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marriage in egypt

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glasgirl
  8/30/2008 10:52 EST

Can anyone tell me the process of marriage in Egypt? I am going to Cairo in Octobe to meet my partner and for us to finish all the marriage papers, i would like to hear from someone who has been through it all if anyone can help?

dfminsa
  8/30/2008 23:05 EST

I'm interested in this information as well. Although I do know it's going to be hard as hell, considering I'm from the states and will be moving to Egypt this upcoming November/ December.

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glasgirl
  8/31/2008 16:55 EST

after our marriage we will be applying for a uk visa for my husband, i want us to live here

nagwas
  9/3/2008 09:25 EST

To answer your question about marriage. Last year in May 0f 2008 me and my fiance went to the American Embassy to find out about getting married. I am American and he Egyptian. We were told that "NO AMERICANS" can marry in Egypt. The law is from the US and if you want to get married you must travel to Cyprus. If you check on the internet under "marriage in Egypt" I am sure you will see that i am teliing you the truth unless its been changed since then. We were told that the the Egyptian government was trying hard to get that law changed. I am assumming that since 9/11 America no longer is trusting anyone who may want to become an American citizen and marrying an American allows them the chance of doing that. Hope this info helps. I was living in Cairo and plan to go back September 17th 08.

glasgirl
  9/4/2008 16:08 EST

i am British, i dont know if that will make a difference? How did you get on?

ameny
  9/9/2008 17:45 EST

the "problem" about marriage to an American had to do with a change in the Egyptian requirements that were not compatible with American laws. The issue has been mitigated an you can now apply with your Egyptian partner to the American Embassy for the form for marriage. Which you will in turn present to the marriage authority at Lazoli (well-known facility for international marriages in Cairo). There may be other issues to be resolved. You may want to contact the American embassy in Cairo (Garden City) for more detailed information.

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Style
  9/19/2008 05:56 EST

Please, please...Educate yourself on Egyptian marriage laws. Getting married in Egypt changes your status as a woman and wife. As well as the rights to your children. If you are muslim, then no big issue, but if you are not, beware. The rights you are used to having in your native country will DRAMATICALLY change. My best advice, do not get married in Egypt, and God forbid if you should divorce, if you do not have a pre-marital agreement denouncing your children as an Egyptian citizen, you will most likely face never having custody of your children. In Egyptian law, no matter where you live in the world, if you give birth from an Egyptian citizen, the children are automatically considered Egyptian citizens. Please educate yourself on everything your getting into. My boyfriend lives in Cairo, and I have been researching all this for the last year... Be Safe, Be smart...

mervato
  9/19/2008 21:47 EST

hello dear..iam egyptian living in alexandria and if you need any advice or any thing just know that iam a friend for you here..

i advice any woman who wants to get mary from another nationality that she must study the man first so well and contact with his family through net or phone before she travel to another country so she can trust that she will be ok and in safe and with loveing family

drmary
  9/20/2008 07:39 EST

Even if you are Muslim and acquire citizenship, my understanding is that you only have visitation rights with the children, who stay with the husband, unless he gives up his claim. I know of one woman who got this only because the man's sisters bugged him (they are an unusual case). In most cases, the man's family will insist on keeping the kids.

I suggest you get married in your home country, which at least gives you some rights there in case you have to grab the kids and run (sorry to sound so pessimistic, but I know more expat/Egyptian marriages that ended that way than happily, at least where children were involved). Make sure you have your own source of money and that it is both available to you and not available to him.

And really, really think about whether this is what you want. I know of a few expat/Egyptian marriages that worked out well - in all cases, the Egyptian grew up overseas and was comfortable bucking his family (one even married a Jew!). Your partner might be one of these exceptional ones - even then, if something happens to him, you have to deal with his family. Get to know them all and observe him with them (and with his friends).

Lastly, gold jewelry is a handy way to have savings ready when you need it - make him buy you lots (OK, that was mostly a joke).

Cheers.

Angstar82
  9/30/2008 16:09 EST

So far I don't think any posts answered her question. I am an American currently living in Egypt, I married my husband 2 years ago (he's Egyptian). We met in the states and he actually lived there for seven years. Anyway our marriage process wasn't to difficult unlike some others are stating. First we had to get an Affidavit stamped by the Counselor at the US Embassy ( I heard from others they had difficulties with this paper), for us it was no problem, it literally took 2 minutes. Then it was off to Egyptian Foreign Affairs Ministry to confirm our Affidavit, luckily my husband's cousin was a police officer and made everything a breeze. Then we went and got our marriage contract at the Ministry Of Justice. And that was it. I think it took about 2 days in total.



Good luck.

Groundhog
  9/30/2008 20:19 EST

Glad to hear your experience was so easy, but your experience is not really applicable to this girls post either. This lady is British and wants to marry an Egyptian man who lives here.

To get married in the UK, he'd have to get a visa to go to the UK, which I;m guessing (possibly betting) that he can't get. she would like to know how to get around this, so she can bring him to the UK to live with her. You met you hubby in the US, where he'd lived for years, so he's known to the US, and he knows it too. This is the best and most failsafe route to take when wanting to marry from here.

If one meets them on holiday, or worse online, there is no way of knowing who you are tying yourself to, and no way of knowing how long the marriage will last... mostly until they get the nationality, then Masalama...

Glasgirl, The posts suggesting that you should get to know your intended are 100% spot on, and you should gloss over this advice lightly.

You don't know him, you wouldn't be able to live here, given all that you are used to.

What is his education? Has he got a University degree? If not, hmm, not good, not good at all.

CAN he get a visa all by himself to come to the UK for a holiday? again if not, WORRY. The British Embassy KNOWS what it's doing.

To be sure that love is true, he HAS to have the RIGHT TO STAY in the UK already. If he doesn't, and has no degree, no money, no good job, then the chances are he's only looking to get out and over to the UK and our wonderful benefits system.

It could be that he is geniune, but its a slim chance, in total honesty it really is.

He is already saying/agreeing with you to live in the UK? Of course he is.

Please ask yourself how you would feel if you indeed waved your UK magic wand and imported him into the UK only for him to leave, and then marry another nationality - the Egyptian Virgin that he KNOWS he is entitled to, and brings her over to the council house, the income support, the health care service....

Please think long and hard before doing this to our country, I'd like it still to be intact for my son and his children.

There are MILLIONS of egyptians in the UK, and some I'm sure would like to marry you, I know a friend here that went on hols to Egypt and then came back saying she wanted to marry an egyptian.

she put out the feelers and met her eventual hubby, they've got a teenage daughter and a young son, have lived together happily for years, and have indeed moved over here about 5 years ago.

If you want to marry one, do so, but please don't import one. They are not ready to live in our land, the culture shock is just too great.

I don't want to sadden you, but I see this every day, and I see the devastation it causes. People here lie.

If a man in the UK has the right to stay, has lived in the UK for a few years, then he knows how things are, and he has a free heart and choice to marry you, then you can be 100% sure that it'll all work out OK.

Otherwise, just treat it how it really was, a holiday romance, or an internet fling. It'll save you so much cash, heartbreak and humilliation in the long run.

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dfminsa
  10/1/2008 10:33 EST

I met my fiance online over 2 years ago. We have talked everyday for 2 years, and I don't mean by typing or chatting, I mean MSN voice conversations, so it's just like being on the phone. We both have webcams so we're able to talk to each other face to face (in a manner of speaking). I'm an American and he's Egyptian. He has a Bachelors degree in Architecture. He's been trying to get a visa to come to the states but is unable to do so. Our plan was for him to come and be here with me, but it looks like I'll be moving there. He has told me on many occasions that he doesn't care where we live as long as we're together. You can real a lot more in a person's tone when you can see their face and listen to the conviction in their words. I'm sure there are many Egyptian men who use women to get out of their country, or use women to gain "status" in their own country, but that doesn't mean they're all like that. Unfortunately, my fiance and I are at a sort of an impass inwhich I can go see him over there, but not marry him. He's having trouble getting a tourist visa to the states. My best suggestion as far as this goes, is to get an attorney who specializes in this stuff. That's what I'm doing. You may have to wait a little longer but at least this way everything done is 100% legal. Good Luck to those of y'all like me.

ColourBlue
  10/3/2008 12:31 EST

Regarding marriage in Egypt, I am an American citizen myself and have been married to an Egyptian citizen since 2005. Since we both knew a lot of people and family in Egypt we had the wedding in Egypt. There were no problems whatsoever. No one at the American or Egyptian Embassy mentioned having to travel to Cyprus, we had our wedding at a hotel in Cairo and provided this information and our wedding photos to the embassies, no questions asked really. I know that sometimes people have to be interviewed by the embassy to prove that they really married for love and not for papers, but as long as you provide photos of your wedding and you genuinely are happily married, there shouldn't be any problems or embarressing questions:)

drmary
  10/6/2008 15:31 EST

dfminsa - I have to wonder why your guy can't get a tourist visa to the US. . . it's not usually that difficult. Another possibility is to see if he can get accepted to a university near you for graduate work - that can help him get a student visa.

I don't worry about the sincere intentions of any Egyptian man wanting to marry a foreigner - love happens, and I do think the US is better for having more immigrants, no matter how they get there. I really only worry when the potential hubby seems to lean toward getting married in Egypt - even if he is perfect, something can happen to him and you will find yourself with limited rights. If children are involved, this can be very hard indeed.

Let's put the shoe on the other foot - if a foreigner marries a US citizen in the US, who has more rights in the US? The citizen, of course. If I were a foreign woman, I don't think I'd want to marry a US man under those circumstances, no matter how much I wanted to live in the US.

It does seem that the situation that provides the woman the most rights is to get married in her home country and then, if the couple wants, move to Egypt, but not apply for citizenship (I'm not sure it's even necessary to have the marriage recognized here). I would also consider doing legal paperwork ahead of time to have the husband give permission to the wife to travel with any and all children that result from the marriage (this is a right that folks in most other countries have, so it's not unreasonable) - once again, just in case the jewel of a guy is in a coma and the inlaws become a nightmare.

If any prospective husband balks at such things, you do have to wonder. One thing is for sure, waiting to get married is never a bad thing. Waiting to have kids is even a better thing (birth control is about 25 cents/month here, if you know the right pharmacists!).

dfminsa
  10/6/2008 16:16 EST

Dr.Mary- Thnks for the heads up about the pre-nup rights (if thats the best terms to use.) I spoke with an attorney today, as it turns out, he's getting denied because he's a single male with no hardcore ties to his country. Sad to say but true, so now we're going to be working on a Fiance/ Fiancee visa. Seeing as how it would be difficult with us to marry in Egypt without me being a citizen there. Then eventually living there. The ideas of a student visa are great! I really didn't even think about going down that avenue, considering he has his batchelors it wouldn't be to much to work on a Masters. Thank you again!

glasgirl
  10/19/2008 15:56 EST

Thanks to everyone for their replies! I trust this man, I know how he feels and I know how I feel.

He is an educated man from a decent family, his mother didnt like the idea of me at first but she is coming round. His father was he same but now the have accepted our situation. My family thought I was crazy! Especially my father who, to this day doesnt agree but I am happy, I love this man.

He actually wanted me to move to Egypt, he didnt want to come to the UK, but I have asked him to move here cos I think the culture change for me in Egypt would be harder for me than it would be for him to adapt here. I could be wrong but we shall soon find out!!

He has a university degree and speaks perfect English, yes my story is a bit cliched, but if I dont do this then I will be just as hurt as I will be if it turns pear shaped. I am used to people and their negative comments, sadly its all i seem to get!

dfminsa
  10/24/2008 08:42 EST

Well, don't lose your faith that things will come your way. Seeing what he'll say about moving to the UK, well, that's a good step to take. One thing that I have learned in my relationship with my fiance, is that both have to understand the cultural differences. He should see where your from and how you're used to living. He should be willing to make the change if the need for him to should arise. A marriage and any relationship is about compromise. Don't worry, just keep the faith that all good will come and it will. Good Luck!

glasgirl
  10/25/2008 18:01 EST

I understand the cultural differences and so does he. i accept the differences and we hve agreed on many things that e have talked about, religion, social issues etc. Yes there are many men out there who arent wonderful but just now i have nothing to say my partner isnt that, just peoples opinion and not going to let that sway me! I could be wrong.....but i'll go with my heart for now

Trueegyptian
  11/30/2008 08:02 EST

"after our marriage we will be applying for a uk visa for my husband, i want us to live here "

What a suprise!!

JessicaRafter
  1/18/2010 12:54 EST

I am an American Woman who is married to an Egyptian...Yes you can get married in Egypt. BUT first you have to go to the embassy and get what is called a Marriage affidavit....a permission to get married. After that you go to a notary to get it notarized. then after that you can go to the Ministry of Justice...with the permission paper, your passports, and birth certificate for you americans, and 6 individual photos for the paperwork you will be creating. hand in all that and you come back after like 4 days and you have your marriage certificate finished and you just sign and thumb print it. To get it recognized in the States you have to go to Ministry of Justice with your passports, and the 2 copies of the marriage cert. and wait a couple days and go back to sign that also...and your offically married in the states as well...

Style
  2/20/2010 02:50 EST

Hi, You were married in Egypt? Are you from the States? I have heard that the paper the EGY. embassy wants is not available from the US embassy?

solom
  9/28/2010 06:15 EST

before u marry u must know the one ur going to marry and me to it woud be a forever relation regardless of the place u r going to live so if u coming to egypt i would be happy to meet u

daniel01
  3/11/2012 17:23 EST

Just read your post,my sister-in-law,married an Egyptian in 2010,in Egypt. he got the visa for 2 years to come to the Uk as they were now married! she payed for the visa and the flight for him to come over,in 2010. a month ago he suddenly changed!!stating all different excuses why he wanted a divorce saying he was going back to Egypt to divorce her,but she has checked up on one or two things ,and he is saying that he can change the visa and stay here in England ,he is becoming extremely verbally abusive trying to destroy her,he threatens to leave but never leaves! can she get the visa revoked. reporting him or can he now stay in Britain,it is obvious he is just after the British passport,she's devasted

AmrHilmy
  3/12/2012 03:45 EST

well , Actually that is a really sad story , and its obviously ruining the Egyptian Stereotype thingy, but anyways i would advice you to tell her that she has to go to the Egyptian Embassy right away and report him .. on the other hand she has to report to the police or any agency in the UK that looks after the visas and so, Report him of the miss use of his visa !!

0208nancy22
  6/21/2013 16:20 EST

Just seen your post, it was 2008, I wonder if you Married your Love of your life, I get married in Cairo in Nov of this year, and like you so many people say hurtful things to me, I am used to it, my Love wants me to live in Egypt but like you I cant and don't want to, we are going to give it our best shot, and hopefully live in England together, he would not accept benefits even if he was entitled, we will survive on our own,our Love for each other is enough, but at this moment in time a very long road to travel until we get there,

hem88hem
  6/25/2013 17:37 EST

wat actually do want to know

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