Simply email marriage@utahcounty.gov your Australian address so that it may be corrected manually

• If the application does not accept your Australian phone number, you should also email to correct this detail.

Once completed, the proxy marriage application may be approved with the corrected details as quickly as 24 hours and you will receive an email with a digital copy of your marriage license.

Proxy Marriage Ceremony

• Time = Approximately 30 minutes

• Where: Zoom meeting (a URL is provided via email)

• When: You may choose your local time in your time zone

• What is required?

  • Marriage license number when booking

  • 2 witnesses (via their own devices or sitting in the same room)

• A county clerk will be provided to officiate the video conference ceremony

Validity of the Proxy Marriage

Once the ceremony is completed, parties will receive a digital copy of their marriage certificate within a day and physical copies are received via mail. We note that there may be a delay due to international postage times.

It is recommended that parties choose to pay the fee of $30 USD to receive an apostille. An apostille is a legal certificate authenticating the document to be valid in another country, i.e., Australia (if parties are from separate countries, they should apply for an apostille for each country to have their marriage certificate recognized in both).

How can Agape Henry Crux Help

If you are looking to apply for a Partner visa through proxy marriage, please do not hesitate to contact us. At Agape Henry Crux, our Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyers and our team of immigration lawyers and migration agents are well trained to handle highly complex matters.  You can book one of our lawyers or agents to seek professional advice by calling 02-72002700 or email us to book a time at info@ahclawyers.com.

We speak fluent English, Korean, Burmese, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Indonesian, and Malay. If this isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.

This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact our office.