In general, marriages that are legally performed and valid abroad are also legally valid in the United States. American diplomatic and consular officers are not permitted to perform marriages, and, as a rule, marriages are not performed on the premises of an American embassy or consulate. The validity of marriages abroad is not dependent upon the presence of an American diplomatic or consular officer, but upon adherence to the laws of the country where the marriage is performed. Marriage Family Immigration Immigration Home Page Consular officers may authenticate foreign marriage documents, but inquiries regarding the validity of a marriage abroad should be directed to office of the attorney general of the State in the United States where the parties to the marriage live. Marriage generally is considered a matter reserved to the individual U.S. States rather than to the federal government.
Most countries require that a valid U.S. passport be presented.
Many countries, like the United States, require blood tests. This process can be time consuming and expensive. Marriages abroad are also subject to the residency requirements of the country in which the marriage is to be performed, and there is usually a lengthy waiting period. All civil law countries require proof of legal capacity to enter into a marriage contract in the form of certification by competent authority that no impediment exists to the marriage. No such document exists in the United States.