We were in Egypt, but the church was just as scrutinous. The abouna who was gonna baptize me and marry us called my mom from his cell phone to make sure she knew I was getting married! (She didn't answer because it was an unknown #

)
We were already married at the ministry of justice, but the preist told us that he could be using me and that we should live together as brother and sister until he could marry us.

Anyway, the whole backwardness of that situation is that if he was really using me, why would he want to get married in the Coptic Church that doesn't allow remarriage after divorce? I guess my husband was gonna travel with me to USA and lose ALL of his morals.
Sorry you had troubles. Hopefully, the finace visa will work out better for you guys!
Good luck and God bless.