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Post by croatialover on Feb 24, 2015 15:21:02 GMT 1
I am an American citizen trying to move to Croatia to be with my Croatian boyfriend. We are planning on renting an apartment together and living together for about 2 months before I apply for the family reunification visa....
I read on the Croatian Ministry of Interior website that for common law marriage to be substantial, you have to have lived together for 3 years! How do they prove this? Also, if my visa only allows me to be in Croatia for 3 months, how did they expect us to be living together for the past 3 years? It doesn't make sense. Does anyone have any recent experience with this as to how strict they are about enforcing this? I would really appreciate any help since the internet is not really helping me with my questions. thanks!
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Post by Ribaric on Feb 24, 2015 15:40:01 GMT 1
I am an American citizen trying to move to Croatia to be with my Croatian boyfriend. We are planning on renting an apartment together and living together for about 2 months before I apply for the family reunification visa.... I read on the Croatian Ministry of Interior website that for common law marriage to be substantial, you have to have lived together for 3 years! How do they prove this? Also, if my visa only allows me to be in Croatia for 3 months, how did they expect us to be living together for the past 3 years? It doesn't make sense. Does anyone have any recent experience with this as to how strict they are about enforcing this? I would really appreciate any help since the internet is not really helping me with my questions. thanks! This is 99% certainly a hurdle dreamed up by somebody pretending to know the rules. I did this and required no qualifying period at all. I did have to declare our intention to marry at some future point (go figure) and go through very stupid processes but there's no reason to refuse you a temporary residency visa on the grounds you state. Make your application as soon as possible and you can legally use your confirmation (Potvrda) of application to remain here until either you receive your visa or a formal rejection. Be bold, be confident and don't listen to bar room lawyers. Your country of origin is irrelevant in this case.... y'all. |
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Post by croatialover on Feb 24, 2015 23:32:18 GMT 1
Awesome, Thank you for the info! It's great to hear someone who has gone through this process successfully. My next question is about the statements that I must make. In reading past forums, I understand that I will need to declare our intention to marry and then prove I am able to marry (i.e. not married to someone else). Are there certain forms I need to fill out for this and where can I find them?? (Or do I just type something up myself on my computer with my statement?) Also, would I need to complete this process in America? Or can I do it at an American embassy overseas? I ask because I am now living in the Czech Republic on a Czech visa. 3rd, does my boyfriend have to come with me? Or can he just sign the form that says we intend to marry? I'm really confused.
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Post by Ribaric on Feb 25, 2015 11:15:23 GMT 1
I did this in 2012 so things may have changed. I just went to the UK (I'm Brit.. obviously) embassy in Zagreb where they charged me €70 for the application form and processing and another €70 for them to stick it on their wall for a month to allow anyone to challenge what I'm saying (ya never know who just might be passing by... inside the embassy?  ). I went back a month later and picked up my bit of paper which allowed the local police to issue the visa. I have been divorced and I told them.. big mistake. I had to get a notarised copy of my decree absolute and give it to them. I did it all in the embassy in a single visit, alone with nothing more than a passport and €140. Best of luck. |
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Post by croatialover on Feb 25, 2015 15:16:38 GMT 1
Ok, thanks for the response. It's making way more sense now. One last question (sorry to annoy you, but just want to make sure I do it correctly)...
About the declaration that I intend to marry my boyfriend. Is this the same form where we state we are living together as man and wife? or is that a separate form? Are there 2, or 3 forms total for this part? Also, will he need to be present with me at the embassy in Zagreb when I go to do this?
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Post by Ribaric on Feb 25, 2015 16:00:20 GMT 1
It was just one of the questions on the application form, it made me smile (inwardly) as it was clear the state of Croatia was worrying itself about my morals and intentions. There were only 2 forms, one to apply for the "no impediment to marry" status and the other to pay for the process. I did it alone but it was over 3 years ago now.
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Post by croatialover on Feb 26, 2015 16:11:25 GMT 1
Awesome, thanks so much!!! I also found out by doing more research that there is no such form called "no impediment to marry" for US citizens (this is for the UK and some other countries). The US requires an "affidavit of eligibility to marry" (obtained at the embassy in Zagreb) and then this must get authenticated at Consular Section of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Zagreb. There is no public posting in the embassy and waiting for objections ("Banns of marriage") for US citizens. So it sounds a lot easier for me! That makes me excited  |
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). I went back a month later and picked up my bit of paper which allowed the local police to issue the visa. I have been divorced and I told them.. big mistake. I had to get a notarised copy of my decree absolute and give it to them. I did it all in the embassy in a single visit, alone with nothing more than a passport and €140. Best of luck. 