When can the proposal take place?

[MrsBandy 0]

My boyfriend and I have decided we're ready to get married and complete our family. Our life is honestly perfect. He is from England, I'm American. My girls love him and call him dad, and we want to make it official. We want to do this the right way. 100%. He is on his second VWP and were unsure of when we can do the official proposal. We're starting the K1 paperwork this month but don't want to do anything to hinder our process. Is he allowed to formally propose on a VWP visit? I've read that pics of rings and proposal stories help your application process but when he entered the U.S. this time they grilled him on making sure he won't propose. When can he make his grand gesture if not while on the visa waiver? I'm sure this has been asked a billion times and I appreciate your time. Thank you. -MrsBandy

[smallgirlbigworld 46]

My fiance proposed while I visited on the visa waiver program. I dont think there is any problem if he proposes now as long as he is going back to England without getting married on the vwp. We didnt have any pictures of ring or proposal and all worked out fine for us ... good luck.

[Ontarkie 13,904]

Not sure why they didn't want him to propose. Maybe they were thinking he would propose then get married and not leave so they were grilling him to make sure he had not intended to stay.

He can do the proposal at anytime, heck the two of you can get married too while he is here.

What they don't want is preplaning the proposal, getting married and staying without the proper visa. It's the staying part when you plan ahead of time that is the issue. SO go ahead and do the big proposal and congratulations.

[Lemonslice 4,549]

Proposal (or ring) is not required, you can just discuss and decide to get married. As long as you have at least met in person once in the last two years, you can file the K1.

[DelilahBrz 48]

Which embassy?

[MrsBandy 0]

Thank you guys so much. I can't even begin to describe how big my smile is right now. ?

[Stevephoto 224]

Congratulations and good luck. I see that your forum name is "MRSBandy." I would be very careful about using anything in this process that might give a case reviewer any idea that you are already married and therefore ineligible for the K-1 Visa (although I assume that the name is just for us!) Enjoy the big (proposal) day!

[MarkPerry 488]

My boyfriend and I have decided we're ready to get married and complete our family. Our life is honestly perfect. He is from England, I'm American. My girls love him and call him dad, and we want to make it official. We want to do this the right way. 100%. He is on his second VWP and were unsure of when we can do the official proposal. We're starting the K1 paperwork this month but don't want to do anything to hinder our process. Is he allowed to formally propose on a VWP visit? I've read that pics of rings and proposal stories help your application process but when he entered the U.S. this time they grilled him on making sure he won't propose. When can he make his grand gesture if not while on the visa waiver? I'm sure this has been asked a billion times and I appreciate your time. Thank you. -Mrs

I have found that the people working at customs when you enter the USA some have no clue about immigration or immigration law.

When me and my fiancé arrived in Michigan, I was told to go to my local USCIS office in Dallas and file my AOS there after I got married.

[NikLR 13,220]

As long as you've met within the last 2 years you can start the paperwork. Buying a ring in the USA would save on duty costs.

You don't need a formal proposal for the K1.

[yuna628 9,527]

My boyfriend and I have decided we're ready to get married and complete our family. Our life is honestly perfect. He is from England, I'm American. My girls love him and call him dad, and we want to make it official. We want to do this the right way. 100%. He is on his second VWP and were unsure of when we can do the official proposal. We're starting the K1 paperwork this month but don't want to do anything to hinder our process. Is he allowed to formally propose on a VWP visit? I've read that pics of rings and proposal stories help your application process but when he entered the U.S. this time they grilled him on making sure he won't propose. When can he make his grand gesture if not while on the visa waiver? I'm sure this has been asked a billion times and I appreciate your time. Thank you. -MrsBandy

Over the numerous years of traveling back and forth on the VWP, never once did they advise either of us not to propose to each other. That would seem to fly in the face of the pursuit of ''life, liberty, and happiness'' you know. Now, they did advise to not get married, which yeah is something they do say a lot. They don't want someone just deciding to stay, or overstay, or enter without the right sort of visa. He can propose to you at any time he would like to do so. The federal government has no restriction or law determining when a person can or cannot propose. A formal proposal or even a ring is not required, and London is a straightforward embassy in dealing with, provided the case is not complex. But by all means get formally engaged if you would like, and pictures won't hurt of course to add to your case when you're ready to file.