Hello everyone!

Thank you first off to those taking the time to read my question and give advice I really appreciate it!!

- I have started planning things for our wedding ( I know its seems really really early but I was surprised to find out that its isn't) I filed in september and I still did not recieve my NOA2 yet but I am trying to do the impossible and estimate when I should book the Chapel that we want to get married in. I decided that since we filed in early september that he should be here before June 2009. I know that it is very well possible he will however not be here untill after June but I just dont want to even think about that. I was surprised to find out when I called that already the chapel is almost booked! So I have a decision to make as to whether or not to put down a deposit to hold June 13th 2009. I figure I should just do it because if worst comes to worst I will get my 300 dollars back but I would just like to know if my estimate seems logical. I was hoping for some advice from all of you please

You can book something, but I hope you fully realize you're taking several risks. Yes, if everything goes according to VJ estimates, your fiancé will be in the US by June. But you can't count on that. There's too many if's in this process.

Does that place refund deposits if you cancel? Most places have completely nonrefundable deposits from my experience. It's possible you could run into delays and your SO doesn't make it there on time.

Also... if you get approval early, you might have to get married sooner than your proposed date in order to marry within the 90 days; or, you might have to postpone his entry into the U.S.

If losing your deposit or postponing your fiancé's entry aren't issues, then booking is fine...

Another idea for you that might be helpful.

Looking at timelines and all that Jazz Chris and I are estimating that hopefully I will be there by Jan/Feb/March some time. We are going to have a courthouse ceremony to satisfy the legal requirements in the following month but then have a proper (but sadly not really real) ceremony and reception in August for ourselves, our family and friends.

Might be an idea you can use so you dont risk losing out on your deposit, or making your other half wait to arrive in the states.

Hey,

I think you estimate sounds reasonable. However, maybe you should check on what the other people here told you and whether it would be possible to get the deposit back...

We have taken the same risk. Our wedding is supposed to be in early March 2009 and we filed for K1 June 20th. I hope that I will be able to get to the US in January at the latest but if not we still have two months safety time. I think that could be realistic even if we should happen to get an RFE.

I would be very careful booking things now. By all estimates, I should have had my visa by the end of November. Absolutely everything is straightforward about our petition. We have lots of evidence that our relationship is real and even the US consulate here was doing everything they can do to make sure we didn't have any delays.

Then I went to get my Canadian police report. It turns out that my fingers are not suitable to be printed electronically. Who could have anticipated that? I've had to apply to the RCMP with paper prints which takes 5 months instead of three weeks. We're pretty distraught about the whole thing.

So it's really not 100% safe to assume that your fiance will be in the US by a certain time. There are way too many variables that can slow down the process.

I think that you are probably better off planning to do a civil ceremony to meet the 90 day requirement and picking a date that gives you extra time to have the wedding and reception meant for your friends and family.

~ Catherine

Bermycat,

You know you only need to get your fingerprints taken if you've had/have a criminal record eh? I know all I did was walking into the city police, paid the 28$ and they put my name through their system and the CPIC (canada-wide) system to see if it had shown up.

<3 Jen

Unfortunately, the US consulate in Bermuda requires the fingerprints based criminal record check regardless of whether or not the applicant has a criminal history. I wish I could've gotten the CPIC name and birth date check instead.

~ Catherine